Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival, celebrating the contributions and resilience of refugees. Plateful Cafe being a Charity, we are proud to participate in this significant event with special menus and activities, showcasing the talents and stories of our chefs who have come to the UK as refugees. Each dish they create is a testament to hope and cultural heritage. During Refugee Week at Plateful Cafe, we will host a series of events, including an art exhibition featuring works by refugee artists from around the world, and a talk on “Cooking and Community” with a renowned chef and refugee rights advocate. These events aim to provide insight into the refugee experience and foster connections through food and art. Our support for refugees continues throughout the year with employment and training opportunities, as well as a new initiative to provide free meals to refugee families in need. Every meal purchased during Refugee Week at Plateful Cafe will help fund this programme. We invite you to support our efforts and help create a more inclusive society. You can also help us in this cause by checking out our shop for some of our refugee made products.
Recently we had a piece about about the great work we’re doing at Plateful Cafe helping refugees, on South London News – South London Press & Mercury. Read a summary below or full article here. Plateful Café, located in Lewisham, celebrates its one-year anniversary with pride. Founded by Iolanda Chirico, the café serves as a platform for refugees to display their culinary skills and offers a variety of cuisines to the local community for the sole aim of helping refugees. Operating three days a week, it provides meals, catering services, and sells artisan products. The café pays its cooks the London Living wage and relies on grants, donations, and trading income for sustainability. Ms. Chirico, along with a team of paid cooks and volunteers, has witnessed significant positive impacts on the refugees’ lives, including improved health, language skills, and confidence. Plateful Café recently hosted a Persian festival, showcasing the talents of chefs like Hadis a refugee, who left Iran and found a new life in the UK. The café’s bistro nights highlight different cultures through food, music, and staff contributions. These events offer the community a chance to enjoy diverse cuisines and reinforce the café’s commitment to helping refugees integrate and thrive.
