A Kitchen Without Borders: Food is the Language

Volunteering for the Asylum Seekers Project was an experience I will always cherish. It reminded me why I love food and the connections it creates.

The morning began with prep work alongside master’s students in Nutrition and Food Business and fellow undergraduates in Culinary Arts Management. Everyone was so lovely, and working with Amalia made it even better. There’s something special about being in a kitchen with people who share the same passion.

I was paired with Isabel from Venezuela, who came with her mother, Sonia. Tomorrow is Sonia’s birthday, and Isabel was making a Tres Leches Cake from her own recipe to celebrate. As it was our first time in the project, we quickly became comfortable with each other, knowing we had each other’s support. Helping her bring her creation to life was truly rewarding. Her mother is an incredible cook. The love she puts into her food and the way she shares it is beautiful.

I also met amazing people from Iran to Sri Lanka, each bringing their own stories, flavours, and warmth. Their food was just incredible, full of soul and tradition.

At one point, I said, “Yes, chef”, and they replied, “We are not chefs.” I told them, “You are in chef whites, in the kitchen, cooking, you ARE a chef.” We all laughed, sharing a moment of pure joy.

Once we finished cooking, we sat down at 6:15 PM at Pillars to break the fast. Watching everyone enjoy the food they prepared was a special moment. The room was filled with warmth, laughter, and togetherness.

The highlight was pushing Sonia’s birthday cake out of the kitchen. As we entered, everyone sang Happy Birthday. The smile on Sonia’s face as she looked around at everyone celebrating her was pure joy. She was a happy mama, surrounded by kindness and great food.

Food has this magic. It brings people together, creating happiness, understanding, and connection.

A huge thank you to West London NHS Trust Healthy Lifestyles Team, @NHS North West London Borough Partnership, Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing), and University of West London for making this project possible.

A special thank you to my lecturers, Amalia, Neda, and Peter, who lead this project with passion, and Tarik for his support in the kitchen. Neda, being multilingual, played a key role in communicating with the asylum seekers, making everyone feel welcome. It was a pleasure working with such a dedicated team.

I love this project and can’t wait to work with everyone again next month.