London Pop-Up Restaurant Gives Women Refugees and Migrants Hope and a Job
The restaurant is working with women from several countries.
— -- European countries are facing a number of challenges with the influx of refugees and migrants, but one pop-up restaurant in London says it has found an innovative solution by providing job opportunities for women, hoping their model could be replicated across Europe.
Founder Nikandre Kopcke told ABC News that they work with migrant and refugee women because in addition to having to cope "with all the difficulties that come with being mothers and seeking work after an absence from the labor market, they’re also discriminated against.”
Kopcke is an American citizen who grew up in New York and is now living in London. She founded Mazi Mas, which she describes as a feminist and socially responsible pop-up restaurant, inspired by her immigrant Greek nanny whose dream of running her own bakery was never fulfilled.
On an evening in September, the restaurant was full of customers and one of them told ABC News how glad she was to be supporting the initiative.
"At the moment with the refugee crisis, it feels particularly important to support organizations like this,” Rachel, who preferred not to disclose her last name, told ABC News.
At least 800,000 refugees and migrants have crossed into the European Union since January, the head of the Europe’s border management agency Frontex said on Wednesday in an interview with the German newspaper Bild.
Employment for refugees and migrants is one of the most, if not the most condition for their integration, but in many countries they will likely be facing challenges.
"They’re discriminated racially; they’re discriminated because their English may not very good; they’re discriminated against because a lot of anti-immigrant sentiment today unfortunately and especially in the UK and in other European countries as we’re in the midst of this huge refugee crisis," Kopcke said.
Housed in a theater, six women from countries all around the world are busy preparing meals decided before hand by the day’s head chef.
"We chat, we dance and we laugh, and we cook," Brazilian chef Roberta Siao, who has been working in the restaurant since it's opening, told ABC News.
Mazi Mas is currently working with women from Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Iran, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, and Turkey, and all cooks are paid thanks to donations from the non-profit London Community Foundation and crowdfunding.
Kopcke hopes that their experience in the kitchen will give each women the confidence to seek employment elsewhere or become food entrepreneurs. An Australian version of the restaurant is already in place and one is under way in Germany.