“Everyone deserves a seat at the table.”
That’s the message behind Feast for Freedom, a fundraising initiative of Footscray’s Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) that is being held throughout April.
Aiming to provide food, shelter and health services for the 7000 people who seek asylum in Australia every year, the 2025 feast has so far raised more than $200,000 of its target amount of $320,000.
“This campaign of the Asylum Seeker Centre calls on people to host their own feasts in their homes, workplaces or communities, to share a meal and raise funds in support of people seeking asylum while cooking recipes gifted by refugees,” explained ASRC chief executive Kon Karapanagiotidis.
In 2025, those recipes are being provided by former refugees Jane, Lidys and Jose – or “Hero Cooks” as Mr Karapanagiotidis calls them – who provided family recipes from Indian and Colombian cuisines.
Chef and Feast for Freedom ambassador Kishwar Chowdhury provided Bangladeshi recipes, while Mr Karapanagiotidis himself provided recipes for Greek dishes.
Multidisciplinary artist and refugee from Palestine, Tareq Harara, provided artwork for this year’s fundraiser.
Almost 600 feasts have been registered across the country so far and with the fundraiser ending on April 30, Mr Karapanagiotidis said there was still plenty of opportunity for more.
He said he was confident of the $320,000 target figure being reached, adding to the $2 million the Feast for Freedom has raised since 2019.
However, Mr Karapangiotidis said fundraising was only one of the benefits provided by hosting a feast.
“Feast for Freedom comes from a desire to break down barriers and it sends a powerful message that we don’t need tougher borders and higher walls but longer tables of welcome and compassion, with a seat at the table for everyone,” he said.
“It encourages people to hold important conversations about people seeking asylum and refugees to help raise awareness in the community.”
Those wanting take part in Feast for Freedom need to register and host any time before April 30.
Upon registration, a host kit with the recipe book will be sent and a personal fundraising page established on the Feast for Freedom website.
To register: feastforfreedom.org.au
