In its 2nd year. we were privileged to again partner with celebrity chef Brendan Pang, who developed and facilitated six interactive cooking sessions. This year there were 14 participants in the Men’s group, and the program was extended this year to include a Women’s group with 16 participants. Men and women participating in each program were from diverse cultural backgrounds, including participants from Iran, Sudan, Eritrea, Palestine, Venezuela, and Afghanistan. The group ranged in age from 18 to over 65.
Evaluation data from the women’s group showed a positive shift in participants’ mental wellbeing, with improvements across all five WHO-5 indicators, particularly in feeling active, rested, and cheerful. Similarly In the Men’s group, participants reported significant improvements in mental wellbeing, with WHO-5 scores rising from 63.2% to 79.6%. Cook Like a Chef successfully fostered emotional safety, cultural pride, and community connection, making it a valuable addition to ASeTTS’ community engagement initiatives.
