Saffron Kitchen Project

Saffron Kitchen Project

SKP provides vital support to vulnerable communities in Athens by cooking and distributing an average of 7,500 meals each month. In addition to addressing food insecurity, we are committed to creating job opportunities for individuals from the refugee community. To date, we have hired 12 individuals with refugee backgrounds, helping them integrate into the local workforce. Our kitchen is, in fact, run and managed by individuals with lived experience. Furthermore, we enhance our impact through a partnership with IEK Delta, offering free culinary vocational training to the most marginalised. The training, taught by Greek chefs, covers culinary techniques and essential soft skills. This comprehensive programme enables individuals from the refugee community to access the job market and become autonomous and self-reliant. Recognised by the Greek Ministry of Education at a national level, our graduates receive accredited certificates. Students also receive employability training from SKP, including support with job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation from. Since its launch in April 2022, SKP has screened 325 applications for seven cohorts of its culinary training, boosting the employability and autonomy of 110 trained chefs, all with refugee backgrounds. To date over 50% have gone onto contractual employment in the hospitality sector.