Connecting to Storytelling Through Food
Photo credits: Brian Khuu & Keegan LilloFood often brings people from all walks of life together, and can create a safe segue into meaningful conversations. This was certainly felt and experienced during the SalamaTea Cooking Classes, as part of our 2022 program. Facilitated by the incredible Nayran and Niro and run by SalamaTea, these two 3-hour classes helped immerse participants in culture, connection and great food!
These unique, culinary events highlighted both Tamil and Syrian cuisines, and it was an honour to have it part of our program.
SalamaTea will be running 6 more cooking classes throughout this year, so keep a lookout on their social channels for dates.
Support this not-for-profit social enterprise by:
Hiring them for event catering
Visiting their Sunshine Cafe, or;
Sign up for a cooking class
Founder Hamed’s Story
Nayran’s Story
Nayran came to Australia as an asylum seeker from Syria. When the civil war broke out, the situation was unsafe in her hometown Damascus. She and her family decided it was time to leave and sought out a new country to call home. That country was Australia.
It was not easy for Nayran to make the decision to leave Syria for a safer life in Australia. She came via a people smuggler’s boat with her husband and daughter, facing many dangers and difficulties during her journey. However, Nayran believes this experience has helped make her the strong woman she is today and has helped her build her business from the few possessions she had when she first arrived in Australia, to one that provides for her new life here.
Through Nayran’s passion for food, she has established herself as a cooking instructor, caterer and public spokesperson i She catered for many government, corporate and private events and volunteered regularly to cook for various not-for-profit organisations, including the Salvation Army.
Niro’s Story
My name is Niro, I came from Sri lanka as a refugee by boat in 2009.
I am now living in Australia on a temporary visa with my wife and 3 year old son.
I am a Tamil person and I make our traditional curries, snacks and deserts. We use lots of different spices and coconut.
I also run a food stall at a few markets.
Additional organisations you can support in this space:
