Holding small knives, children carefully cut colorful fruits to decorate the cake they made with chef Nagham Skaik at the young chefs summer camp in the Gaza Strip.

Entsar Murtaja, 10, who was writing down the ingredients for a recipe in her notebook, told Al-Monitor, “I loved the idea of ​​a cooking camp, and its name — Honey Yum Yum — is very fun and attractive. I have always wanted to help my mother in the kitchen. I am very happy I joined because I did not know how to use sharp tools correctly and I learned that it is better to wear gloves while preparing food. I also learned how to make pancakes, chocolate balls, delicious pasta and cake decorated with fruits.”

Adnan al-Baba, 8, told Al-Monitor, “I want to become a great chef in the future, like the ones I see on TV. I want to learn how to present food beautifully. I joined the young chefs summer camp to learn how to cook simple dishes at home. It’s not true that the kitchen is for girls only. I love being in the kitchen and helping my mother. I wish we would learn how to make a delicious Mexican chicken dish.”

Baba’s mother, Fadwa, told Al-Monitor, “There are no entertainment parks in the Gaza Strip. Children have nowhere to explore their talents. I found Honey Yum Yum to be a great fit, especially since my son loves cooking a lot despite his young age. He is very bright and is always watching cooking videos on YouTube. So I wanted him to join a training camp to learn and follow recipes correctly. I am very happy he is learning how to make crepes and burgers. Everyone at home loves tasting his cooking. A few days ago, he prepared cinnamon rolls and they tasted great.”