Marhaba is a social innovation project for refugees and asylum seekers who wish for real inclusion in the community of Lisbon.
Marhaba (“welcome” in Arabic) is a socio-cultural project that was established two years ago and, since then, has served hundreds of meals via its catering service and events production. Marhaba is a social entrepreneurship project whose mission is to integrate refugees and asylum seekers in an efficient, effective, and sustainable way with training programs and employment opportunities.
We open the door to faraway cultures which bring rituals, ceremonies and moments of unity in our community. We create delicious and nutritious food, homemade using traditional and artisanal techniques. Our seasonal ingredients come from local suppliers to ensure a minimal carbon footprint.
And now all this is coming closer to you! We will open the very first open kitchen in Lisbon with an Eritrean / Ethiopian menu, along with others flavours from the Middle East. An eco-friendly eatery in Benfica Market where we care for the environment. We will practice innovative stategies, such as short food supply chains, which create a positive impact in the local community.
Your help in this campaign will facilitate the construction work of our new space. This way we can start a business which provides stable employment for migrants and refugees.
Almoço da Eritreia com Injera, Shiro e Alicha
About the author
CRESCER - Community Intervention NGO, established in 2001 - helps vulnerable people by means of promoting good health, risk reduction and social inclusion in the community of Lisbon. The institution has developped Outreach Teams, a Drop-In centre, a Housing First program, Psychiatry, Professional Training and Employment directed at homeless people, those who use psychoactive substances and refugees.
Since 2016, CRESCER has been developing the É UMA VIDA project (as part of the Council's Refugee Welcoming Program in Lisbon), and has accompanied approximately 155 refugees who arrived in Lisbon with the European Relocation Program, responsible for accompanying the beneficiaries in the process of their integration into the Portuguese society.
É UM RESTAURANTE is CRESCER's latest project which facilitates social reintegration for homeless people through professional training and employment in a restaurant. Our knowhow from this project will help make Marhaba a lasting project, for the years to come.
A cerimónia de café Eritreia do Marhaba
Budget and due dates
Your generous contribution will help us raise the funds neccessary for the construction work in our new space. The total amount required is € 25,000 as well as € 15,000 for the kitchen equipment (for which we received the 2018 Continente Mission Donation).
If all goes well with this campaign, we hope to start the building work in January 2020, which means we can launch next spring.
The rewards from this campaign will be delivered after the opening of our kitchen.
Local 18 A, Mercado de Benfica
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