Foreword

Managing Director, Programs. Center for International Private Enterprise

This book is a unique collection of wisdom, stories, and culinary treasures shared with us by some of the leading minds in the food industry internationally and rising stars on the food scene in Turkey. The recipes are contributed by members of a larger community of entrepreneurs who are part of the LIFE Project.

We are in the midst of the largest refugee crisis since World War II, fueled by oppression, conflict, violence, and persecution, with nearly 71 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Turkey is at the epicenter of this global crisis, hosting more refugees than any other country, with over 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees along with over 365,000 from other nationalities. With that comes strained resources and understandable social tensions between refugees and host communities. Women are disproportionately affected in a variety of ways as families are disrupted and they assume new household and financial responsibilities.