Serving Up a Better Life
How can food improve the conditions for migrants all over the world?
Created by Sophocles Geroulis and Madison Gallup
Migration + Food = Humanity
Five unique stories, five different places across the world, five examples showing that food is not just a necessity, but one of the most interesting and important parts of the culture. Food has the ability to bring people closer and connect them in a unique way. Food might be the solution we are looking for when discussing migration because of the way it affects the psychology and happiness of people.
Chapter 1 Paris, France
Too often, host countries fail to see the benefits and even the beauty of providing a new home for refugees. Every culture brings something special to the table, and Paris, France, saw the opportunity to create an entire festival, inviting Parisians to sit at that table and be exposed to a wide array of food prepared by refugees, who were chefs in their home country. Actually, they offered them the opportunity to keep doing what they were trained and experts to, adding to their lives the element of continuity. This festival becomes a celebration of a very fundamental tie that bonds us all together- food. (Read more)
Chapter 2 :Kahramanmaras, Turkey
Even in the most desperate situations, people can find familiarity and comfort by striving to recreate old routines. For a group of Syrian women taking refuge in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, using their e-food cards to be able to actually purchase and cook meals together has restored a sense of peace and community. This simple act of being able to choose food each day can bring normalcy back to the shaken daily lives of refugees. The food we eat directly affects the mood and general psychology of our body. Being able to have control over such an important part of daily life can make a huge difference in the life of a migrant. (Read more)
Chapter 3: Lesbos, Greece
Refugees journey from all over the world, and often people from many different cultural backgrounds end up living in the same place. In Lesbos, the Greek government created a refugee camp to shelter people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and other countries in Africa. They found that the strongest connecting thread for these refugees is a tea tent within the camp. This small tent provides the perfect place for people to socialize and bond over a drink that they all know. Despite language barriers and coming from different nationalities, people who come to the tea tent can feel understood and at ease. (Read more)
Chapter 4 Leros, Greece
In life, people tend to complain about their circumstances no matter how well off they may be. This is why it becomes so special when someone chooses to express how grateful they are for what is given to them. One such moment of gratitude took place on the Greek island of Leros, which receives large amounts of migrants and refugees. In June, 2016, some of these refugees wanted to do something to thank the head of the catering organization for going the extra mile to provide them with such great quality food. They wrote letters to express how grateful they were that the head of catering creates such an enriching menu for them while still respecting their religion preferences. This story proves that food can help to build and strengthen relationships through mutual respect and understanding. (Read more)
Chapter 5: Beirut, Lebanon
Food not only connects people from all over the world, it can also motivate individuals to make a change. A group of Palestinian women taking refuge in Lebanon discovered their calling because they were inspired by food. After spending a long time inside the local refugee camp, these women decided to overcome their difficulties by channeling their energy into a new project revolving around the creation and delivery of food. They ran a fundraising campaign, gathering more than $50,000, in order to buy a food truck. They not only achieved that goal, but also organized many catering events which spread the fame of their local dishes. No matter what the conditions are, standing together and working as a team can change lives. (Read more)
“Food for the body is not enough, there must be and food for the soul”
Dorothy Day
This quote by Dorothy Bay describes the common elements of our five stories. But in these cases, food is responsible for both the body and the soul. Cultural opinions and beliefs can be exchanged through food in a way that is beneficial for the souls of migrant people who need this connection more than anyone else.
This story was created by a team of students at the 2016 Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change. It exists as part of a digital publication which explores how personal stories and human connections can enable us and others to be more inclusive, responsive, and understanding of migrants and the socio-political-cultural impacts of migration.
