Culinary Education
Cooking For Life Program
A three-month intensive, hands-on culinary training program for underprivileged individuals seeking employment in the food and beverage industry, run with CCA Manila.
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Culinary Eco Life Inc.
Teach them to cook.
Feed them for a lifetime
Empowering underserved Filipinos through culinary education, sustainable livelihood, and environmental stewardship.
About us
A future where lives are transformed, communities flourish and people thrive in harmony with the planet.
The Culinary Eco-Life, Inc. (formerly Culinary Education Foundation, Inc.) is a non-stock, non-profit organization. It was the vision of our founder, Ms. Susana “Annie” Guerrero, a Certified Culinary Professional, to be the lead foundation in providing culinary education to deserving individuals to help them succeed in the food service industry.
In September 2001, with the help and support of individuals who share the same aspiration, the organization was finally created.
Our logo embodies our objective of providing culinary education to those individuals aspiring to build a better future in the culinary industry. We are committed to develop and promote world-class Filipino chefs.
CELI operates under the philosophy “Teach them to cook. Feed them for a lifetime.” It empowers underserved Filipinos, including out-of-school youth and women in depressed communities, through free culinary education, green food production training, and job placement. Key initiatives include The Super Manang Project, Cooking for Life, and eco-friendly technologies such as Bokashi composting, a water ozonator, and solar-powered kitchens.
We believe that self-sufficiency paves the way for a future filled with opportunities and life-long achievements.
See our impact →
- 857
- Scholars recorded
- 453
- Katipunan graduates
- 250
- Candon graduates
- 154
- Rotary graduates
Founder’s Story
Susana ‘Annie’ Guerrero
Susana (Annie) P. Guerrero advocates empowering communities through lifelong learning, green practices, and sustainable livelihood. She has spearheaded the Cooking for Life Program, a culinary training program with over 700 graduates. Ninety percent are now working in the F&B industry.
With the scholars of the program, she has provided more than twenty thousand hot meals to healthcare workers during the pandemic. She has also built sustainable communities in Bulacan, Leyte, Agusan del Sur, and Butuan City in Mindanao.
Her philosophy is that when you give a hungry man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
Our vision
We envision a world where humans live in harmony with the rest of God’s Creation, using earth’s resources to meet our present needs as well as the next generation.
Our mission
To contribute towards the realization of our vision, we must learn to directly respond to the many challenges posed by the ecological crisis.
01
Empowerment
Providing culinary skills and green livelihood to build self-reliance and improve quality of life.
02
Education
Building a better future for out-of-school youths through culinary passion and environmental awareness.
03
Community Development
Equipping women and families with sustainable livelihood skills to foster self-reliant communities.
Programs
Programs built around people, food, and the planet.
Green Skills
Green Chefmanship Training
A sixteen-hour training program developed to promote environmental management in food production, in collaboration with Earth Day Network Philippines.
Learn more →
Livelihood
The Super Manang Project
An outreach livelihood program developing basic culinary skills among women in underserved communities, including fish deboning skills linked to employment opportunities.
Support the program →
Green Technology
The Earth Kitchen
A renewable-energy technology project featuring a caramelizer stove, solar-powered food dehydrator, solar dryer for buko shells, and slow-cooking stove.
Explore →Green technology
Green Tech Projects
Ozonation technology uses a low-cost, low-technology, custom-made ozonator.
Ozonation of air removes airborne contaminants, enriches the oxygen, and aids in pest control. Ozonation of water produces highly oxygenated, pH 8 alkaline water, and treats wastewater.
The water ozonator is portable and chemical-free. It sterilizes food preparation, utensils, and drinking water, and the work earned an ISO 14001 certification for 2013–2017.
Our story
From one vision to a growing network of communities.
Approximately 4,000 beneficiaries have come through the CEF/CELI program since 2001. They are all cooked for a cause.
Follow the years, from 2001 to 2026.
CEF was created
CEF was created to provide culinary education to deserving individuals to help them succeed in the food service industry.
Our partners
Working together for greater impact.
Sponsors
Support that helps opportunity take root.
Organizations and individuals can support CELI's programs and scholars. Write to us to sponsor the next cohort.
Become a sponsorSupport the work
Every purchase helps support culinary education and scholarships.
A–Z Guide for a Greenchef
An e-book. Every purchase helps support culinary education and scholarships.
- ₱599 for the e-book
- ₱999 for the e-book and support for a scholar
- ₱2,999 for the e-book and Green Chefmanship training for 20 people
Annie’s Kitchen products
A purchase of Annie’s Kitchen products also supports the scholarships.
Be part of a future worth building.
Support a scholar, volunteer, explore a partnership, or connect with CELI to learn more about its work.
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