Asylum seekers from Iran and El Salvador share cultural meals in Thatcham Baptist Church event

The kitchen of a Thatcham Church was filled with flavour on Saturday, May 21 for a community cohesive cooking event.

Iranian and El Salvadorian asylum seekers staying in West Berkshire had the chance to cook meals from their home countries at the Thatcham Baptist Church.

With a little help from Google Translate ten helpers of the church sat down with 20 asylum seekers for a shared meal after an afternoon of games.

Church member Carol Collis collated a list of ingredients for those staying at the Regency Hotel and a Padworth hotel so they could cook and eat together rather than be secluded in their hotel rooms.

She said: “There was some competition with everyone needing the hob at once, but it all worked out and we enjoyed some fantastic Iranian and El Salvadorian food.

“Some of the Iranians and El Salvadorians have also been coming regularly to events at church, and so are becoming good friends.

“We finished off the meal with ice creams and baklava which went down well. They are already planning what meals they would like to cook next.”

When sitting down to enjoy the food, the attendees were encouraged to sit with people they didn’t know. A grace was said in Spanish and in Farsi and then the individuals from different cultures each enjoyed their “familiar food”.

Church pastor Rev David Taylor said: “I'm so grateful to everyone who made our international weekend so special.

“Jesus brings people from all races into one community, and it's very exciting to see that worked out in practice in our church at the moment.”