Cookery classes help Afghan students feel welcome
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
At Albrighton Primary School in Shropshire, England, nine-year-old Arsalan and 17 other Afghan refugee students are connecting with their classmates through cooking classes.
The school partnered with Shrewsbury Food Hub to use surplus food and prepare traditional Afghan dishes each Tuesday. Students then host a meal for their families, sharing dishes like Kabuli Pulao, Afghanistan’s national dish. Head teacher Karen Tearle initiated the program after a refugee support group suggested it, recognizing the value of cultural exchange.
Tearle noted the project has been more impactful than anything else in her 28 years of teaching, observing the joy it brings to the children and the positive effect on community cohesion. Beyond learning to cook, the students also practiced soft skills like menu planning and table setting, and taught classmates basic words in their language. Pupils who participated, like eight-year-old Jonah and Brody, expressed feeling proud to share their culture and include new friends.
Tearle believes the dinners provided a wider benefit for students who had experienced trauma, allowing them to express pride in their heritage and introducing all the children to new ingredients like chickpeas.
