JEDDAH, 18 April 2008 — A cooking academy was launched here on Wednesday night, which is seen as part of women’s empowerment program.
Dr. Eman Al-Ayobi heads the academy’s faculty with Ala’a Al-Taji assisting her in its training programs, which commence in the last week of the month.
Described as the first of its kind in the Kingdom, the LG Cooking Academy — with similar academies to follow in Riyadh and Dammam — will initially offer two courses at its morning and evening sessions, every Sunday and Wednesday. Each course will have a maximum of 30 trainees, said Dr. Eman, also a specialist in health care diet and nutrition with more than 11 years of experience in the field.
“Launching the first cooking academy in Jeddah — clearly demonstrates your great contribution to the society,” Madawi Abdullah Al-Hassoun, board member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said in her address as the chief guest. “I believe that LG Cooking Academy will empower young Saudi women with unique cooking skills and help create rewarding jobs for them in various fields, which will finally create a better environment for their families,” she added. “On behalf of the JCCI, let me announce that we are fully supporting this initiative. JCCI is prepared to cooperate with LG and the United Yousef M. Naghi Company (UYMN) for the betterment of our society,” she said.
LG, she noted, has selected the most wanted field for the academy. “Our lifestyles in today’s world are becoming more demanding in terms of knowing healthy foods and following nutritional guidelines that help us live a healthy life and avoid health problems. The exciting part is that the academy is not limiting itself to providing knowledge and experiences alone, but will aim to empower graduates to find rewarding jobs,” she said. She urged the two companies to continue with their successful community service projects and hoped that other companies would follow suit. “The academy will offer women an opportunity to learn about various cooking styles and methods,” Ki Wan Kim, CEO, LG Electronics, at the Dubai-based Middle East & Africa Regional Company office, said in his presentation.
Entrance to the academy will be free of charge. It aims to equip young Saudi women with skills and enable them to successfully fill jobs in the cooking field.
The academy’s programs will include fun activities and provide trainees with an opportunity to experience various ways of cooking techniques using LG’s latest home appliances and new technology products.