Meet Luis!
My name is Luis. I’m 28 years old and am the chef here at the orphanage.
I started helping here 7 years ago during my Social Service in University. When I was done with my 6 months of service the director asked me to stay on full time and I happily agreed.
Cooking for 40+ children isn’t easy, especially because I don’t have a ton of different ingredients to work with.
When Create Purpose first asked if we wanted to be a part of the Nutrition Program I wasn’t that excited. Neither was any of the other staff that work in the kitchen. I think it was because not many of us have very good computer skills and in the beginning, the program was online because of the pandemic.
Thankfully I continued with the Program because it has helped me so much to understand that what I cook has a direct reflection of the wellbeing of the children.
I used to think that I was just a chef here at the orphanage and that the other staff were the ones that were really the ones in charge of caring for them.
Ever since I’ve been in the Nutrition Program I understand that I have a greater role in these children’s lives. I am greatly responsible for their health. Obviously there are other factors to consider but I am responsible for what they eat two times a day and after attending the Nutrition Program I understand the importance of that.
I am constantly sharing with the children what I learn in the program. At first I was just doing it to see if any of them were as interested as I was.
One day, one of the children pulled me to the side. He told me that he had a problem with food. He couldn’t stop eating. He knew it was bad but just couldn’t stop himself from sneaking into the pantry or stealing snacks of the other children at this school.
I know it doesn’t really have anything to do with nutrition and it’s more of a behavior things but that moment gave me so much more confidence to continue sharing what I’m learning with Create Purpose. I feel like by sharing my knowledge in culinary, and now in nutrition, the children trust me more and will come to me when they are in need.
They don’t really have anyone besides their teachers and us here at the orphanage. It seems like their teachers don’t really make the time for them and the staff here, though I love them, many don’t have more than an elementary school education.
I love these kids and will do anything for them.
One of my personal and professional goals is to travel to other orphanages in different states to share with them what I’ve learned here. Create Purpose is already helping me to connect with other orphanage chefs. I hope to continue to learn, share and better the lives of the children here at the orphanage and all across the country.
