Pomegranate Kitchen

By Rebecca Stewart

PledgeMe.Project

Food,



NZ $18,350 pledged


230 people pledged


Closed


NZ $15,000 minimum target


100 100% Complete

This campaign was successful and closed on 10/11/2016 at 1:00 AM.

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About

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/pomegranate

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

Social tile Pledgeme

 

    Pledgers 230

    Anonymous pledger
    03/11/2016 at 6:53pm
    Louise Parkin
    03/11/2016 at 11:22am

    "From the team at Nikau Foundation who have all made personal donations towards this, good luck meeting the target!"

    Esther Consedine
    03/11/2016 at 6:45am

    "Love it - inspirational!"

    Shelley
    02/11/2016 at 9:35pm
    Sandi Champaneri
    02/11/2016 at 9:02pm

    "This is a very exciting initiative. Well done to you all. May The Pomegranate Kitchen continue to prosper."

    Robyn Harper
    02/11/2016 at 7:50pm

    "Best of luck with this great project"

    Josh Forde
    02/11/2016 at 4:17pm
    Gael Ferguson
    02/11/2016 at 12:23pm
    Anonymous pledger
    02/11/2016 at 9:44am

    "Fabulous idea!"

    Anonymous
    02/11/2016 at 7:10am
    Tracie Almond
    01/11/2016 at 11:22pm

    "Love your concept and the lunches sound like they'll be delicious "

    Anonymous pledger
    01/11/2016 at 10:10pm
    emma hindson
    01/11/2016 at 8:51pm
    Circuit International
    01/11/2016 at 2:27pm

    "What a wonderful way to give former refugees an opportunity to show their fabulous culinary talents! And I do love your videographer!!"

    Natasha
    01/11/2016 at 10:40am
    Anonymous pledger
    31/10/2016 at 11:12pm
    Sothea Tep
    31/10/2016 at 10:25pm

    "Happy to support such an awesome business! Keep up the good work from Harriette, Alan and me :)"

    Rachel Webb
    31/10/2016 at 8:31pm
    Anonymous pledger
    31/10/2016 at 1:39pm

    "I want to say 'Welcome to our community' and support your enterprise."

    Esther Zweifel
    30/10/2016 at 8:41pm
    Derek Senior
    30/10/2016 at 7:53pm

    "A fantastic idea"

    Anonymous pledger
    30/10/2016 at 7:34pm
    Anonymous pledger
    30/10/2016 at 6:23pm
    Catherine Burns
    30/10/2016 at 5:06pm

    "Such agreat idea. I'm looking forward to trying your food."

    Gail
    30/10/2016 at 9:37am
    Tobin Druce
    30/10/2016 at 8:56am

    "This delivery is to my work."

    Josh Coe
    29/10/2016 at 4:43pm

    "Because the world needs good baklava! "

    Anonymous pledger
    28/10/2016 at 8:54pm
    Hayley Lewis-Pullin
    28/10/2016 at 7:46am

    "Love this :)"

    Ellie Cee
    27/10/2016 at 10:07pm

    "What an awesome project. Kia kaha"

    Followers 3

    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/pomegranate

    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

    Social tile Pledgeme

     

      Anonymous pledger
      03/11/2016 at 6:53pm
      Louise Parkin
      03/11/2016 at 11:22am

      "From the team at Nikau Foundation who have all made personal donations towards this, good luck meeting the target!"

      Esther Consedine
      03/11/2016 at 6:45am

      "Love it - inspirational!"

      Shelley
      02/11/2016 at 9:35pm
      Sandi Champaneri
      02/11/2016 at 9:02pm

      "This is a very exciting initiative. Well done to you all. May The Pomegranate Kitchen continue to prosper."

      Robyn Harper
      02/11/2016 at 7:50pm

      "Best of luck with this great project"

      Josh Forde
      02/11/2016 at 4:17pm
      Gael Ferguson
      02/11/2016 at 12:23pm
      Anonymous pledger
      02/11/2016 at 9:44am

      "Fabulous idea!"

      Anonymous
      02/11/2016 at 7:10am
      Tracie Almond
      01/11/2016 at 11:22pm

      "Love your concept and the lunches sound like they'll be delicious "

      Anonymous pledger
      01/11/2016 at 10:10pm
      emma hindson
      01/11/2016 at 8:51pm
      Circuit International
      01/11/2016 at 2:27pm

      "What a wonderful way to give former refugees an opportunity to show their fabulous culinary talents! And I do love your videographer!!"

      Natasha
      01/11/2016 at 10:40am
      Anonymous pledger
      31/10/2016 at 11:12pm
      Sothea Tep
      31/10/2016 at 10:25pm

      "Happy to support such an awesome business! Keep up the good work from Harriette, Alan and me :)"

      Rachel Webb
      31/10/2016 at 8:31pm
      Anonymous pledger
      31/10/2016 at 1:39pm

      "I want to say 'Welcome to our community' and support your enterprise."

      Esther Zweifel
      30/10/2016 at 8:41pm
      Derek Senior
      30/10/2016 at 7:53pm

      "A fantastic idea"

      Anonymous pledger
      30/10/2016 at 7:34pm
      Anonymous pledger
      30/10/2016 at 6:23pm
      Catherine Burns
      30/10/2016 at 5:06pm

      "Such agreat idea. I'm looking forward to trying your food."

      Gail
      30/10/2016 at 9:37am
      Tobin Druce
      30/10/2016 at 8:56am

      "This delivery is to my work."

      Josh Coe
      29/10/2016 at 4:43pm

      "Because the world needs good baklava! "

      Anonymous pledger
      28/10/2016 at 8:54pm
      Hayley Lewis-Pullin
      28/10/2016 at 7:46am

      "Love this :)"

      Ellie Cee
      27/10/2016 at 10:07pm

      "What an awesome project. Kia kaha"

      This campaign was successful and got its funding on 10/11/2016 at 1:00 AM.