BALLARAT’s growing food scene can add another feather to its cap.
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The city’s first pop-up Afghan-Hazara tea house, Chai Khana, opened at Big Space, next to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, on Wednesday.
Traditional Afghan-
Hazara teas and treats will be on the menu for the next fortnight.
Ten Hazara Australian Association Ballarat members will help prepare and serve dishes in the temporary cafe.
The Centre for Multicultural Youth initiative provides newly arrived migrants with work experience opportunities.
Ballarat team leader Barry Petrovski said the project aimed to share the Afghan-Hazara culture with the Ballarat community.
“We wanted to give young members of the Hazara community a work experience opportunity,” he said.
M. Raza Hussaini and Ibrahim Ghulamr are among the young people working at the tea house.
The pair are completing high school in Ballarat after leaving Afghanistan.
Mr Hussaini left Afghanistan in 2012 and Mr Ghulamr last July.
“We are trying to form more social relationships,” Mr Hussaini said.
“We want to share our unique Hazara culture with mainstream people in Ballarat.”
Mr Hussaini is a City of Ballarat multicultural ambassador and the HAAB general secretary.
The cafe asks customers to pay for what they believe the meal is worth.
Mr Petrovski said donations received would go toward projects to support newly arrived migrants.
Big Space, City of Ballarat, Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council and the state government helped organise the project.
AT A GLANCE
What: Chai Khana pop-up Afghan-Hazara tea house
Where: Big Space, next to the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute, 119a Sturt Street, Ballarat.
When: Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays, between December 10 and 19.
Time: 3pm to 6pm.
