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About Us
The World Food Project was set up in February 2007. We are a
constituted community group with a management committee. Students who
come to our sessions are welcome to become members of the World Food
Project. If they do so they have an equal say in how the project is
run. We are an independent group and have good relationships with other
voluntary sector and council agencies which often publicise our group
or bring their clients along to our sessions.
200 students have attended our sessions so far, they come from more than 20 different countries spanning 4 continents.
We provide free, informal conversation practise sessions for people
who are learning English as a second language and want to improve their
spoken English. We work with migrants who have an interest in cookery
and practise speaking English while cooking together in a multilingual
group. We always provide a free crèche and cover students travel costs.
One of our priorities is to offer students the chance to teach their
skills to others. People come to our sessions to learn English - but
also because they are interested in cooking and they have a wealth of
skills to offer. In each session a different student suggests a recipe,
usually from their country of origin, and instructs the rest of the
group in how to prepare it. The sessional worker acts as support in
language and practical skills, as well as bringing the ingredients.
This structure provides the students with important opportunities to
practice their spoken English in a meaningful situation as well as
giving them an opportunity to be the expert and share their skills,
thus increasing their confidence.
As immigrants, especially those who have trouble learning English,
people often find themselves very disempowered and always having to be
the ones asking for help. By providing a chance for everyone to share
their skills as well as take up an equal position as members of a group
that includes native English people the students gain confidence in
their ability to try and speak English, as well as in general.
To celebrate the amount of skill and the fantastic recipes that the
students have brought to the sessions over the past two years we have
created two beautiful recipe books, one of which is for sale now (see our cookbooks page for details).
The World Food project sessions are run in community
centres all over town, sometimes in places where migrant communities
and native English communities don’t mix together very much. We often
end up sharing the food we make with other people using the
building. This provides opportunities for our students to share their
skills, knowledge and recipes with other local people. In this way
barriers can really be broken down and people who probably wouldn’t
otherwise get to meet can get to know each other a bit through shared
interest – something which can potentially cause lasting change for the
whole community as well as our students. The
World Food Project has no paid staff. Fundraising, accounting and
administration are all done as part of our members’ voluntary
commitment to the project. | |
