Pomegranate Kitchen
By Rebecca Stewart
PledgeMe.Project
Food,
I want to embed this project somewhere
NZ $18,350 pledged
230 people pledged
Closed
NZ $15,000 minimum target
This campaign was successful and closed on 10/11/2016 at 1:00 AM.
Make a PledgeAbout
Pomegranate Kitchen
Project 2016-05-19 13:07:46 +1200
Who are we?
Pomegranate Kitchen is a new social enterprise that will be cooking delicious food for Wellingtonians, while providing training and work for former refugees.
Why are we doing this?
Refugees face major hurdles when they arrive in New Zealand, and finding a job is one of the biggest. Our research tells us getting a job will make a significant difference for how well former refugees integrate into our Wellington community.
What will we be doing?
We will deliver lunches to workplaces, provide catering services, and run pop-up food events, starting in October this year.
Check out our website here: http://www.pomegranate.org.nz/
How can I help welcome and support former refugees into our city?
Helping us get underway is a great way to make a real difference - it sends a message of support as well as money to get stuff done.
What will my money be used for?
You will be supporting our first 3 months costs to help us get up and running, including:
- On-job training and coaching - practicing English in the kitchen, health and safety, food hygiene, knife skills, food preparation, food presentation
- Coordinating a more formal catering skills training programme
- Coordinating an “English for Cooks” language course
- Renting a commercial kitchen
- Buying kitchen equipment, aprons and knives
- Menu design and testing
- Core ingredients
- Liaison with restaurants and chefs around Wellington to expand work experience
- Coordination and administration work.
Our team
Rebecca Stewart - General Manager, Co-founder
Rebecca is a Wellingtonian who loves to eat! She has a background in not for profits, particularly program evaluation, in New Zealand Australia, India and Fiji. Most recently she worked for New Zealand Red Cross.
Ange Wither - Co-founder, Board Member
Ange is an incredible cook and food obsessive with a background in organisational learning and development. Her favourite thing to make is sourdough.
Hajar Mazraeh - Supervisor
Hajar is originally from Iran and ran a pita bread business as a refugee in Indonesia while awaiting a visa.
Muna Al Naser - Cook
Muna is originally from Syria. Recently she was asked to help design a menu and share her cooking skills with Logan Brown restaurant.
Genet Seyoum - Cook
Genet is originally from Ethiopia but has spent some time in Egypt.
Fatima Qasim Ali - Cook
Fatima is originally from Afghanistan.
Hawa Kusama Fitzgerald - Board Member
Hawa is a Kiwi originally from Indonesia. She currently works for New Zealand Red Cross providing support in refugee resettlement. In a former life Hawa ran a large catering company, and still makes elaborate cakes and traditional Indonesian foods from time to time.
Scott Barrett - Food Advisor, Board Member
Scott is originally from Australia but is now fully integrated into Kiwi life. He was the owner of the popular Elements cafe in Lyall Bay for many years, and now operates the Eat Street food truck.
Please share our campaign, pledge for some delicious treats, like us on Facebook, and use us for your catering needs.
Comments
Updates 2
We made it!!
23/11/2016 at 3:16 PM
First of all, a massive THANK YOU to our crowd! It’s so heartening to know that you believe in what we are doing and in the futures of our former refugee cooks - what an amazing welcome to New Zealand after all the things they have been through. We really couldn’t have done it without you. Already we have been able to purchase a bench top deep fryer for the falafel which is much safer and more precise. The cooks hadn’t used one before but took to it well!
For those of you who ordered individual lunches, we are still working on the website to be able to take your orders, and this should be up in the next two weeks. We will email you with a code which you can then use as and when you wish.
We loved the fact that so many people wanted to meet the cooks. After all, this is why we are doing it! We were thinking of having a few morning tea events so as not to overwhelm them – you can come along, try some new menu ideas, and have an informal chat.
Some people just wanted to Pledge, which is especially generous, and a special shout-out to three friends of mine who pooled together and purchased the reward for corporates to have their logo on the side of our food carrier. I was a little worried about who would purchase that as some companies are more aligned with our values than others! I have offered to put these three peoples’ faces on the side of the food carrier so we will see how it goes.
For all the rest of you, we will be in touch! Thanks again!
Rebecca, Ange, and the Pomegranate Kitchen team
Halfway and Halfway!
26/10/2016 at 7:27 PM
Hello supporters of Pomegranate Kitchen!
First of all, a massive thank you for pledging to our project. It's been so mind-blowing to see the support we have received already. Your pledges will go towards much-needed equipment and ingredients, as well as venue hire and staff salaries - so we can pump out delicious goodies to you, made with love by women from a refugee background! I have been reading out some of your messages to the women in the kitchen on our coffee break - they are amazed and touched that so many of you want to help us get going.
Now, we are halfway there in both senses, only 15 days to go and 7,200 till we meet our (first) goal. Can you help get us over the line? You could:
- Share our project on your social media pages or around your office, using the photos and links below;
- Order a morning tea from us (through this page http://www.pomegranate.org.nz/contact-us) and promote us to your workmates or your company; or
- Donate a reward for us to share to other Pledgers - this could be an item, skill or event!
We have just finished up two weeks in the pop up pods at Moore Wilson's (see blog here: http://www.pomegranate.org.nz/blog) and it was great to see some of your faces down there. Let's keep this momentum going!
Heartfelt thanks again to all of you,
Rebecca and Ange
The link to our campaign: http://pldg.me/
Our website: http://www.pomegranate.org.nz
Our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pomegranatekitchennz
Our Twitter (NEW!): https://twitter.com/Pomegranate_NZ
A photo for you to share
Pledgers 230
27/10/2016 at 7:39pm
27/10/2016 at 4:50pm
"Great initiative and well worth supporting."
27/10/2016 at 4:32pm
27/10/2016 at 3:54pm
27/10/2016 at 3:11pm
"Great initiative and really looking forward to seeing it in action! "
27/10/2016 at 1:45pm
27/10/2016 at 12:46pm
27/10/2016 at 12:25pm
27/10/2016 at 11:43am
"Good luck, i tried your food outside moore wilson and it was yummy"
26/10/2016 at 8:56pm
"What a fantastic idea. I hope you are very successful. :-)"
26/10/2016 at 8:26pm
"Great initiative! Delighted to help support what you are doing!"
26/10/2016 at 5:17pm
25/10/2016 at 2:21pm
"Awesome!"
25/10/2016 at 2:20pm
"can't wait"
24/10/2016 at 1:40pm
23/10/2016 at 10:47pm
"So happy to see a social enterprise with such positive community benefits happening in Wellington. can't wait to have the delicious treats!"
23/10/2016 at 3:10pm
"Good luck, great idea. Thanks."
20/10/2016 at 10:07pm
20/10/2016 at 8:24pm
20/10/2016 at 8:22pm
20/10/2016 at 1:13pm
"Amazing work Rebecca! "
20/10/2016 at 12:46pm
20/10/2016 at 7:58am
19/10/2016 at 9:07pm
"We need more opportunities for people who come to NZ like this one - love it"
19/10/2016 at 9:48am
"I wish Pomegranate Kitchen every success and hope my colleagues at Greater Wellington Regional Council also get behind this initiative."
18/10/2016 at 11:46am
"Thank you for the opportunity to support this excellent project. "
18/10/2016 at 11:17am
18/10/2016 at 9:32am
18/10/2016 at 8:01am
"Awesome cause "
18/10/2016 at 7:44am
Followers 3
Followers of Pomegranate Kitchen
Pomegranate Kitchen
Project 2016-05-19 13:07:46 +1200
Who are we?
Pomegranate Kitchen is a new social enterprise that will be cooking delicious food for Wellingtonians, while providing training and work for former refugees.
Why are we doing this?
Refugees face major hurdles when they arrive in New Zealand, and finding a job is one of the biggest. Our research tells us getting a job will make a significant difference for how well former refugees integrate into our Wellington community.
What will we be doing?
We will deliver lunches to workplaces, provide catering services, and run pop-up food events, starting in October this year.
Check out our website here: http://www.pomegranate.org.nz/
How can I help welcome and support former refugees into our city?
Helping us get underway is a great way to make a real difference - it sends a message of support as well as money to get stuff done.
What will my money be used for?
You will be supporting our first 3 months costs to help us get up and running, including:
- On-job training and coaching - practicing English in the kitchen, health and safety, food hygiene, knife skills, food preparation, food presentation
- Coordinating a more formal catering skills training programme
- Coordinating an “English for Cooks” language course
- Renting a commercial kitchen
- Buying kitchen equipment, aprons and knives
- Menu design and testing
- Core ingredients
- Liaison with restaurants and chefs around Wellington to expand work experience
- Coordination and administration work.
Our team
Rebecca Stewart - General Manager, Co-founder
Rebecca is a Wellingtonian who loves to eat! She has a background in not for profits, particularly program evaluation, in New Zealand Australia, India and Fiji. Most recently she worked for New Zealand Red Cross.
Ange Wither - Co-founder, Board Member
Ange is an incredible cook and food obsessive with a background in organisational learning and development. Her favourite thing to make is sourdough.
Hajar Mazraeh - Supervisor
Hajar is originally from Iran and ran a pita bread business as a refugee in Indonesia while awaiting a visa.
Muna Al Naser - Cook
Muna is originally from Syria. Recently she was asked to help design a menu and share her cooking skills with Logan Brown restaurant.
Genet Seyoum - Cook
Genet is originally from Ethiopia but has spent some time in Egypt.
Fatima Qasim Ali - Cook
Fatima is originally from Afghanistan.
Hawa Kusama Fitzgerald - Board Member
Hawa is a Kiwi originally from Indonesia. She currently works for New Zealand Red Cross providing support in refugee resettlement. In a former life Hawa ran a large catering company, and still makes elaborate cakes and traditional Indonesian foods from time to time.
Scott Barrett - Food Advisor, Board Member
Scott is originally from Australia but is now fully integrated into Kiwi life. He was the owner of the popular Elements cafe in Lyall Bay for many years, and now operates the Eat Street food truck.
Please share our campaign, pledge for some delicious treats, like us on Facebook, and use us for your catering needs.
Comments
We made it!!
23/11/2016 at 3:16 PM
First of all, a massive THANK YOU to our crowd! It’s so heartening to know that you believe in what we are doing and in the futures of our former refugee cooks - what an amazing welcome to New Zealand after all the things they have been through. We really couldn’t have done it without you. Already we have been able to purchase a bench top deep fryer for the falafel which is much safer and more precise. The cooks hadn’t used one before but took to it well!
For those of you who ordered individual lunches, we are still working on the website to be able to take your orders, and this should be up in the next two weeks. We will email you with a code which you can then use as and when you wish.
We loved the fact that so many people wanted to meet the cooks. After all, this is why we are doing it! We were thinking of having a few morning tea events so as not to overwhelm them – you can come along, try some new menu ideas, and have an informal chat.
Some people just wanted to Pledge, which is especially generous, and a special shout-out to three friends of mine who pooled together and purchased the reward for corporates to have their logo on the side of our food carrier. I was a little worried about who would purchase that as some companies are more aligned with our values than others! I have offered to put these three peoples’ faces on the side of the food carrier so we will see how it goes.
For all the rest of you, we will be in touch! Thanks again!
Rebecca, Ange, and the Pomegranate Kitchen team
Halfway and Halfway!
26/10/2016 at 7:27 PM
Hello supporters of Pomegranate Kitchen!
First of all, a massive thank you for pledging to our project. It's been so mind-blowing to see the support we have received already. Your pledges will go towards much-needed equipment and ingredients, as well as venue hire and staff salaries - so we can pump out delicious goodies to you, made with love by women from a refugee background! I have been reading out some of your messages to the women in the kitchen on our coffee break - they are amazed and touched that so many of you want to help us get going.
Now, we are halfway there in both senses, only 15 days to go and 7,200 till we meet our (first) goal. Can you help get us over the line? You could:
- Share our project on your social media pages or around your office, using the photos and links below;
- Order a morning tea from us (through this page http://www.pomegranate.org.nz/contact-us) and promote us to your workmates or your company; or
- Donate a reward for us to share to other Pledgers - this could be an item, skill or event!
We have just finished up two weeks in the pop up pods at Moore Wilson's (see blog here: http://www.pomegranate.org.nz/blog) and it was great to see some of your faces down there. Let's keep this momentum going!
Heartfelt thanks again to all of you,
Rebecca and Ange
The link to our campaign: http://pldg.me/
Our website: http://www.pomegranate.org.nz
Our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pomegranatekitchennz
Our Twitter (NEW!): https://twitter.com/Pomegranate_NZ
A photo for you to share
27/10/2016 at 7:39pm
27/10/2016 at 4:50pm
"Great initiative and well worth supporting."
27/10/2016 at 4:32pm
27/10/2016 at 3:54pm
27/10/2016 at 3:11pm
"Great initiative and really looking forward to seeing it in action! "
27/10/2016 at 1:45pm
27/10/2016 at 12:46pm
27/10/2016 at 12:25pm
27/10/2016 at 11:43am
"Good luck, i tried your food outside moore wilson and it was yummy"
26/10/2016 at 8:56pm
"What a fantastic idea. I hope you are very successful. :-)"
26/10/2016 at 8:26pm
"Great initiative! Delighted to help support what you are doing!"
26/10/2016 at 5:17pm
25/10/2016 at 2:21pm
"Awesome!"
25/10/2016 at 2:20pm
"can't wait"
24/10/2016 at 1:40pm
23/10/2016 at 10:47pm
"So happy to see a social enterprise with such positive community benefits happening in Wellington. can't wait to have the delicious treats!"
23/10/2016 at 3:10pm
"Good luck, great idea. Thanks."
20/10/2016 at 10:07pm
20/10/2016 at 8:24pm
20/10/2016 at 8:22pm
20/10/2016 at 1:13pm
"Amazing work Rebecca! "
20/10/2016 at 12:46pm
20/10/2016 at 7:58am
19/10/2016 at 9:07pm
"We need more opportunities for people who come to NZ like this one - love it"
19/10/2016 at 9:48am
"I wish Pomegranate Kitchen every success and hope my colleagues at Greater Wellington Regional Council also get behind this initiative."
18/10/2016 at 11:46am
"Thank you for the opportunity to support this excellent project. "
18/10/2016 at 11:17am
18/10/2016 at 9:32am
18/10/2016 at 8:01am
"Awesome cause "
18/10/2016 at 7:44am
Followers of Pomegranate Kitchen
I want to embed this project somewhere