The Share Kai Cooks Collective
The Share Kai Cooks Collective provides opportunities for former refugee women who face barriers to participating in the workforce and society, for social connection and financial security.
-
A Diverse Collective
The Cooks Collective is made up of passionate and capable cooks from ethnic communities not often visible in the hospitality scene in Aotearoa.
Since we began at the end of 2022 21 women from six ethnic backgrounds - Afghan, Eritrean, Bhutanese, Moroccan, Nepali and Palestinian - with lived experience as refugees in Ethiopia, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal have been members of the Cooks Collective.
-
Professional Development
InCommon works alongside the Cooks Collective, we provide professional development and identify and facilitate opportunities for our Cooks Collective to engage with our wider community and achieve financial security.
In 2026 the Cooks Collective are working towards establishing themselves as as a collective food business. They operate two monthly Cooks Collective Café Pop-ups as incubators for their business development. They participate in weekly business training with InCommon and small business workshops with Aotearoa Refugee and Migrant Support Services.
In partnership with Rourou and Lady Khadija Trust members of the Cooks Collective have participated in a leadership programme, tailored for women from ethnic backgrounds.
In partnership with Hagley Adult Literacy Centre members attend weekly English classes to improve their English.
Cooks Collective members have trained and worked as cooking tutors with Risingholme Learning and Canterbury Workers Education Centre.
-
Partnership
Together the Cooks Collective, Share Kai Ops team and delivery partners share responsibility for making our events happen.
And they couldn’t happen without our wonderful diners! Come and join us, read more about our upcoming events here:
