EPALE - Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe

The Intercultural Cookbook Project was run as part of our ongoing Family Learning Programme with the Parents of St. John's Junior & Senior, School Kilkenny. The school is a Deis band one school and we have been running Family Learning classes in the school for parents since 2015. The project aimed to bring the parents in the school community together as there are at least 27 different nationalities represented in the school. We believed that an intercultural cookbook would encourage parents to become involved in this uplifting project celebrating, diversity. Parents got involved in recipe sharing focusing on building social networks for positive mental health, healthy family meals, recipe swapping, cooking demonstrations, library visits, local outings, cooking demonstrations, meals on a budget, baking at the school and meeting at the Adult Learning Service to cook and use the computers. The group also made aprons for the children for their cookbook photo shoot.

Throughout the project, the parents took the lead in creating the cookbook. There were 23 parents involved in conducting the research and compiling the book. We had participants from, South Sudan, Portugal, England, South Africa, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland & Lithuania, Irish parents and Irish Travellers. With a diverse community of parents, there were many benefits for the participants becoming involved in this project. Some of the most important benefits for the learners were a sense of belonging and inclusion in a group with a common purpose which led to boosting self-confidence and esteem. In turn reducing isolation and feelings of connection and being valued. The programme encouraged parents to become actively involved each week; in outings and fun activities such as food demonstrations, budget meal challenges, a cooking challenge, raffles, quizzes, making healthy meals together and sharing them along with their cooking tips. Every activity was an opportunity for learners to share and celebrate their cultural backgrounds and family recipes and for everyone to value, and gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures. The positive group atmosphere was important so that learners could develop a strong sense of self and pride in their heritage both for themselves and their children.