Immigrant Women Launch WINGS Café to Empower Girls’ Education

A new café has emerged in downtown Windsor, providing a unique blend of culture and community support. The WINGS Café, launched in July 2023, is the brainchild of women passionate about promoting girls’ education worldwide. The café serves traditional Afghan breakfast dishes and Guatemalan coffee, all prepared by immigrant women who are seeking their first employment opportunities in Canada.

The initiative was spearheaded by Ruth Rodas, who has a personal connection to coffee farming in Guatemala. As the community development coordinator for the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative, Rodas is committed to empowering newcomers. “This opportunity was fuelled by coffee,” she noted, highlighting her family’s legacy of education. Her grandmother, a widow, challenged societal norms by ensuring her daughters received an education, a privilege not easily accessible in many communities.

Building a Community Kitchen

The WINGS Café operates out of the Good Hood Community Kitchen on Wyandotte Street West, where women like Tamana Haidari and Zarifa Noorzai are not only preparing meals but also sharing their stories. Both Haidari and Noorzai are working towards completing their high school diplomas while contributing to the café. Their culinary offerings include bolani, a stuffed flatbread, and cucu, a hashbrown-style dish, alongside Rodas’ family-sourced Guatemalan coffee.

Noorzai expressed her vision, stating, “This was my dream, that I could help girls’ education, because I wasn’t able to complete my education in my [home] country.” After fleeing Afghanistan, she hopes to leverage her experience to advocate for education rights for girls. This sentiment resonates deeply with both women, who see parallels in the struggles faced by girls in Afghanistan and Guatemala.

Creating Opportunities for Newcomers

The café not only serves delicious meals but also aims to provide a supportive workplace for immigrant women. Rodas emphasized the challenges many newcomers face in securing employment. “These girls have been applying for different jobs, but they have been told no for various reasons,” she explained. Factors such as lack of Canadian experience or language barriers can hinder their job prospects.

At WINGS Café, the environment is inclusive. The staff communicate in Persian while practicing their English, fostering a sense of community among diverse backgrounds. Rodas believes the café represents more than just a place to eat; it is a platform to make the skills and stories of these women visible. “They are holding an extraordinary power,” she said, underscoring the importance of recognizing their contributions.

The café’s menu reflects its mission, offering affordable meals priced under $4 to ensure accessibility for all community members. The initiative has garnered attention for its social impact, creating a supportive ecosystem while promoting cultural exchange through food.

Rodas concluded, “The collective effort here is very inspiring. This isn’t just to make a profit; it is for these girls.” The WINGS Café is set to operate on Saturday mornings, aiming to serve not only food but also hope and empowerment to women in Windsor’s downtown area.