A Peckham chef, with a flourishing catering business, employed two people who were asking for money on the street and teaches school kids cookery for free.
Chef Dimisea Kjeller has been cooking for as long as she can remember, but she decided to start her own catering company five years ago.
Despite having a marketing degree, Dimisea, who lives in Peckham, said being in business alone was not easy. “I was struggling,” she told us.
So in a bid to get some help, she reached out to Trampoline NH CIC – a social enterprise that supports emerging entrepreneurs – and applied for some funding from the Southwark Pioneers Fund.
As well as the fund they offer expert business coaching and mentorship, access to networking and they also help businesses get featured at markets.
“I wanted to start selling my products at Christmas markets,” Dimisea said, referencing her homemade vegan pesto, brownies and hummus.
“I didn’t end up getting the funding,” she continued, “but what they did do was offer me training and advice to be able to progress.”
“They taught me I didn’t have to do everything by myself.”
When her catering business started taking off Dimisea started to employ local young people.
“I wanted to support the community,” she said. “Now, when I have an event I hire people from Peckham, 19-21 year-olds, people who need jobs,” adding, “And I pay them £15 an hour.”
“Giving them good money encourages them to do better.”
She said one day she was walking down the high street and two people were asking for money outside McDonald’s.
“My husband gave me the idea I could give them a job. So I gave them the opportunity and they’re still working for me now.”
Hailing from Angola and Brazil, she added that in her culture it is normal to support people who need it, commenting, “I just put myself in their shoes.”
“My mum calls me Mother Teresa.”
Her day job involves cooking for private corporate events, but her true passion lies in giving back.
Once a week she brings food to Peckham Soup Kitchen.
She also teaches students from Harris Academy Peckham how to cook: “Now they all want to be chefs too and have their own restaurant,” she said, explaining she has also given them work as well.
Talking of the future, she plans to open a jazz cafe with her husband, who is a musician, in the area. “We think Peckham needs something more than what it has right now.”
To find out more about Dimisea, visit her website: www.chefdimisea.com. Her cookbook My Healthy Vegan Desserts, is available at Camberwell Library and to buy on Amazon.
If you’re a new business owner, click here to learn more about the support you could get from Trampoline NH CIC and the Southwark Pioneers Fund: Launchpad.