Culinary Course at the Urban Shelter Schärenmoos.
Zurich, Switzerland

In Swiss gastronomy, motivated staff is in high demand. This is also known to the refugees living in the Schärenmoos collective accommodation. A survey among the residents revealed that they not only desired recreational courses but many wanted to acquire gastronomic skills. With this insight, the caregivers reached out to our organization.

Cuisine sans frontières is now organizing a series of workshops from March to June 2025 in collaboration with volunteer gastro-professionals. The goal is to provide a broad introduction to the field of gastronomy and offer a low-threshold entry into the industry.

The project includes the teaching of basic cooking techniques, insights into food science, and Swiss gastronomy. It also involves a visit to a hospitality business and a meal with the neighborhood. As a highlight, participants will cook at Food Zurich at the end of the program.

Many people living in asylum accommodations miss a basic daily activity: cooking. In federal asylum centers and collective accommodations, there are often no or limited opportunities to prepare meals on their own.

The project by Cuisine sans frontières (Csf) in collaboration with Asylorganisation Zürich (AOZ) directly addresses this issue: Between March and June 2025, a series of cooking and meeting events will be organized with volunteer gastro-professionals in the Schärenmoos collective accommodation to promote community, integration, and self-efficacy.

• The project also offers a perspective for the participants' professional future: The gastronomy sector in Switzerland has great potential, as motivated staff is urgently needed, and entry into this industry is comparatively accessible.

• Cooking together serves as a means to not only teach refugees culinary skills but also to enhance their physical and mental well-being. 

• Through interaction with volunteers, a space for encounters is created, which overcomes cultural barriers and fosters a sense of community.

• At the same time, participants learn professionally valuable skills – a step toward a potential career in the gastronomy industry. 

The project consists of a series of culinary workshops that will take place weekly in the accommodation.

Participants will learn practical skills such as food safety, cutting techniques, and the preparation of Swiss and other dishes. The program is complemented by excursions, such as visits to hospitality businesses, offering insights into the Swiss gastronomy scene.

A special highlight of the project is the neighborhood meal, where participants can showcase their new skills and invite the local community. The grand finale will be participation in Food ZURICH in May 2025. Accompanied by professional chefs, participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to a wider audience – a unique opportunity for exchange and recognition.