The Girls Dig Deeper Initiative (GDDI), a Macon Violence Prevention partner, is holding a Fall Break Culinary Camp for 20 young women in partnership with Helms College. The camp will take place at Helms College (5171 Eisenhower Parkway) Wednesday-Friday, October 15-17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. This is the third year GDDI has held a Fall Break camp and the first focused on the culinary arts.

“Our young ladies really expressed an interest in the culinary arts and becoming chefs, so I wanted to give them this chance to learn more and get some real experience,” says Najiva Timothee, GDDI Founder and Executive Director. “We want to provide them mentoring and real-world experience throughout the year, and this not only gives them that chance, it also shows them a great resource locally to help make their dreams come true should they choose this path.”

For the first three days, the young women will learn how to prepare a full, high-quality meal from beginning to end, including creating an ingredient list, shopping, ingredient preparation, cooking pasta, putting together the perfect salad, cooking garlic bread, table preparation, and more. Following the camp, the young women will get to keep the chef hats and coats Helms College is providing.

On Saturday, the young women will prepare a full meal for their parents and other invited guests at 12:30 p.m. using the skills learned and practiced the first three days. They will then hold a panel discussion so the guests can hear about their experience at the camp.

“I’m really looking forward to this because of my own background as a female chef who got her start here at Helms College,” says Jess Snider, Helms College Student Support Advisor. “It can be a very rewarding and exciting career, and we want to help make sure they are ready for any challenges they may face.”

In addition to the cooking skills they’ll be learning, they will have a chance each evening to meet and talk with established female chefs. The young women will get to hear about the chefs’ career trajectories, why they got into the profession, and resources to help them further their career. The young women, during the camp, will also learn more about Helms College, its programs, and the careers made possible after graduation.