Forging ties with our African sisters

Mali’s collective kitchens
Text and photographs by Mathilde Lauzier, Uniterra volunteer and head of social participation for the Regroupement des cuisines collectives du Québec

When I left Quebec for Mali, a million questions were running through my mind. For instance, would the collective kitchen concept work in Mali? If so, how? What changes would need to be considered? In this country where the climate and people are equally warm, I was welcomed with open arms by women’s groups, including Woïyo Kondeye (which means a place for mutual aid and reflection among women) and AMFFED (Association malienne des femmes pour la formation, l’écologie et le développement). With these and other partners, I talked about how our collective kitchens and the “comedores populares” in Peru operate. I told our story: the Ouellette sisters’ kitchen, our political struggles, our training, our mission statement, our recognition and funding framework and our vision of food self-sufficiency.

During our conversations, I could see the Malians were keenly interested in and drawn to our philosophy. For these women, it’s only natural that collective kitchens are seen as a favour that people do for themselves, by voluntarily taking part in a multi-faceted initiative revolving around empowerment, democracy, dignity, justice and solidarity. However, my astonishment didn’t end there! These organizations showed me their efforts:

• Processing and drying local products for women to sell and earn an income;
• Offering a nutrition workshop and cooking demonstrations;
• Creating solidarity savings banks; and many others.

I saw women who, despite having little education, became empowered and who embraced self-management in a democratic manner. This can be credited to popular education. Literacy, nutrition, social economics activities, awareness of women’s rights, health and more are all part of the mix. Lastly, there are several levers for developing collective kitchens in Mali. These include the existence of well-organized groups looking to improve their diet while increasing their buying power. A collective kitchen steering committee is working to define the Mali‑Quebec partnership. Stay tuned...