elbén

Already for years, Syria finds itself in a complicated conflict situation. In the past months, this conflict and with it the issues of flight and integration have been increasingly present in public awareness. On their way, refugees are confronted with many difficulties, not least with a completely unfamiliar culture. Despite the high media attention, these subjects remain incomprehensible, abstract, and anonymous for many people in Germany. We wish to change this.

elbén – this is Syrian-Arabic for “two hearts”. We want to create places where Syrian and German hearts are able to converge, to meet, to create cultural exchange. Culinary exchange is meant to lower barriers and induce interaction.
Therefore, we would like to open two street food stalls and a food truck where “Manakish” is prepared and sold by syrian refugees.
In our snack bars, people from Germany and Syrian refugees shall be given the chance to engage in encounters. Integration will be facilitated and a long-term perspective for social relations will be created. “Manakish” shall serve as cultural mediator. This is a simple Arabic pita bread of yeast dough that can be prepared in vegan and vegetarian variants or with meat. As a “Fast Good”, it combines elements of a snack and healthy food. In addition, its oriental character offers a healthy and delicious alternative that has been lacking completely in our cities.

With the project elbén we aim to…

… enhance independence
In the first place, the sales revenues shall allow the participating refugees to financially support their own families here and in Syria. With the project elbén, they are given the opportunity to themselves establish a sustainable and independent life here in Germany. In the long run, parts of the overall earnings shall be dedicated to educational projects and sanitary facilities in and around Syria to also enable effective reconstruction there.

… facilitate integration
In our places of encounter, people living in Germany are offered the opportunity to experience Syrian (food) culture, while the contributing Syrian refugees are enabled to establish contacts and to realise their potential by applying their competences. Furthermore, the employment in our street food stalls helps the participants to obtain a structure in everyday life and to develop a long-term perspective.

… create encounters
Joint projects reduce preconceptions; culinary experience bridges cultures and lowers barriers to friendly interaction. Therefore, in establishing our street food stalls and a food truck, our goal is to create places, where exactly this can happen. Syrian refugees and other people living in Germany obtain the opportunity to get to know each other better.

The project addresses all people who are interested in independence, integration, and encounters, while at the same time enjoying delicious culinary novelties.

We have decided to create places of culinary encounters and new life perspectives by opening up street food stalls.

• You as well would like to welcome people from Syria who come here?
• You believe that cultural exchange lowers contact barriers and facilitates integration?
• You would like to support the restart of refugees in our society?
• You wish to discover and experience Syrian (food) culture?
• You would appreciate a new, healthy alternative in our street food scene?

Join our project elbén and contribute yourself to successful integration!

Precisely, we want to establish street food stalls at two locations in Münster (Westphalia). The money would be dedicated primarily to acquisition costs for e.g. ovens, bars, and interior furnishing. Apart from that, expenses for reconstruction and administration, e.g. for licences and the foundation of companies, will be covered. In addition to the two locations, we wish to obtain a food truck that possibly has to be reconstructed.