On Wednesday 13th May, the Dialogue Society brought its Life of a Chickpea workshop to St Catharine’s Catholic School in Bexleyheath, welcoming around 200 Year 7 pupils across two back-to-back sessions. Through storytelling, conversation, and shared food, the pupils explored the journey of a humble chickpea from farm to table — and the bigger story of how food, culture, and community bring us together.
We were honoured to be joined by three wonderful guest speakers: Cllr Nicola Taylor (Bexley Council), who drew a beautiful link between food, music, and the way diversity enriches us; Elena Mitova (Bexley Community Champion), who shared moving examples from her own life; and Cilem Kurt (Dialogue Society).
The workshop closed with aşure (Noah’s Pudding) — a sweet, centuries-old dessert shared across many traditions as a symbol of unity. Our heartfelt thanks to the staff and pupils of St Catharine’s, our wonderful speakers, and every volunteer who made the day so special.
