In a bright, modern kitchen at West Herts College in Watford, the sound of laughter blends with the sizzle of onions and the aroma of spices.
At the center of this lively scene is Eva Mbiru, a Kenyan-born social worker whose cooking classes are changing lives in ways that go far beyond food.
What looks like an ordinary cooking session is, in truth, something much bigger: a community-driven response to mental health struggles. And for Eva, it’s personal.
Raised in Buru Buru estate in Nairobi, Eva grew up watching how inequality shaped women’s lives. Those early experiences planted a seed — a determination to create change.
That seed would travel with her when she moved to the United Kingdom for her studies, eventually settling there for three decades.
Life seemed settled until the unexpected collapse of her 19-year marriage. “When my marriage ended, I discovered that many women who undergo divorce pass through a lot of challenges and do not know where to seek help,” Eva recalls.
Instead of retreating into silence, she began building a support system, starting with a WhatsApp group in 2018 called Women Empowerment.
What started online soon grew into something tangible: community events in Hertfordshire, where women — and later men too — could talk openly about domestic violence, mental health, and other struggles.
Cooking Up a New Kind of Therapy
In 2024, Eva launched the Spiced in Watford Cooking Experience, an initiative that turns cooking into a form of therapy. Every Monday, small groups gather at West Herts College to prepare meals together, laugh, and — often for the first time — talk about the issues weighing them down.
“The idea is simple,” Eva explains. “Cooking gives people a chance to connect. Food has always been a universal language, and here it becomes a tool for mental wellbeing.”
Participants come not only for the food but for the atmosphere — a safe space where it’s okay to admit you’re struggling.
The initiative has become so popular that while 1,000 people request spots weekly, only about 50 can currently be accommodated. Plans are already underway to increase sessions to three times a week.
The project has drawn strong community backing, with support from Watford Football Club, Rotary Club Watford, Watford Council, West Herts College, and other local organizations. Together, they provide ingredients, facilities, and resources to keep the program running.
More Than Cooking — It’s Community
The sessions range from Festive Cook-offs to themed events like the Oriental Series, each designed to spark connection while exploring diverse cuisines.
But beyond the food, what participants gain is friendship and courage. For some, this is their first step toward seeking professional help; for others, it’s the antidote to the crushing loneliness that often accompanies poor mental health.
Eva beams when she talks about the impact: “The response has been overwhelming. People feel better about themselves. We are helping, one meal at a time.”
Her passion for service extends far beyond the kitchen. She’s actively involved with Kenyan Women in Hertfordshire CIC and the Watford African Caribbean Association, where she directs programs supporting African and Caribbean communities.
She’s also raised funds for Maasai women and children in Kajiado County, Kenya, ensuring access to clean water and education.
Eva’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. She has collected numerous awards, including recognition from Africa Women in Europe, the Hero of Hertfordshire title, and even speaking engagements at The Hague and events attended by Queen Elizabeth II.
But for her, the true reward is seeing lives transformed. “It feels great that I have managed to help people in the little way I can,” she says. “Mental health isn’t just about the absence of illness. It’s about building environments where people can thrive.”
A Universal Message
As Eva visits her homeland in Kenya, she reflects on the global nature of her mission. Whether in Nairobi or Watford, the need is the same: people want to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Her journey from Buru Buru to the UK proves one thing — healing doesn’t always come from therapy rooms or medicine. Sometimes, it starts with a chopping board, a shared meal, and the courage to talk.
And in Eva’s kitchen, that’s exactly what’s on the menu.