“I came to help for two days, and those two days became eight years”
Nikos, Cook at The HOME Project
For the past eight years, Nikos has been a quiet, steady presence in one of our shelters, preparing meals and nurturing lone refugee children through food and care. His journey with The HOME Project began unexpectedly. When an extra pair of hands was needed, his son —who worked at our head office— asked him to step in. “I came to help for two days, and those two days became eight years”, he says with a smile. His son has since moved on, but Nikos stayed.
Each morning, he arrives at 7:00 a.m. sharp to begin preparing breakfast for the children under our care. He then starts working on lunch and dinner. All children receive three homemade meals a day, plus two snacks, made with care and attention. “It’s exhausting, I’m always in a hurry”, he admits. Yet even amidst the daily rush, Nikos carefully plans each meal, factoring in the dietary needs of teenagers. “It was difficult at first”, he recalls, “but now I know exactly what they need, as well as what they like”.
Feeding children from different backgrounds —on a tight budget— is no easy task. Nikos constantly works hard to strike a balance between healthy nutrition and the kinds of food kids at that age crave, all while taking into account the rising costs of groceries and fresh produce. “As you would expect, they love pizza, burgers, souvlaki, and they always ask for meat”, he says, “but we can’t always afford it, and it wouldn't be good for them”. Legumes are often featured on the menu, though they are not always met with enthusiasm.
Despite the challenges, Nikos finds real purpose in his work. “Most children arrive at the shelter carrying deep emotional wounds, they have had to endure so much”, he explains. “Being able to offer them something familiar like a tasty, homecooked meal brings a kind of comfort that goes beyond just food. It can help nourish their soul. That’s what makes this job different from other kitchen work. At a restaurant, you cater to customers you might not see again. Here, you build relationships. You see the same faces every day, you notice what each child likes or doesn’t like, and you strive to make them feel cared for. Knowing that what I do helps create a sense of stability in their lives, that’s what makes me happy", he concludes.