Food is a universal language that transcends boundaries—something my group and I wanted to explore firsthand in Kosovo. Now that we have returned from Kosovo and our project on food is concluded, I have had time to reflect on my experiences. To me it’s clear now that our culinary explorations have not just been about recipes, but also about connection.
Our project involved collecting recipes and stories from different ethnic backgrounds, and compiling them into a cookbook. This cookbook paired Serbian recipes on the left with Albanian recipes on the right, showcasing dishes that, while called by different names, shared great similarities. This simple layout powerfully illustrated our theme: Focusing on similarities, rather than differences.
The idea that food can serve as a peacebuilding tool was reinforced throughout our time in Kosovo. Peacebuilding is about creating connections and finding common ground, sometimes in unexpected places. In the act of preparing a meal, there’s an incredible potential for individuals to come together. Through cooking, sharing stories, and eating, people can build understanding and trust. This aspect became clear as we engaged with community members, hearing their personal, often nostalgic stories about food. These stories, while unique, revealed universal themes of heritage, identity, and belonging.
The engagement with the community also brought new insights into human rights and security. I often think of security in terms of protection from harm, but during our project, I saw that security also means creating environments where individuals can thrive, share, and feel valued. So through this project, I realized that feeling secure can also mean having access to your culture and traditions, like food. Food security was discussed not just in relation to nourishment but as an important element of cultural identity and heritage.
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