We are pleased to share a selection of recipes from pupils from North-East schools, which are a result of a collaboration between the RECLAMA project (Northumbria University Centre for Global Development) and Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages, coordinated by International Newcastle.
In these recipes, pupils share their favourite family recipes and why they are important to them, using a language other than English. In total, 2,111 children from 16 schools were involved in the project. Some schools, including two from Newcastle, submitted recipes for inclusion in the multilingual recipe book.
About the project
The RECLAMA project is an academic-activist, feminist and anti-racist research project. Since 2019, the project has worked to explore and make more visible Black and Afro-Ecuadorian women’s heritage in Ecuador, and specifically in the province of Esmeraldas, a coastal province in the north west of the country with a large Afro-descended population. Key themes that emerged from the project include spirituality, aesthetics, medicinal plants and food sovereignty.
During the Festival, learning from the project was shared with pupils from North East schools, providing an opportunity for pupils to engage with themes of cultural diversity, heritage and identity, whilst practising their language skills.
The recipes shared by pupils here, speak to key themes from the RECLAMA project about the important role of food in identity, collective memory and connections to family and ancestors. The collection includes recipes written in 16 languages, by children between the ages of 5 and 15. Following each recipe, there is a translation in English, so that people can try the recipes.
Thanks to the pupils and teachers from Benfield School, North Durham Academy, Reid Street Primary School, Seaham High School and St Teresa’s Primary School, who kindly contributed their work to this project. Thanks for sharing your delicious recipes with us!
Professor Katy Jenkins, Northumbria University Centre for Global Development
Links and further information
- Click here to visit the Reclama project website (in English and Spanish)
- Follow the Reclama project on social media: facebook | X
- Spotify podcast: Six Spanish language podcasts highlighting different aspects of Afro-Ecuadorian women’s heritage
- Click here to find out more about Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages