Friday 15th March 2019 Christchurch, New Zealand
Following the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand on 15th March 2019 where fifty people were killed, Australian author, speaker and social activist wrote these words.
Food, Glorious Food
“We love food here at Amos Trust. We love talking about it, we love preparing it, we love sharing it, and yes, — we love eating it. We take the business of hospitality very seriously and what could be more hospitable than sharing a meal?” Nick Welsh writes about why hospitality and food are so important to Amos’ work.
Za’atar focaccia served with spicy marinated mixed olives
with preserved lemon and chilli olive oil — prepared for Amos Trust by Ottolenghi for our ‘Fresh’ fundraising dinner — April 2019
Quite how it came to pass that I’m the one writing this particular article, I’m not really sure. I’m no Jamie Oliver — although I’ve been told that my chilli isn’t half bad (tip: use frozen mince... no, really.)
We love food here at Amos Trust. We love talking about it, we love preparing it, we love sharing it, and yes, — we love eating it. We take the business of hospitality very seriously and what could be more hospitable than sharing a meal? As the American labour leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez said, “...if you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat. The people who give you their food, give you their heart.”
Ottolenghi & Tamimi: Yotam and Sami from Ottolenghi choose Amos to be their creative partner and cater our fundraising dinners. Watch our short film about some of the reasons why.
There’s long been a culinary thread through our work in Palestine — those that have visited the West Bank with us know this only too well; whether it’s barbequing at Wi’am or enjoying the really quite amazing Maqluba prepared so lovingly by the women in Aida refugee camp. And who can forget Merai’s outstanding (and I don’t use that word lightly), chicken and rice. Whenever we visit, we always come back several pounds heavier than before we left.
“...if you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat. The people who give you their food, give you their heart.” Cesar Chavez
Our relationship with food took on a new direction when we started organising Palestinian culinary tours with our friends at Zaytoun, and then again when we were lucky enough to have Yotam and Sami from Ottolenghi choose Amos to be their creative partner and cater our fundraising dinners.
In 2018, Greenbelt Festival invited Amos to host a series of Palestinian cooking demos in their new food venue, The Table. How we laughed when our friend Phoebe from The Olive Tree Kitchen continually rolled her eyes at Amos Director and sous chef Chris as he made a hash of cutting up the onions!
Cooking up a storm: Chris Rose from Amos Trust and Phoebe Rison from The Olive Tree Kitchen in The Table at Greenbelt Festival 2019
When our supporters give their time and offer up their skills to fundraise for us, food is usually involved. When our partners visit us from around the world, food often takes on a central role in their own stories. As someone said when they came back from one of our Taste of Palestine tours, “you can disagree about the facts on the ground, but you can’t disagree with my taste buds”.
To find out more about our next Taste of Palestine culinary tour in October 2020, please visit amostrust.org/travel
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Blog
On Her Terms update February 2019
Welcome to the first On Her Terms update of 2019. This year marks 30 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This landmark in children’s rights has remained a hugely important reference point for those working for justice for children and young people.
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Extreme Altitudes Climbing Kili for Amos Trust
“Climbing Kilimanjaro has been on my bucket list for some time. At 5,895 metres it is both the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.” Neil Irving writes about ticking-off one item from his bucket list to raise funds for Amos Trust.
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Provoking miracles Millie Rose shares her experience of Nicaragua
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12 Ways in 12 Days Reinvigorating our support for Palestine
“I’ve been guilty over the last few months of shirking my responsibilities towards a cause that is very close to my heart. On the eve of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I’ve decided to renew my commitment to this cause, to seeking justice and equal rights for everyone who calls the Holy Land home.” Sarah Baron writes about how we can reinvigorate our support for Palestine.
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Walking To Jerusalem Blisters, hope and other facts on the ground
“The idea was beautiful and crazy. The logistics alone would be an organisational nightmare. The risk assessment would run for pages. It would be a five-month, 3,300 kilometres trek across eleven countries with mountains, rivers and seas to navigate. And then there was no guarantee that the walkers would even be allowed to cross the border into the occupied West Bank, let alone reach Jerusalem.” Amos trustee Robert Cohen writes the forword for ‘Walking To Jerusalem’ – Justin Butcher’s book about his experience of walking from London to Jerusalem as part of Amos Trust’s ‘Just Walk To Jerusalem’ project in 2017.
Amos friends
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