Our Henderson Heights Community News, July 2017

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Vol 1. Issue 1

Keeping everyone informed and up to date in our neighbourhood

August 2017

Moroccan Mum Wants To Reach Out My name is Amina and I now live with my two children and my husband on Sturges Road. I am from Morocco, and I have been living in Auckland for the past ten years. To start with, we lived in Orewa. My first year here was very hard because I struggled to adjust to a new culture and a new language. I became very lonely. I desperately wanted to meet people and mix with people in the community. One day, my opportunity came! I met a French lady Corrine who was teaching French to my daughter at school. One thing led to another so I invited her back to my house and it was there that she sampled one of my Moroccan cakes. Enthusiastically, she urged me to come to a French Market in Orewa (which she also organised) to sell my cakes! I went there and I sold everything. I am telling you this story because it was very important for me to start meeting people. Especially active people in the community. I met so many people that my loneliness went away! Yet, I was still not fulfilled deep inside.

This void in me was healed one day when I played a small part in a very big humanitarian act. The Cancer Society was raising money using a very creative idea. They’d sell tickets at $50 each which would allow people to visit beautiful houses. The owners of these houses had opened their properties for the cause. People would come and have a look, relax in the gardens, and eat some food. I was selling nut cakes at the houses. After taking out my costs to cook the cakes, the proceeds went to the Cancer Society. I felt so happy doing this. During these years in Orewa I also taught people in the community about Moroccan culture and how to prepare delicious native Moroccan meals. Then I moved to Sturges Road in Henderson. My loneliness returned. Once again, I do not have any ‘connection’, and I don’t do anything for others except my family. So I am trying to find ways to be active in my community and to give, like I did with the Cancer Society. Then I met Julian, who explained to me his great idea to try and create a better community at Henderson Heights

Moroccan Mum Amina via a local newspaper. After telling him my story, he suggested that I offer to teach people in Henderson Heights how to cook delicious Moroccan meals and cakes! I said ‘yes!’ My plan is to offer the cooking classes for free. I will only ask people who attend for a donation to cover the cost of materials. I’d like to take a great part of the meals we create in class down to the homeless in Henderson. I know that doing this will give those who participate great joy and fulfillment. If you’d like to learn how to cook Moroccan meals and cakes, just email me at amkoudsi@hotmail.com to let me know your preferred evening. Local play centre Mini Miracles has kindly offered to let us use their facilities after hours for our classes. Isn’t that great! See you then!

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