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Culinary Training That Changes Lives

Pathways to Rizq

A Pathway to Rizq

Across Ontario, newcomers, single parents, evacuees, and low-income families want to build stable careers in food but lack the certification, childcare, and transportation to get started.

Pathways to Rizq: Culinary Arts & Food Handling Program offers a 6-class journey with food-handling certification, hands-on culinary training, and faith-based business mentorship so participants can move from surviving to earning halal income.

Launched in 2025, three cohorts of this program have been run with a total of 31 participants. That’s 31 households transformed entirely.

Your gift can turn one classroom seat into a new source of rizq for another household.

From Struggle to Stability

For hundreds of families, this certificate can opens doors to restaurants, catering, and safe home-based food businesses. You can help someone turn their cooking skills into a way to provide for their family, putting meals on the table and hope in their home for generations to come.

19% wage gap: Mothers in one-parent families earn 19% less per hour than mothers in two-parent households.
(Statistics Canada)

40% single parents struggling: Nearly 40% of single-parent households struggle to cover basic needs, with many parents skipping meals so their children can eat.
(Salvation Army)

Under-employment: Newcomer and low-income women are often concentrated in low-wage or informal work because they lack access to training, language support, and childcare.
(Canadian Women’s Foundation)

How the Program Works

Food Handling

Ontario‑recognized training and exam for safe work in kitchens.

Culinary Skills

Hands-on classes led by MasterChef Canada finalist, Reem Ahmed.

Mentorship

Guidance to start or grow halal food ventures.

Support

Childcare and transportation so no one misses a class.

6 classes per cohort

From first knife skills to final exam.

10+ participants certified per cycle

stepping into dignified halal work.

3 cohorts per year

reaching dozens of families in Mississauga and the GTA.

How You Can Help

Cover an Exam

$75

Cover the Food Handling Certificate exam for one participant, removing a key financial barrier so they can qualify for work in professional kitchens.

Equip a Future Chef

$130

Provide ingredients, basic tools, and a share of childcare and transportation support so a participant can fully take part in all six classes.

Sponsor an Entire Learning Journey

$900

Sponsor one participant’s full journey, including kitchen rental, ingredients, transportation, childcare, and the certification exam.

Who You’ll Be Helping

100% Local Zakat

Sadaqah Jariyah

Scholar Approved

Your Questions Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pathways to Rizq:  Culinary Arts & Food Handling Program?
Who does this program support, and why focus on women and single mothers?
What do participants learn, and what opportunities are open for them?
How will my donation be used?
How do you measure impact and keep donors informed?