Our program is a hands-on social volunteering programme created by Instituto Hemingway for young international participants who want to combine Spanish language learning, cooking, cultural exchange and meaningful community involvement in Bilbao. The programme takes place four mornings per week, from 9 to 1 pm and is designed to transform cooking into a practical way of helping others.
Participants work together under the supervision of a chef, preparing healthy and nutritious meals that are subsequently donated to people in need or collaborating social organisations. The experience goes beyond the kitchen: participants may visit local markets to purchase fresh ingredients, interact with local vendors and practise Spanish in authentic everyday situations.
The programme also includes a “Cook My Country” experience, where participants can introduce a traditional recipe from their own country and prepare it together with the group. This creates an international environment where food becomes a way to share cultures, stories and traditions.
Once a week, participants can also visit a local NGO or community organisation to better understand the social impact of their volunteering and learn more about the needs of the local community.
This is not only about cooking. It is about learning by doing, working as a team, practising Spanish, meeting people from different cultures and creating something that directly benefits others. It also encourages conscious digital disconnection: participants are invited to put their phones aside, use their hands, interact face-to-face and be fully present.
Cook. Connect. Give.Every meal prepared has a purpose, every participant contributes, and everything we cook is made to be shared.
