THE SOUL OF THE KITCHEN: jULIAS MUNYAO’S STORY FROM OUR KENYAN MEMBER COUNTRY vap
On June 28th and June 29th, VAP, our Homeless World Cup Member Country in Kenya will host the Africa Women’s Cup, Brandon Green is in Nairobi to support preparations and spoke to Julias Munyao, a graduate from VAP’s Employment and Entrepreneurship Programme, showing that the football is just the start in creating a real impact in the community.
At Vijana Amani Pamoja (VAP), football is just the beginning. Behind the programs and pitch lies a community of passionate individuals committed to creating healthier, more empowered futures. Among them is Julias Munyao, a shining example of how talent, training, and heart can come together to make a lasting impact.
Julias is a graduate of VAP’s Employment and Entrepreneurship Program, where he received training in catering. a path that aligned perfectly with his lifelong love for cooking. Since completing the program, he has become an essential part of the VAP family, using his skills not only to feed the body but to nourish the spirit of everyone he serves.
Born in Machakos County, just outside of Nairobi, Julias’ journey into the culinary world was driven by a deep-rooted passion. “Cooking is my passion,” he says simply, with the quiet confidence of someone doing what he was meant to do. His training at KIPPS University in Nairobi equipped him with a diverse set of culinary skills, enabling him to prepare everything from traditional Kenyan staples like ugali to expertly crafted cakes and baked treats.
For the past five years, Julias has been cooking for VAP staff, program participants, and community members. His food is prepared not just with skill, but with compassion. “I love to cook for anyone who is hungry,” he shares, a statement that speaks volumes about his character.
To sit with Julias at the VAP headquarters is to experience humility, generosity, and unwavering dedication. His story is not just about food, it is about service, empowerment, and the ripple effect of kindness. In the heart of VAP’s mission to uplift youth and strengthen communities, Julias Munyao stands out as a powerful reminder: true nourishment comes not only from the meals we eat, but from the love and intention with which they are made.