PORTUGAL, Beja: Food, Belonging and Boundaries

It aims are: Studying food practices from an intercultural and interdisciplinarity perspective; To reflect on food, as a material and symbolic object, that is a powerful communicative link between people from different cultures; Thinking about how talking about food, sharing recipes and exchanging ingredients can be a field of negotiation of cultural meanings; Thinking  how the process can result in both rapprochement and mutual recognition, as well as resistance, reaffirmation of distinctions and, at times, conflict.

The subject is: In which ways can we use food practices to bring people from different cultures and religions closer together? How can we facilitate the integration of immigrants with dietary restrictions by personalising food parcels? And by raising awareness among the population of host territories about specific ingredient donations?

And the methodology is: Methodology: CBL; case studies; visits to organizations that provide food baskets and support the feeding of low-income people from different cultures, countries, and religions; group work and interactive debate sessions; documental research; workshops

Outcomes: knowledge – culture, importance of interdisciplinarity, importance of alimentary practices, multiculturality; skills: difference, acceptance, understanding; Attitude: empathy, tolerance, believes; Competencies: multicultural communication; interculturality

Products (eventually): Good practices guide (recommendations to be taken in account by stakeholders); e-book.

The answer to the challenge may integrate an IT response. I believe it makes sense to create an App or a webpage as a tool to inform people about food taboos, related with religions, for instance.