Maria Fernanda Cabal

Colombian social entrepreneur using community kitchens to combat hunger and gender inequality since 2022

Maria Fernanda Cabal transformed Bogotá's food waste crisis into a social justice tool through her Comida Para Cambiar initiative. Starting in 2022, she converted 12 abandoned markets into community kitchens where 2,500+ marginalized women prepare meals using rescued food. The program provides 10,000 daily meals while training participants in culinary arts and business skills. By 2024, 150 graduates had opened their own food businesses with support from her microfinance arm. Her partnership with FAO created the Zero Hunger Kitchen Model now replicated in 8 Latin American countries. Maria's documentary Cooking Justice (2023) highlights how food systems can empower women. She recently advised the Colombian government's 2025 National Food Security Plan, emphasizing women's leadership roles. Her work reduces food waste by 30% while cutting hunger rates in participating communities by 45%.