Around six children from Abraham Kriel Children’s Home Nylstroom are being given the opportunity to learn practical kitchen skills through a baking project at the Abraham Coffee Shop. The project is run by Gerda van der Merwe and is about far more than baking. The children learn to follow instructions, work together and take pride in something they have made themselves.

The group started with simple cupcakes, but now already bakes lamingtons, milk tarts, large cakes and malva pudding. According to Gerda, the children’s progress is clear to see: “This is our second group of six children taking part in the project, and it is wonderful to see how they develop: from measuring and mixing the ingredients to the pride on their faces when they see the finished product.”

The project also gives the children an opportunity to learn basic but important practical skills. They learn to read recipes, measure ingredients accurately, keep an eye on the oven temperature and work safely and responsibly with hot pans and kitchen equipment.

Not every baking day goes according to plan. Sometimes a cake does not rise or a mixture has to be made again from scratch. For Gerda, this is all part of the learning process. “Giving up is not part of the recipe,” she says. “We learn to try again, look for solutions and laugh together when things do not quite go according to plan.”

Ultimately, it is about far more than what comes out of the oven. The project shows how a simple activity such as baking can become a valuable learning opportunity in which children develop practical skills, responsibility and perseverance.