“People need these opportunities for a chance to flower and bloom”: Zewditu’s Story

In 2012, Zewditu came to the UK as a refugee from Ethiopia, leaving behind everything she knew because of the politics that dominated her country.

She first came to Middlesbrough, knowing very little English, and then moved down to London a year later. Shortly after moving to Lambeth, she describes being blessed to find a job at an Eritrean restaurant, where her manager took her in and allowed her to cook delicious dishes from back home. Despite customers asking, “why is an Ethiopian working in an Eritrean restaurant?”, her manager stood by her.

Through her years working in restaurants, she had been gazing at various colleagues’ training certificates on the wall, wondering when she’ll learn enough English to be able to earn one of her own. It was one of her dreams to see her name on the wall of her workplace, recognising her achievement.

While living in Lambeth, she’s been involved with The Baytree Centre, who have helped and supported her to learn to confidently read and write in English. The Baytree Centre was also the place where one day our Food Ambassador Lead, Yasmin, gave a presentation about the Healthy Living Platform Food Ambassadors programme and Zewditu was instantly inspired!

She registered with Yasmin that same day and even got her friend involved too. During the 6-week course, Zewditu worked alongside her other classmates; her passion for food and experienced kitchen techniques gave everyone an authentic taste of her home. She loves to present food beautifully for others, which she did throughout the course.

However, what she was really working towards came at the end of the course, passing her Level 2 Food safety and hygiene course and receiving her very own certificate.  The day finally came and Zewditu’s certificate was presented to her by Councillor Jim Dickson (Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities) during her end of course celebration lunch. Zewditu received it proudly whilst representing Ethiopia in traditional attire and serving traditional Ethiopian coffee.

Zewditu described this as a moment that changed her life and her manager is incredibly proud of her. Now, she gazes at her certificate which hangs on the wall alongside her colleagues – a moment she had dreamed of!

Now she has finished the course, she has taken home all the information from the course refers to it regularly. She even has the handouts on her fridge!

 “Education makes me feel powerful. It is very important as no one can take it away from you” she tells us, which is why she is striving to learn as much as she can.

She hopes to work towards getting a MasterChef certificate and open her own restaurant one day as she would love to have a place where she can cook for the community and see others enjoy themselves.

She constantly talks to others about being grateful for being given the opportunity to realise her dream, and how it is important to take every opportunity you get. “People need these opportunities for a chance to flower and bloom”.