The SOUL Food project brought together teams from five countries in Vienna to launch a unique initiative: using cooking as a tool to empower migrant women, improve their employment opportunities and foster cultural exchange. During this meeting, key activities were planned, such as the creation of a learning platform, the design of community workshops and the collection of success stories that will serve as examples for other communities in Europe. It took place on November 11 and 12, 2024.

Meeting activities

For two days, teams from Austria, Italy, Greece, Spain and Sweden worked together to organize and plan the first actions of the project. The main activities included:

• Allocating tasks and responsibilities among the participants.
• Reviewing ways of organizing the project to make it efficient and transparent.
• Designing activities that combine social inclusion and cooking as a way of learning.
• Plan next steps, such as collecting examples of success and preparing activities in local communities.
• Discuss how to raise awareness of the project to reach as many people as possible.

Objectives of SOUL Food

The project wants to:

• Improve the job and digital skills of migrant women.
• Create closer-knit communities using cooking as a meeting point.
• Provide educators with practical tools to replicate this model elsewhere in Europe.

During the meeting, ideas and tools, such as a digital learning platform and a trainer’s guide, were discussed to help achieve these goals.

Why this meeting was important

The meeting allowed participants to coordinate and create a clear plan for the next two years. It also allowed for an exchange of ideas and cultures between countries, demonstrating that working together can be a great force for change.

Next steps

In the coming months, the team will work on:

• Identifying practical and useful examples that can serve as inspiration.
• Organizing activities with the communities to start implementing the project.
• Developing innovative tools and resources so that more people can benefit.

The Vienna meeting was a great step forward, showing how collaboration between countries can help overcome challenges and build bridges between different cultures.