Intellectual Peer-Led Cooking Workshop
NEWSBLOGPROJECT
10/3/2026
The YoungY project has kicked off with its first Intellectual Peer-Led Cooking Workshop. This workshop brings together girls of international background in Vaasa to cook, connect, learn, and share experiences in a welcoming and supportive environment. The workshop is for girls aged 11-17, and it is about much more than preparing food. It creates a space where young people can meet others, build friendships, express themselves, share their cultures, and develop new skills while supporting their everyday wellbeing.
Cooking provides a natural way for young people to interact and learn from one another. During the workshops, participants can introduce recipes and food traditions from their own backgrounds, discover new ingredients and cooking methods, and work together to prepare and enjoy a shared meal. Every participant has something valuable to bring to the table, whether it is a family recipe, a cultural tradition, a new idea, or simply a willingness to learn.
The workshop is peer-led because we believe young people are not only participants but also active contributors. They are encouraged to share their knowledge, take responsibility, make decisions, support one another and lead activities. This creates an informal learning environment in which young people learn with and from their peers while developing confidence, communication, cooperation and practical life skills.
For pre-teens and teenagers growing up between cultures or adapting to a new environment, having a place where they feel accepted and connected can be an important part of wellbeing. The workshop offers an opportunity to meet people with different experiences while also finding common ground. Through food, conversation and shared activities, cultural differences become an opportunity for curiosity, understanding and connection.
At the same time, the workshop creates space for meaningful conversations about topics that affect young people's lives, identity, culture, belonging and wellbeing. These conversations can happen naturally while cooking and eating together, making the kitchen a place not only for preparing food but also for exchanging ideas and perspectives.
The ultimate aim of this Intellectual Peer-Led Cooking Workshop is to strengthen young people's sense of belonging and participation in the Vaasa community while celebrating the diversity they bring with them. By combining cooking, peer learning, cultural exchange, and meaningful interaction, the workshop supports young people in developing both practical skills, social wellbeing, and confidence.