refugee

My Lucky Tummy celebrates refugees’ homemade cuisine with the Syracuse community
By Nisha Stickles
February 6, 2017 - 1:44am
The All Saints Church hosted a pop-up food court dinner on Saturday, featuring international dishes for a cultural affair.

Madeline Kujabi stirred a curry-like concoction of chicken, peanut butter and tomato in a tall, slender metal pot. The dish, called domoda, emitted a heavy aroma, providing an olfactory nostalgia of the home Kujabi left four years ago: The Gambia.

 Kujabi came to Syracuse to continue her schooling as an international student. Now a senior at Bishop Grimes High School, Kujabi enjoys sharing her Gambian heritage through eating.  

Human Rights Film Festival Educates About International Issues
By Lia Ding
October 3, 2016 - 1:54am
Annual Syracuse Human Rights Film Festival screened documentaries throughout the weekend.

The 14th annual Syracuse University Human Rights Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday after three days of documentary screenings that shed light on humanitarian issues across the world, such as the sovereignty of indigenous lands, the Syrian refugee crisis and LGBTQ rights.

“This festival is mainly for college students,” said founder Tula Goenka, who co-directed the event with fellow SU professor Roger Hallas. “Besides going to school and earning a degree, you will have to think: What is your responsibility as a human being? How are you going to give back to society?”

Congolese refugee becomes church leader
By Elliot Williams
September 7, 2016 - 12:26am
A Congolese refugee fled his home country to escape a violent civil war. Papy Amani is now an unofficial leader at All Saints Church for the refugee community.

In the front pew of All Saints Church, Papy Amani stands with his Bible in hand. Sunday mornings here are filled with the sounds of Congolese men and women dressed in colorful garb, raising their voices in joyful praise.

"Hosannaaa, Hosanna eyyyyy Hosannaaa, Hosanna eyyyyy."

Such joy was hard to find where Amani came from, he said. Papy (pronounced pah-pay) Amani is the unofficial leader of the rapidly growing Congolese refugee community in Syracuse.

“The way I used to live was miserable,” he said. “There was no hope. Not even food to eat. No peace.”

My Lucky Tummy: One chef's story
By Yufei Wu
February 2, 2015 - 12:46pm
Chef Zaw Thin Nyein shares dish at local event and helps his family acclimate to Syracuse.

Two months ago, Zaw Thin Nyein relocated to Syracuse from Hawaii; now, he is one of the five home chefs featured in the sixth My Lucky Tummy popup food court.

On Saturday night, people gathered at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, taking a bite of the world. Meanwhile, more than being a food court, My Lucky Tummy provides the attendees a space to “meet people and have some conversations,” said Adam Sudmann, founder of My Lucky Tummy.

Refugees watching the Iraqi divide from afar
By Christine Rushton
August 28, 2014 - 1:13pm
Middle Eastern refugees in Syracuse worry about Iraqi relatives living in the violence back home.