By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
Bakpro hosted the first “Bakpro Celebrity Bake-off” competition recently, which was won by Allgemeine Zeitung photojournalist Wiebke Schmidt.
Schmidt won N$10 000 for the Findano Kindergarten, a registered welfare organisation that provides early childhood development services to underprivileged children between zero and six years of age in the Goreangab area.
The kindergarden also provides parents with parental education.
Bakpro first initiated its annual weekend baking programme five years ago. Back then, the event was aimed at giving back to the community and primarily to persuade consumers to bake more often and enjoy it.
This year, Namib Mills (Pty) Ltd, with its wheat flour brand – Bakpro – chose Namibian celebrities to inspire consumers to “Bake with Confidence”, and to give back to the very society that has been supporting the Bakpro brand since 1986.
The celebrities included famous Namibian artist Gazza and journalists from New Era, The Namibian, NBC Afrikaans Radio, NBC National Radio, Allgemeine Zeitung, One Africa Television, The Economist newspaper, Space Magazine, Kosmos Radio and the Namibian Sun.
Upon acceptance of the invitation to participate in the competition, the celebrities identified their charities to which Bakpro pledged N$10 000 towards the winner’s charity.
The celebrity baking session was over in just three short hours, when Schmidt won the coveted N$10 000 for the “Findano Kindergarten” – her charity of choice.
“Findano Kindergarten will be receiving the money, courtesy of Bakpro and Schmidt, whose cookies were according to the judges, the best cookies of the day,” said Namib Mills Manager: Baking Development, Konrad Schweiger.
The judges were Grade 3 scholars, who Schweiger said were strict in carrying out their duties.
The two most important aspects of baking, presentation and taste, were used as criteria.
The judges wanted to know whose cookies were the “prettiest” and the “tastiest”, said he.
“It was lots of fun, and a very close call, some of them can bake, others are just pulling our legs, they cannot bake” said one of the judges.
Esther Smith, baking on behalf of Space Magazine, described the event as “highly entertaining and very nice”.
The local celebrities and media were also exposed to baking tips, which included tips on how to bake biscuits in a kitchen for family and friends, easy exciting biscuit decorating techniques and how to bake different biscuits from the same dough.
Findano Kindergarten helps to lay a sound foundation before first year schooling as children go through a school readiness programme.
Indirectly, the kindergarten provides parents with an opportunity to find work outside their homes, improve their living standards, knowing that their children are being cared for. The services are especially provided to orphaned children in the area.