As part of the SOUL Food project, Caritas Vienna has successfully completed its role as the lead organization for Work Package 2 (WP2): Cooking-based events and intercultural meetings.
This work package was designed to foster intercultural exchange, inclusion, and accessibility in adult education, with a particular focus on addressing language barriers and creating opportunities for migrant women across Europe.
Highlights from WP2
Over the course of WP2, all five partner organizations successfully organized a variety of cooking-based events and intercultural meetings. These events brought together local communities and migrant women, offering both practical cooking sessions and theoretical exchanges on culinary traditions.
In total, 302 women participated in the activities, including 128 migrant women. This not only met but fully achieved the set KPI for participation.
Participation by Country
- Spain – Geinnova: 48 participants (all migrant women)
- Austria – Caritas Vienna: 98 participants (at least 8 migrant women)
- Italy – S-Nodi: 55 participants (11 migrant women)
- Greece – Mindtoinnovate: 48 participants (20 migrant women)
- Sweden – IKF Malmö: 53 participants (41 migrant women)
Positive Feedback and Impact
Feedback was collected via a shared online survey, and all partners reported more than 80% positive responses, both from local participants and migrant women alike.
The results show that the events:
Created welcoming spaces for cultural exchange,
Helped break down language and social barriers,
Empowered migrant women to share their skills, traditions, and experiences.
Notably, the events organized by Caritas Vienna in Austria were exceptionally well-received and will continue beyond the project due to their success and demand.
Looking Ahead
The outcomes of WP2 confirm the transformative role of food, culture, and community in building inclusive societies. These cooking-based events represent the first step toward a modular educational pathway, opening up new opportunities for migrant women in the partner countries. Caritas Vienna is proud to have led this important work package and looks forward to seeing how the SOUL Food project continues to empower communities across Europe.
Photo credits: Maryana Kosovan
