Gardening and cooking in Domiz 1 camp: Meet Nisreen

Nisreen Riyad Abdo, a 20-year-old Syrian refugee, lives with her parents and three brothers in Domiz 1 camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She gardens at the Azadî Community Garden and won first place in our 2024 Annual Cooking Competitions in Domiz 1 for her standout dishes: Chicken Fatteh and Grape Leaves Fatteh.

Learning to cook in Syria

Nisreen’s interest in cooking began during her childhood in Syria, where she learned the basics from her mother. She started with simple sweets but quickly developed a curiosity for cooking.

Over time, she taught herself to prepare a variety of dishes, experimenting with techniques and flavours.

She says: “I learned cooking because I enjoy it and I like to try new things. I’ve always wanted to learn how to make sushi, for example, but the ingredients aren’t easily available in our region.”

A taste of home

Nisreen’s shows us her award-winning dishes, lovingly prepared in her home kitchen.

Chicken Fatteh is made with boiled chicken breasts layered with whipped yoghurt mixed with tahini, garlic, salt and lemon. It’s topped with chickpeas, fried bread, parsley and nuts for decoration.

While Grape Leaves Fatteh has cooked grape leaves stuffed with rice and simple spices, topped with the same yoghurt-tahini mixture.

Both dishes are finished with pomegranate molasses, adding a tangy sweetness.

They are served as hearty main course for lunch.

Gardening for fresh ingredients

Life in Domiz 1 camp has changed the way Nisreen cooks. With limited resources, growing her own fresh produce has become a key part of daily life. She cultivates Swiss chard, molokhia, and okra in the Azadî Community Garden and uses these ingredients in many of her dishes.

“These vegetables are very practical and versatile for many dishes”, she says. “Plus, I enjoy the morning gatherings at the garden and the sense of calm it brings.”

Nisreen’s practical and creative approach to cooking is shaped by the challenges of camp life. She prepares dishes that celebrate her Syrian heritage while making the most of the ingredients available. Her success in the cooking competition reflects her resourcefulness, skill and passion for food.

Support people like Nisreen

Nisreen’s journey highlights the vital role that initiatives like the Azadî Community Garden play in empowering displaced people.

By supporting our gardening activities and garden and cooking competitions, you can help provide more opportunities for creativity, connection and hope in communities like Domiz 1 camp.

Please consider making a donation to support our work in Domiz 1 camp and beyond.

 

Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters in 2024, the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan refugee camp has made remarkable progress. Named ‘Hêvî’, meaning ‘hope’ in Kurdish, this garden is now a busy hub, providing a vital area for people to reconnect and build resilience. Through your kindness, we received £9,207 GBP ($11,268 USD) to … Continued

Nisreen Riyad Abdo, a 20-year-old Syrian refugee, lives with her parents and three brothers in Domiz 1 camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. She gardens at the Azadî Community Garden and won first place in our 2024 Annual Cooking Competitions in Domiz 1 for her standout dishes: Chicken Fatteh and Grape Leaves Fatteh. Learning … Continued

Supporting Lemon Tree Trust doesn’t always mean a financial contribution. There are many impactful ways to help us in our mission to support displaced people through gardening.   Here are six non-financial ways you can get involved:  1. Engage with us on social media  Help us extend our reach by liking, commenting on, and sharing our … Continued