At one point I was looking for a new photo story, as I wanted to document a successful programme aiding refugees. I went around asking friends and got to know of HummusTown, an enterprise catering in Rome delicious Syrian food and giving employment and aiding Middle Eastern refugees. First, I contacted Loma one of the founders and we agreed that I would photograph and document the work of their kitchen. The work would generally start at the crack of dawn and so one day I joined the work one cold and dark morning. The kitchen is small and sometime cramped with staff carrying different activities and all has a chaotic flavour. My work was not easy as I had to stay out of the way of the workers. I was introduced to Joumana, the head cook, and saw her in action. I was mesmerised by how deftly Joumana’s hands moved to check the flavouring of the food with a teaspoon, add condiments, stir the food cooking or frying, or proudly handing a little black dish to me with a morsel to taste.
Joumana was the cook of Shaza, one of HummusTown founders, starting 2014. She used to hear the news of what was happening in Syria from her relatives, stories of displacement, of killings of young people, bombardments and to refer these heart shattering stories to Shaza. This is how Shaza came with the idea of funding a catering enterprise to help not only Syrian migrants arriving in Rome, but also to send 10 to 15 percent of income back to Syria to help with the construction and running of health units. Then Shaza proposed to Joumana to be the cook of this enterprise.
The photo story in twenty-four frames introduces the observer to Loma, and Shaza, the sistJumana and Rokaya, the second cook, and other helpers, trough what sometimes may look frantic in the frames here presented, but are in reality well organised food preparations to deliver in time to customers.
Hummustown story is not ending here. In times of COVID-19 pandemia, its core mission of giving to others in need comes out strongly, as they started handing out hot meals to migrants converging to the presidium run by the NGO Baobab at the Tiburtina train station in Rome.
