Our Shared Spaces – The Heart of Home
Celebrating Culture, Family & Community Through Food and Storytelling
Ralph and Doreen Mahabir
Led by Ray Mahabir of Sunshine International Arts (S.i.A), Our Shared Spaces – The Heart of Home is a heartfelt initiative that uses food, memory, and storytelling to explore culture and bring communities together. At its heart is the belief that a kitchen table is more than just a place to eat — it’s a powerful space for dialogue, cultural celebration, and connection.
Under the theme “Our Living Room – The Kitchen Table”, this series of workshops invites people of all ages to share recipes, stories, and traditions from around the world — creating a vibrant tapestry of shared heritage and lived experience.
At S.i.A, our mission is to keep cultural roots and histories alive in an intergenerational environment. While we specialise in Carnival Arts, we also use culture as a tool for communication and connection — cultivating the richness of today’s diverse society. In today’s economic climate, these workshops also support healthy eating and personal wellbeing through shared knowledge and community care.
Workshop 1: Recipe Exchange & Storytelling
Fishing boat. Trinidad beach
Objective: To explore the deep connection between food, memory, and identity by sharing stories and recipes linked to festivals, culture, or family traditions.
Activities:
- Sharing recipes and stories from different cultures and homelands.
- Children learning from parents and grandparents about family dishes and customs.
- Discussions about the wider role of food in celebration — from music and dance to games and rituals.
Learning Outcomes:
- Research and documentation of cultural traditions.
- Development of creative writing, storytelling, and illustration skills.
- A deeper understanding of personal and shared cultural heritage.
Final Outcome: A community collection of recipes, stories, and artwork.
Workshop 2: Tapestry of Stories
Ray and his Siblings
Objective: To co-create a collaborative textile tapestry or tablecloth using recycled fabrics that tell stories of childhood and cultural heritage.
Activities:
- Conversation between participants to contribute with designs and stories for the final piece.
- Hands-on workshop where different techniques are explored, such as: drawing, embroidery, sewing, quilting, and textile art to visually narrate memories.
Learning Outcomes:
- New textile and handcraft skills.
- Teamwork and creative collaboration.
- Preservation of cultural stories through fabric art.
Final Outcome: A quilted tapestry visually expressing participants stories.
Workshop 3: Home Sweet Home – Collage & Recipe Cards
Recipe card (illustration purposes only)
Objective: To engage families in making a “Home Sweet Home” collage and personalised recipe cards that reflect their shared cultural experiences.
Activities:
- Families create decorative collages representing their sense of home and belonging.
- Design and illustration of recipe cards to take home or contribute to a community cookbook.
Learning Outcomes:
- Creative expression through mixed-media arts.
- Strengthened family connections and intergenerational sharing.
- Pride in identity and cultural heritage.
Final Outcome: Cards with recipes and stories.
✨ Why This Matters
These workshops are more than just creative activities — they’re a celebration of the stories that shape us. ‘Our Shared Spaces’ will explore the rich cultural diversity found across London and the UK, encouraging families to reflect, connect, and create together.
Each participant will receive a resource pack filled with reference materials, creative prompts, and ideas for making recipe cards, storybooks, and memory collages at home.
By inviting parents, grandparents, and children to share in these experiences, the project promotes intergenerational dialogue, builds community pride, and encourages lasting connections through the universal languages of food and storytelling.
🌟 Our Shared Mission🌟
Through storytelling, food, and creativity, this project explores what it means to belong. As Ray Mahabir says:
“Our kitchen tables are where our stories live — let’s bring them to the world.”