This story is part of a series of ‘good news’ stories written by journalism students from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
“It’s like a party all of the time,” chuckles Tim Jackson as she describes the atmosphere at the weekly cooking program at the Community Refugee Welcome Centre in Lilyfield, in Sydney's Inner West.
COVID-19 disruptions have forced the project to move online in recent times but the members have kept their culinary passions alive through WhatsApp and by sharing recipes straight from their home kitchens.
Dishes infused with Middle Eastern flavours including cardamom, as well as fragrant sweets, are among the recipes shared between the culturally diverse members.
The group mainly attracts women and is a space where refugees from countries including Afghanistan and Syria can connect with locals born and raised in the area.
The women cooking together at the welcome centre. Credit: Supplied/Moones, My Plate, Your Plate
Tim has lived in Sydney all her life and admits many of the international recipes and their “beautiful presentation” go beyond her cooking skills.
“I don’t think I’m capable, just quietly,” says the 71-year-old. “I wouldn’t even know where to go shopping.”
But making and eating the food is only part of what happens at My Plate, Your Plate. The members are also invited to share their stories and the significance behind their chosen dish.
Tim has lived in Sydney all her life. Credit: Supplied/Inner West Council
They first travelled to neighbouring Lebanon where they stayed for a year before coming to Australia.
“When we came here it was very difficult in the beginning because [we didn’t] know any English at all,” she says.
“Different country, different culture, different space.”
“People like me, we needed to improve our life and start a new life, so for that this course [was] very amazing … and very helpful.”
Ghada has shared with the group that she says reminds her of better times in her home country.
“My mum, she taught me to do this sweet,” she says.
Ghada preparing a meal to share with the group. Credit: Supplied/Inner West Council
“What makes each recipe unique is the story that has been told by the person who just cooked that food,” says Moones Mansoubi, coordinator of the welcome centre and one of the project’s organisers.
The program is run in collaboration with the Inner West Council and Settlement Services International, with the aim to bridge the social and cultural gap between locals and people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
Their events are free and open to the public, with event details listed on the council’s website.
Ghada's almond biscuits. Credit: Supplied/Inner West Council
The group would meet each week for a period of 20 weeks to work on the design and construction of a two-seater sofa that is now .
Its success left the group wanting more opportunities to continue growing their friendships and skills after the tapestry was completed.
“It just kept evolving because nobody wanted to leave,” Tim says.
She explains that My Plate, Your Plate was inspired by the meals the women would cook for the group at their meetups.
“While we were doing the tapestry, the beautiful Afghani and Syrian women would bring lunch for us and the food was unbelievable.”
The group connects over a meal together. Credit: Supplied/Moones, My Plate, Your Plate
Moones explains how sharing a meal and its story can unite the community and promote social inclusion.
“There is no doubt that food is part of culture,” she says. “Through this people can understand each other better, connect better and contribute to this society better.”
Since its start in early 2020, the program has had over 30 participants with more than two-thirds of the group being from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
Tim says while she has always been open-minded, it was through speaking with people at the welcome centre that she realised the extent of the plight refugees can face.
“I realised there is a whole great gap of knowledge of what these people had come from.”
“You can’t imagine walking out of your house and leaving it all behind and going to somewhere that shares no language, no customs, no nothing.
“We have no idea what that would be like - having our cities completely destroyed in front of us and losing family members. We just don’t have a clue.”
For Ghada, the welcome centre is a place where she can practise speaking English and make new friends.
“It was very amazing this course because [I made] many new friends from different cultures and different countries,” she says.
A smile spreads across her face as she recalls shared by an Iraqi woman in the group.
“They put many many spices like ginger and cinnamon. I tried one time, it was very amazing.”
Several recipes and their stories including Ghada and Tim’s were recorded by audio engineer Caitlin Gibson and .
Throughout the past year, the group has worked on designing a pop-up food cart that will appear at different community events and areas around Sydney, with their first event as part of the council’s Inner West Fest.
The group collaborated with social designer Tasman Munro in creating the bespoke storytelling and food-sharing cart, with members drawing back to their crafting roots to sew its features.
They were also given the opportunity to participate in a food safety training course through TAFE NSW.
Ghada is eager for the project to return in person this year.
“I hope to come back to the centre,” she says. “We were like one family in this community.”
Elise Matouk is in her third year of a law and journalism degree and a major foodie.
Moones Mansoubi is a casual producer with SBS Persian.
Monday 21 March marks the start of Harmony Week, which celebrates Australian multiculturalism and the successful integration of migrants into the community.
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