SA’s first Blind Culinary School opens doors in KZN
“The blind cook with their heart, mind and with passion. They don’t need their sight to see what is inside of them, they don’t need their sight to know that they can do anything that they put their minds top,” President of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society Veetha Sewkuran told East Coast Radio.
Veetha Sewkuran, President of the KZN Blind and Deaf Society, says talks about opening a deaf culinary school are ongoing, but a television show inspired the thought of a Blind Culinary School.
“I watched a programme on TV and I saw a there was a Masterchef winner from the USA, Christine Hà. She’s blind and she became blind through an autoimmune disease and she went on to win Masterchef USA that year. Then she opened up a chain of restaurants. I looked at that and thought ‘well, if she can do it, our blind can do it’ and that’s where the idea came from,” she shared.
Following this, Sewkuran began pursuing the idea, and now the first Blind Culinary School in South Africa has opened its doors in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to Sewkuran, the response so far has been overwhelming.
“We’ve got professional chefs who have volunteered their services. We’re going to run a 12-week programme where they [blind students] will be trained from the basics of making a cup of tea. Then, we want them to progress. Especially those who are partially sighted, we want to equip them with basic skills,” she explained.
Sewkuran shared about a partially sighted client who does cake decorating. Truly inspiring!
“With the visually impaired and partially sighted, there are so many opportunities out there,” Sewkuran said, “ They just need to be introduced to these opportunities.”
Speaking about the general public’s reception, Sewkuran said that many able-bodied persons are unaware of the independence, drive and ambition of the visually impaired.
“Most people, you know, don’t know that blind people actually cook food for themselves, they take care of their families [and] they know how to use a knife. Many people think, ‘How are they going to use a knife?’ and they know how to use a knife, an oven and [a] stove.”
Sharing more details about the school, Sewkuran said that the kitchens are equipped with basic appliances that the visually impaired are familiar with at home. She explained that a number of clients come from poor economic conditions, so they’ve ensured that their kitchens have familiar appliances and basic cutlery to empower them when they’re in their own homes.
Who is allowed in the Blind Culinary School?
There is no age limit for participants, and the school is free of charge. Currently, they take in five visually impaired persons every 12 weeks.
In terms of facilitators, they have three professional chefs who have volunteered their time and services. However, they are still looking for donations of ingredients that they could use in their classes.
“The blind cook with their heart, mind and with passion. They don’t need their sight to see what is inside of them; they don’t need their sight to know that they can do anything that they put their minds to,” Sewkuran concluded.
Funding for the Blind Culinary School comes from the Dr. Vasan Govind Legacy Foundation.
“Dr. Govind has not only funded a building — he has sparked a movement,” said the President in a statement on social media. “This is an investment in human potential, in dignity, and long-term transformation.”
If you are interested in volunteering or donating, you are encouraged to call or email the KZN Blind and Deaf Society.
Phone: 031 309 4991
Email: [email protected]
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