PUM Boosts Youth Employment in Bakery

An important part of PUM’s fields of expertise relates to food supply, including the sector Bakery. Expert Jan Koeman visited the Jamm Bugum bakery in Senegal, to share his expertise on two issues. He developed recipes for fast-food baking products, strengthening the labour market position of a group of women. He also advised the bakery on how to become less dependent on wheat from other sources.

Jamm Bugum (freely translated: ‘We want peace’) is the name of a Senegalese rural development organisation working in the countryside around the city of Niakhar. They focus on four areas of intervention for young people and women: education and training; sports and cultural activities; protection of the environment while promoting a good living environment; and strengthening entrepreneurship. Three years ago, PUM Expert Jan Koeman worked with the Jamm Bugum Bakery on the production of biscuits, wafers and other pastry products. This was done by means of a ten-day practical training in the bakery.

Current situation in the bakery

Now three years later, Jan could see the progress with his own eyes. “Everything is going according to plan. It is always exciting to return after such a long time and to see how the business is doing. Especially after the COVID-19 years, which have not left Senegal untouched either. The bakery has been particularly happy with the contribution from the PUM Hans Blankert Fund that I applied for three years ago. Since the bakery’s production has doubled, this grant came just at the right time to invest in trolleys with baking plates, allowing them to expand the production capacity. And they have made the oven suitable for two types of fuel so they are less affected by the regular power cuts.”

New aspects to focus on

This time, Jamm Bugum wanted to work with Jan on two new issues. First, they wanted to develop some fast-food products, because this will fit the plan for an extension of the bakery with a catering/ restauration section. The bakery is situated near a busy bus and taxi terminal along a tarred road with a growing potential for new shops and business enterprises. At the moment, this customer potential is not being used.

Jan explains: 

“Currently, the bakers produce about 2,000 baguettes at night in the modern production room. These find their way to 27 outlets in the villages around Niakhar by three cars from the bakery in the early morning. During the day there is still production capacity available, and a group of women was interested in making products like pizza, hamburgers, pancakes, cakes and biscuits. I gave a series of practical lessons to a group of young women and men to teach them how to make these fast-food baking products. I was especially happy to empower the women and hope they soon can start working in the restaurant of the bakery!