Lidys & Jose's Colombian Feast

Meet Lidys and Jose

Lidys and Jose arrived in Melbourne in May 2024, seeking safety from violence and persecution. Jose, a passionate social leader and accountant, had to choose between helping others or protecting his and his wife’s lives. While living in an area of Colombia affected by illegal armed groups, they both received threats to their lives for seeking justice for the victims of violence.

“We love Colombia, but because of the dangerous situation in our small town, we escaped to Australia for safety,” says Jose.

After their first month in Melbourne, they were referred to the ASRC to seek basic support. Jose recalls the first few times they visited the ASRC. “We walked for two hours from our home to the ASRC and then another two hours to go back. When the social worker found out that we couldn’t afford public transport or knew how to use the train, he helped us get the Myki card and explained to us how to get to the ASRC. We have come a long way from that day, we no longer walk 4 hours, maybe in one year we will speak great English too.”

“This centre was a blessing from the moment we first walked in. We didn’t know anything about the help we could get, so you can imagine our relief and surprise”, says Jose. “We come to the centre to get groceries every Thursday. We could do it every two weeks, but we love to come here, have a coffee and have lunch. We are very happy because the people in the centre are very friendly to us.”

Jose and Lidys are still on a bridging visa, waiting for protection, but they are preparing for the future and are determined to improve their lives. Through ASRC’s Education Pathways Program they enrolled in an English Program provided by Victoria University free of charge for people seeking asylum. Jose has been thinking about studying electrical engineering and Lidys wants to resume her career as a dental assistant.

The couple dreams of a future with certainty about where they will live. They hope to have children and to be able to work professionally so they can provide for themselves. “I also want to volunteer at the centre and bring some Colombian flavour to the kitchen”, says Lidys with a smile.

*This interview has been translated from its original language - Spanish.

About Lidys and Jose's Recipes

“When you eat our food, we want you to feel Colombian, sitting on the beach, enjoying life and a delicious dish”, says Jose, reminiscing about the beautiful beaches near his hometown. Their recipes are simple food representing the humble traditions of the community where they grew up.

Lidys describes the inspiration behind the recipes: “One person in the family would go fishing before dawn or to the market early in the morning to get fish. Another person would cook the coconut rice with real coconut directly from the palm tree, and another person would prepare the salad and fry the patacones and the fish. We eat it together, sitting on the beach. Do you need to wash your hands after eating? No problem, you just jump in the water, and the salty water cleans you up.”

While they miss their family and hometown, they feel lucky to have found safety, and they use their food traditions to feel closer to their loved ones.