6:30 AM – Morning Prep Begins
Fatoumata wakes before the sun rises. In her small kitchen in Cheetham Hill, she ties her hair back, washes her hands, and opens a notebook filled with handwritten recipes from her grandmother’s home in Senegal. Today is market day. That means the Dynamic Support food stall will serve dozens — maybe hundreds — and she’s in charge of the marinated chicken suya skewers.
This isn’t just cooking. This is her chance to share a piece of her culture, build confidence, and earn income — all made possible through Dynamic Support of Greater Manchester.
8:00 AM – Team Meetup and Packing
At the community kitchen space, five other women — from Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the Caribbean — join Fatoumata. They greet each other in different languages, but the energy is shared. Today they are catering at a local country fair. Together they prep trays of jollof rice, flatbreads, spicy kebabs, and homemade zobo drinks.
The catering van is loaded with food, colourful fabrics, portable signage, and utensils. Everything is clean, professional, and packed with love. This enterprise isn’t a charity — it’s a business built on culture and courage.
10:30 AM – Arrival and Setup
They arrive at the market venue and set up their stall. Bright African prints are laid out across the table. A chalkboard menu features each woman’s name next to her specialty. Fatoumata proudly writes: “Senegalese Suya by Fatou.” There’s music playing softly in the background — Afrobeats mix with the sounds of nearby vendors.
She looks up to see curious onlookers watching as they light the grill. A man with a camera walks over. “Tell me more about what you do,” he says. Fatoumata smiles. “We’re more than food. We’re a story.”
12:00 PM – Customers Arrive
As the lunchtime crowd gathers, the smell of grilled meat and sizzling spices draws them in. Fatoumata explains each dish as she serves it. She talks about how her grandmother taught her to layer flavours, how food brings families together, and how today she feels more seen than ever before.
Children point to the colourful drinks. Older women ask for recipes. A young couple tells her it’s their first time trying African food. She beams. “Welcome to our table.”
1:30 PM – A Moment of Reflection
In between customers, Fatoumata takes a breath. She remembers what it felt like to move to Manchester three years ago. The isolation. The homesickness. The silence. Then she remembers walking into her first Dynamic Support meeting — nervous, shy, unsure of her place.
That first session changed everything. From learning about hygiene certifications and budgeting to being mentored by other women, she discovered more than a skill — she found a community.
3:00 PM – Wrapping Up
As the crowd thins, the team begins to clean up. The last customer takes a takeaway box of plantains and asks when they’ll be back. “Next week, same time,” Fatoumata replies.
They count their earnings, which will be split fairly among the team. But more valuable than money is the pride in their eyes. They showed up. They shared. They succeeded.
5:00 PM – Back Home, But Not Alone
Fatoumata returns home, tired but fulfilled. Her children rush to her with hugs, asking how it went. She tells them about the people she met, the compliments she received, and how she even got invited to cater at a school event next month.
In her heart, she feels what she hasn’t felt in a long time — confidence, connection, and contribution.
Dynamic Support’s catering enterprise isn’t just about food. It’s a vehicle for visibility, voice, and value. For women like Fatoumata, it’s a daily journey from kitchen to community — one that’s changing lives, one plate at a time.
