A tasting passport will guide visitors through seven global cuisines and the stories behind them as part of a Refugee Week event designed to create community connections.
Delivered by City of Newcastle in partnership with the Village in the City Working Group, the Bright Nights Bazaar and Tasting Trail will showcase the talents of craft makers, stallholders, musicians and dancers from newly arrived and refugee communities.
: Carolyn Schofield (Left) who runs programs at Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre, pictured with an attendee at the first event, ‘Twilight Village Kitchen and Market’ in May.Chair of City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Standing Committee, Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk, said the event reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusion and belonging.
“This event forms part of a program that was launched last year to mark the 10-year anniversary since Newcastle reaffirmed the city as a Refugee Welcome Zone,” Cr Adamczyk said.
“Through food, arts, sport and community events, the Neighbourly Newy program builds connections across our community, creating a place where people feel welcomed and proud to belong.
“Refugee Week is an important opportunity to celebrate and strengthen understandings of the contributions and resilience of people from refugee backgrounds, and strengthen our community.”
The tasting trail will offer $5 sample dishes from Sri Lankan, Egyptian, South Indian, Arabic and various Afghan cuisines. Visitors will receive a stamp at each stall and learn about the origins of the dishes.
The Bazaar will feature live music from refugee artists including local singer Regikay, Earthern Rhythms drumming, an African dance group from Jesmond Public School and an emerging young DJ mentored by the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre.
A community dessert competition will also be judged as part of the event, with recipes from all entries to be compiled into a community cookbook in partnership with BaptistCare Jesmond.
City of Newcastle’s Executive Manager of Community and Recreation Lynn Duffy said the Bazaar was one of three events being delivered with the Village in the City Working Group across May, June and July to support communities in Jesmond experiencing social and geographic isolation.
“The initiative is designed to provide a culturally safe space for residents experiencing challenges such as social isolation, racial tensions and limited access to inclusive community activities,” Ms Duffy said.
“These events respond directly to those challenges, helping strengthen connection and wellbeing in communities that may face barriers to participation due to discrimination, which is part of achieving the goals set in City of Newcastle’s social strategy.”
“While the events are designed with the Jesmond community in mind, they are open to everyone to come along and enjoy.”
Sixteen-year-old City of Newcastle Youth Council member Hamza Mamond, who is originally from Afghanistan, said these events provide an important opportunity for connection and inclusion.
“Coming from a refugee background, I understand how important it is for people to feel included, supported and represented,” Mr Mamond said.
“Events like this help people share their stories, celebrate culture and build understanding between communities. They create connections and show that diversity is one of our greatest strengths.”
The free community events kicked off in May with a Twilight Village Kitchen and Market, featuring cooking stations, market stalls, facepainting, live entertainment, workshops and reptile encounters.
The Bright Nights Bazaar Tasting Trail will be held this Friday from 4pm – 7.30pm at the Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre.
The series will wrap up at Heaton Park on 17 July with the Lantern Night Picnic & Community Showcase, which will bring the community together for a winter picnic with music, poetry and performances.
Refugee Week is an annual national initiative coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face and the contributions they make to the Australian community. This year it runs from 14 to 20 June with the theme “A Million Stories”.