Ten people from minority backgrounds are preparing to take part in one of Ireland's biggest food and drink festivals this week.
The group, which includes asylum seekers and refugees, will showcase and sell products at 'Taste of Dublin' from Wednesday.
Temwa Chidaya from Malawi moved to Ireland in 2012.
She lives in Direct Provision at the Mosney accommodation centre with her family.
The mother-of-three started making candy and cupcakes to give as a treat to her autistic son.
She said: "I have an autistic son who loves candy. He's the one who made me to start making it. Right now, I don’t have a business. But after moving from Direct Provision, I’m hoping I can open a small business."
Temwa is being supported by the non-profit 'Our Table’ mentorship programme.
The organisation provides training and employment opportunities for people from minority backgrounds. It also advocates for the rights of people in Direct Provision to cook for themselves.
Co-founder of the project Ellie Kisyombe from Malawi believes the festival will help participants showcase their culinary skills and what is possible when people come together to share food.
She said: "I started this journey when I was living in Direct Provision and in my time, I wasn’t allowed to work, cook, integrate and meet a lot of Irish people. This festival is one of the biggest opportunities that has landed since I started this project."
Also taking part in the festival is Upile Gulumba from Malawi who lived in Direct Provision for three years.
Unhappy with the quality of food, she started cooking traditional Malawian dishes for her friends.
She said: "I started cooking for people in Direct Provision and they really loved it. Later, I started getting calls from people to cook at birthdays and other small events. People kept encouraging me to start a cooking business."
Upile will be displaying her Malawian-inspired delicacy - steamed rice and magua beans at the event and believes foods from diverse regions will enrich the festival.
Zimbabwean refugee Bianco Martine Singo is another member of the ‘Our Table’ programme making her debut at Taste of Dublin.
Bianco learnt how to bake in Mosney accommodation centre and used it as a form of "therapy".
She said: "I said to myself that instead of feeling sorry for myself and being stressed all the time, I need to do something. I started baking a few things and started attending courses they used to provide us with. Any time I was stressed, I baked and I felt very relieved."
While the women are looking forward to this week's event, they are also dreaming of opening their own businesses one day.
Bianco said: "My dream is to just have my business, whether it’s a bakery, or a small bakery that I can have in the house or somewhere in town."
Temwa added: "I would love to open a shop where I will make candies, cookies and maybe sell coffee. I may bring some stuff from Malawi like ingredients or even teabags, so that people can have a taste from our country."
