Pão a Pão — Projectos

our projects

We asked a Syrian student living in Lisbon what she missed the most. She replied: "Syrian bread!" This was the starting point for Mezze, an Arab food restaurant where refugees from the Middle East are given training and employment. Learn more here

The Mezze Escola+ is a certified training programme in management and entrepreneurship for migrant women in the food and beverage sector. It was developed by Pão a Pão in partnership with the Lisbon School of Hospitality and Tourism (EHTL). It aims to empower migrant women to design, launch, and manage a small food and beverage business in Portugal (cafés, bars, restaurants, etc.). The project is funded by the PACT Fund | 12th edition, an initiative by Deloitte.

The topic of Migration is shaping public debate, polarising political and media agendas. But what do the immigrants living in the country have to say? The Migrant Citizens' Assembly will listen to — and amplify — the contributions of those who have chosen Portugal to live, study, and work. We will bring together 50 immigrants of various nationalities, ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds, inviting them to reflect — and deliberate — on "How can we improve the immigration service in Portugal." The MCA was developed by Associação Pão a Pão in partnership with the Forum of Citizens and the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

past projects

Mezze Escola is a training programme for refugees and immigrants in the food and beverage sector. We provide tools to improve their technical and social skills and increase their chances of accessing employment. The course was developed in partnership with the Lisbon School of Hospitality and Tourism (EHTL). The project was later expanded with an entrepreneurship component to empower migrant women to launch their own businesses. Learn more here

The Migrant Media Project was created to connect migrant journalists with leading media outlets. It promotes inclusion and contributes to a more — and better — informed society. We started in the best possible way: in partnership with the newspaper Expresso, which will publish the articles, and with the support of the Democracy and Civil Society Programme of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and Ceso Development Consultants. Learn more here

Mão-Cheia is a project that contributes to active and healthy ageing, for both Portuguese and migrant communities. We give a voice — and a stove — to the elderly, who still have so much to offer. We bring knowledge and time to the table, and pass on know-how to the younger generations. Every day, a person over 65, migrant or Portuguese, is invited to cook and share their knowledge with the young. The restaurant opened in 2020 at the cafeteria of the Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva Museum in Lisbon. It was forced to close due to Covid-19.

The time spent in a refugee reception centre comes with many challenges. The waiting period for an autonomous life risks creating a sense of emptiness and rootlessness, with harmful effects on the development of children and young people, and on the mental health of adults, undermining the integration process for everyone. It doesn't have to be this way. And that is why we created IUPI! - Instigating utopias, planting ideas. Learn more here