FOOD FOR SOCIAL GOOD
WISE Catering brings delicious flavours from around the world to events in Auckland. But it also empowers former refugee and migrant women by providing them with the skills to generate an income.
Proving sustenance to the less fortunate in our community is a Kiwi trait.
Fresh spring rolls, crispy falafel, flavoursome fried rice and fragrant curries are sure to be crowd-pleasers at any event. But these international flavours taste even better when you know that eating them means you are supporting former refugee women in gaining financial security.
The dishes are just some of many delicious offerings from more than 12 different ethnic menus designed by the women of WISE Catering. The catering service is available for meetings, parties, festivals and other functions; plus the team runs regular ethnic food stalls at markets and events across Auckland. The women that make up WISE Catering are former refugees from all over the world. They’re part of Belong
Aotearoa’s WISE Project (Women Inspired Strong Empowered and Enterprising), which has supported migrant women for the past seven years. The project helps these women to utilise their skills and interests to generate income for their families by empowering them with opportunities for education, employment and enterprise.
Since the inception of the WISE Collective project, it has assisted more than 1000 women from 38 different ethnicities. “WISE Catering is more than just a way for women from refugee backgrounds to share the recipes from their home countries and create an income, it’s about helping them feel they belong in their new country and feel welcomed and valued within their communities,” says WISE project coordinator Sasikala Syed Niyamathullah. “Women gain new experiences that help grow their social
FOOD & DRINK AOTEAROA
“IT’S ABOUT HELPING THEM FEEL THEY BELONG.” SASIKALA SYED NIYAMATHULLAH
networks, improve their English language skills and open up more opportunities for them in both employment and education.”
Many of the women that have come to WISE had no employment history, meaning their job prospects were limited. “Several had experience mainly as a homemaker with their backgrounds providing little to no opportunity for education and employment,” explains Niyamathullah. But many of the women had in common a love of cooking and of sharing their traditional dishes. “We saw a great opportunity and potential in these women to not only share their passion for cooking and their culture with the wider community, but also gain a way to generate income for themselves and their families.”
The wonderful work of WISE has been recognised by none other than the British royal family, with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall meeting with members of Belong Aotearoa during their visit to New Zealand last year. “They met our WISE women and heard about how our project supports women from refugee and migrant backgrounds to develop their skills,” says Niyamathullah. “It was really exciting and an unbelievable experience for our women.”
Lockdown was particularly challenging for the WISE women. Not being able to cater meant they lost their income and some also struggled with isolation. “Many women started to worry about their families overseas, and some women’s husbands who went overseas to visit their families couldn’t return because all the flights were cancelled,” says Niyamathullah.
She hopes WISE Catering will receive plenty of orders when they are able to reopen again, and she urges people to follow them on Facebook for updates. “Our women love sharing their traditional foods and take pride in every order, so we’re really looking forward to starting up again.” belong.org.nz/wisecatering