2020 has been a difficult year for many people the world over. A global health pandemic, economic problems and even more people displaced than before were just some of the challenges we all faced. But to try and spread a bit of cheer as the year comes to a close, InfoMigrants decided to look back at some of the positive stories we featured. Here’s a few focusing on how migrants helped their communities pull through the dark times.
Five years ago, Samer Serawan spent many long, cold nights in a muddy courtyard in Berlin, one of many Syrians who queued up to live in Germany. Now he has a successful restaurant that promotes integration.
From cooking for grocery store workers to making masks for those in need, many newcomers to Germany are stepping in and helping others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge they bring from home is priceless.
While the COVID-19 crisis continues to take its toll, 12 Syrian refugee families in Alençon, France, joined forces to cook meals for healthcare workers. It’s one of several initiatives launched across the country to feed vulnerable groups and frontline workers risking their lives during the public health crisis.
In 2008, Ahmed was shot while working as a paramedic in Lebanon during an internal conflict between Shia and Sunni. He arrived in the UK three years ago after a second shooting made him fear for his life. He has been seeking asylum ever since. While his case is still pending, he can’t work and is destitute. Last September he started teaching Lebanese cooking classes with ‘Migrateful’ and the charity has become ‘like a family’ to him.
This month, displaced people are cooking up exotic dishes in nearly 150 restaurant kitchens across the world. The Refugee Food festival promotes positive attitudes — and helps trainee chefs launch new careers.
The municipal administration of Jesi, in central Italy, has organized an initiative which brings seniors and migrants together to share their experiences and get to know each other. The goal: to fight prejudices and to foster integration.
There is a new culinary project on the streets of Warsaw that helps locals and refugees alike. With the universal language of food, people come together to learn something new about each other.
According to a recent study, almost 64 percent of Germans view the integration of migrants positively. It concludes that people who have direct contact with refugees are most likely to describe their experiences as harmonious. Those findings certainly ring true to the staff and guests of the Kreuzberger Himmel, a Syrian restaurant in Berlin run by refugees. Mike Mühlberger has the story.
Refugees in Portugal's capital are winning over locals with their cooking - one bite at a time. A local initiative is enabling them to share their knowledge about Middle Eastern cuisine and to make a living in their new homes.
A cooking workshop for migrant women in Italy's Umbrian region is bringing people in the local community together.
Syrian Malakeh Jazmati was a renowned TV cook before she arrived in Germany. She has become a star among Berlin refugees, and an inspiration for everyone.