This March and April, people from across Australia will come together to host their own Feast for Freedom.
Host from home and invite your loved ones for a life-changing meal.
You'll get the recipe book with two Feast Menus, plus some favourites from previous years. You can mix and match the recipes, add your personal favourites or ask your guests to bring a plate to share.
Register as a Feast for Freedom Host today and start planning your Feast in support of refugees and people seeking asylum.
Four Easy Steps
1. Register to Become a Host
Simply register your event here and kickstart your fundraising with a self-donation to your personal fundraising page.
All you need to do is register your Feast by Monday 31 March and host any time up to Wednesday 30 April.
2. Receive Your Host Kit & Meet our Cooks
Discover the recipes gifted to you by Harchana and Reveka, learn more about their stories and start planning your menu.
Our Hero Cooks, both refugees in Australia, have hand-selected delicious dishes from their own cultural traditions for you to cook and share with your guests. You’ll receive their recipes in your Host Kit. You can cook the full menu from one of our Hero Cooks or a mix of recipes, including some of your own family favourites or past Feast recipes.
3. Plan Your Feast & Start Fundraising
Invite your guests and start fundraising by updating and sharing your fundraising page! Make sure you let your donors know the impact of their support.
Please note: we do not provide any ingredients or organise cooks for the recipes. You will need to purchase your own ingredients based on your menu and anticipated guest numbers.
Don’t forget to finalise your guest list and event details, source your ingredients and continue fundraising. If you need help updating your fundraising webpage, see our User Guide.
You can also join our Facebook Group where you can ask questions about hosting a Feast, share recipes and become part of our ever-growing Feast community.
4. Host Your Feast for Freedom
It’s time to Feast for Freedom, celebrate what unites us and raise funds for people seeking asylum! This is a time to enjoy great food and company, whilst having thought-provoking conversations relating to the refugee issue.
Don’t forget to use our handy online resources and items in your Host Kit, including the conversation cards to keep the dialogue flowing and learn more about the refugee issue.
If you have any other questions about Hosting or Feasting, check out our FAQ page for more information.
Bianca and Paul, Hosted at Home
In 2016 Bianca was involved with an online mentoring program and mentored a few Afghani women who were beginning teachers. She stayed in touch and became friends with Gulafroz, one of those students. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Gulafroz was studying for a Master of Social Work in India and was unable to return home.
We decided to try and sponsor Gulafroz to obtain a humanitarian visa, with the idea of her living with us here in Australia. The application was submitted in September 2021 and Gulafroz finally arrived in Australia in January 2024. She settled into our family and community well and is embracing every opportunity open to her.
In 2023 we hosted our first Feast for Freedom. We cooked traditional Afghan food with the hope that Gulafroz would receive her visa and join us later in the year. Our Feast in 2024 was a celebration of her arrival in Australia. Among the 50 or so attendees were some of Gul's friends who are also recently arrived Afghan refugees and a family who had fled to Australia in 2011 due to threats from the Taliban. We were thrilled to have them join our feast and share their stories.
The evening was more than just a feast; it was a coming together of diverse backgrounds and stories. We cooked traditional Afghani food for about 50 guests. As we enjoyed traditional Afghan dishes, including a whole spit roast lamb, conversations flowed freely, creating connections and a sense of unity. This gathering exemplified the essence of Feast for Freedom, showing how food and community can break down barriers and foster understanding. It was a wonderful night and we even managed to surpass our $4,000 fundraising goal.
Lynh, Hosted at a Venue
The reason why hosting a Feast was particularly important to me is because my parents are refugees who fled Vietnam and came to Australia by boat.
We hosted a long lunch at a local venue that was happy to lend the space for a great cause. Although the Feast recipes were amazing, it made more sense for us to cook our family recipes, which are part of our history and culture.
We had about 30 people at the lunch and guests were able to try 8 different dishes - some they never have before, some were my family twist on Vietnamese favourites.
Our hot tip is to keep it simple (you can even cook a mix of the cooks’ recipes and ones you are already comfortable with) and - if you can - make it a ticketed event so that your fundraising is already well under way! It also doesn’t have to be limited to your home - we didn’t want to risk having an outdoor event and asked around the community. You never know who will offer up a space for a fundraiser!
