Covid-19: crossed portraits of 3 bakers with a big heart!

The actual situation linked to Covid-19 has completely changed the behaviors and consumption habits of people all around the world. Concerns and incertitude due to this crisis conquered both professional and household… However, with a strong dose of courage, passion and work, some bakers have accomplished outstanding actions. Focus on 3 bakers that adapted, undertook and gave a lot, giving an individual hand to the collective effort.

Meeday, distributing breads and meals

Our first video conference leads us to Lagos, Nigeria. Olumide Martins, also known as Meeday, is a dynamic and dedicated entrepreneur. Her smile sums up who she is as much as her generosity; as soon as the lockdown was announced, she dedicated to solidarity acts in her city, Lagos. In addition to her job, she decided to distribute some meals and breads to needing people, suffering from the crisis. Actually, more than 2500! “What would be more natural?!” says the entrepreneur, who adapts and applies daily the hygiene and security gestures: disinfection, hands-washing, mask and gloves wear. Her mental is never-failing and she’s sure of something: “tomorrow will be better! “.

Hayet in her bakery with specific hygiene and security set-up

We now receive a call from Hayet Ait Lounis, the Algerian winner of the Saf Challenge, the bakery contest organized by Saf-instant in January 2020. First, Hayet had to close her bakery as her flour suppliers stocked out. She took benefit of this period to think about new recipes and bought extra equipment to adapt her bakery to new hygiene and security norms, “for her relatives and her customers!”. The craft baker finally managed to buy some flour. Passionate by her job, she now produces more breads than usually and gives each Friday a large part of her production to old people and needing people of her village, in Algeria. She concludes: “generosity makes part of me, it’s in myself! During this Ramadan period, we have to be even more solidary!”.

To conclude, Lahiru Liyanage, the Sri Lankan Saf Challenge candidate (he finished on the podium and even got an award from the jury thanks to his delicious and original curry bread), joins us to a video conference. His business decreased during the first weeks of lockdown; not even discouraged, the baker put in place a Tuk Tuk bread delivery system. Respecting the security norms and being careful about the hygiene, Lahiru successfully organized his delivery tours and met customers who were pleased to find different kind of products: buns, traditional breads, Danish pastries… No way for the baker to limit himself to soft bread! On top of it, Lahiru gives each day a bread production to a nearby association, helping needing people. “this situation gives me even more energy; I want to do all I can do, so we can get out of this all together!”

A delivery man in Sri Lanka from Lahiru team

These different discussions prove how needed it is to adapt when we are an entrepreneur; the best individual initiatives lead to the best collective success. Let’s make it happen!