SICAP 2019 Case Study
Introduction
Food has always been one of the most important cultural signifiers in the definition of human identity. Since earliest times, food has symbolically marked the transition from nature to culture, playing a leading role in the formation of a sense of belonging to specific cultural dimensions and practices.
Far from being just mere nourishment, food is a universal cultural expression, a fundamental element in our definition of ourselves, through our identity as belonging to a group, and our identity as distinct from other groups.
Claudia Roden, renowned food writer and food anthropologist, who made it a lifetime’s work to follow the migrant journeys of various national cuisine advocates “Food is the last thing exiles or emigrants lose. They stop wearing the clothes, they stop speaking their language, they no longer listen to their music, but the importance of food remains.”
Explore the stories below to discover how food has helped transform lives and communities:
- Izz Café: Turning a Passion for Food into a Successful Business – Discover how SECAD supported the creation of Izz Café, helping turn a passion for authentic Palestinian cuisine into a thriving local business.
- Celebrating Multiculturalism Through Food – Learn how SECAD’s multicultural food initiatives have brought together people from many different backgrounds, fostering inclusion, understanding and stronger communities across Cork.
Story 1: Izz Café: Turning a Passion for Food into a Successful Business
When Palestinian refugees Izz and Eman Alkarjeh arrived in Cork, they brought with them a passion for sharing their traditional cuisine. Encouraged by the positive response from local communities, Izz enrolled in SECAD’s Start Your Own Business programme, delivered through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
The programme helps each participant assess their own suitability for selfemployment, look at business viability and assists them with forming a business
plan and strategy for their proposed enterprise. It is especially designed to help participants decide if they are well suited for self-employment and if so, how to
go about setting up a small business.
Through the programme, Izz developed a business plan, received one-to-one mentoring and gained the practical knowledge needed to launch a new enterprise.
SECAD assigned a business mentor to Izz on completion of the Programme. Neil O’Brien from Quantum Business Solutions outlines “At the time I was very confident that Izz would succeed in business as he did a tremendous amount of research for his planned business. Izz felt that his Palestinian food would be well received in Cork and that it had a particular niche when compared to other cafes in Cork.”
Initially, funding was the biggest struggle so he decided to build up his savings by selling at a farmer’s market.
This also afforded him a great opportunity to get customer feedback.
To test the market, Izz and Eman began selling their food at Mahon Point Farmers’ Market, where demand quickly exceeded expectations. Their success gave them the confidence to take the next step.
“After starting the markets we really saw the potential of our foods and the skill of Eman as well in really
presenting it. Even when the weather was terrible, she still gave it the same quality and we got huge
feedback, interviewers with food bloggers and journalists and they loved the food.” – Izz Alkarjeh.
In May 2019, they officially opened Izz Café in Cork, bringing authentic Palestinian street food to the city. What began as an idea has grown into a successful local business, demonstrating how the right support can help entrepreneurs transform their skills and culture into thriving enterprises.
Read the full case study here.
Story 2: Celebrating Multiculturalism Through Food
Bringing Communities Together Through Food
Since 2017, SECAD has been using food as a powerful tool to promote social inclusion, cultural understanding and community integration. Through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the Communities Integration Fund, the Celebrating Multiculturalism Through Food initiative has brought together people from different ethnic backgrounds to share recipes, traditions and experiences, creating stronger and more connected communities across East and West Cork. The initiative is based on a simple idea: food provides a welcoming and accessible way for people from different cultures to meet, build relationships and celebrate diversity.
Building Connections Through Local Food Festivals
The project was first piloted in 2017 and became an integral part of the annual Midleton Summer Food Festival and Macroom Food Festival. Working alongside local volunteers, traders and Cork County Council, SECAD created opportunities for people from many different nationalities to showcase their traditional cuisine and share stories about their cultures.
These events quickly grew into vibrant celebrations of diversity, attracting participants and visitors from across Cork.
To build lasting relationships beyond the festivals, SECAD established community groups that met throughout the year to exchange recipes, learn about different cultures and plan future activities.
In Midleton, the Food Fusion group brought together participants from Irish, Polish, Russian, Argentinian, Nigerian, British and Australian backgrounds. The initiative later expanded through collaboration with the Carrigtwohill Family Resource Centre, welcoming even more nationalities into the programme.
In Macroom, the Food Flavours initiative included participants from French, Spanish, Hungarian, Bangladeshi, Italian and Irish communities. These regular gatherings helped create friendships, strengthen community ties and encourage greater cultural understanding.
FEAST: Celebrating Cultural Diversity
The annual FEAST – Celebrating Multiculturalism Through Food event became the centrepiece of the initiative.
Between 2017 and 2019, the festival expanded significantly, bringing together representatives from 15 countries, including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Benin, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, Albania, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, China and Ireland.
Visitors enjoyed traditional foods from around the world while experiencing national music, flags, maps and cultural displays. The events encouraged conversations about ingredients, cooking techniques and traditions, creating opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange.
Supporting Community Integration
The initiative also extended beyond food festivals. SECAD worked closely with local Family Resource Centres, schools and community organisations to organise additional multicultural activities, including events involving preschool and Montessori children. Transport was arranged to enable families living in accommodation centres to participate, ensuring the events were welcoming and accessible to everyone.
Through these activities, food became a starting point for wider conversations about community participation, belonging and inclusion.
Understanding Community Needs
Alongside community events, SECAD supported research and focus groups with people from diverse backgrounds to better understand the challenges facing new communities.
Participants discussed topics including:
- maintaining cultural identity while becoming part of Irish society;
- improving spoken and written English;
- accessing education, employment and skills development opportunities;
- overcoming isolation;
- promoting cultural awareness and mutual respect.
These conversations helped identify future priorities for community development and informed the design of new SICAP supports.
Creating Lasting Impact
The Celebrating Multiculturalism Through Food initiative demonstrated that sharing food is far more than a social activity—it is an effective way to foster trust, reduce barriers between communities and celebrate cultural diversity.
The success of the programme has inspired SECAD to continue developing initiatives that promote inclusion, challenge racism and create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to participate fully in community life.
Read the full case study here.
