Ready to Cook and Connect for Change? ChangeCup Is Now Open for Applications In early 2026, we launched our Flavour of ChangeCup project with one clear goal: to create a cooking competition that opens the door to broader conversations about sustainable food, migrant inclusion, and professional development. The call for applications is now open in all four participating countries—Italy, Spain, Greece, and Germany. Help us spread the word! What is ChangeCup about? The ChangeCup cooking competition gives participants a chance to share their culinary knowledge, develop practical skills, and become part of a European initiative connecting food, sustainability, and inclusion. “By bringing together people from different backgrounds, ChangeCup creates a space where cooking becomes a way to learn from one another and contribute to positive change,” says Jennifer Wiegard, CSCP Project Manager. Following CSCP’s Train-the-Trainer workshop and the development of the Facilitator Guideline, project partners now have practical tools to plan and run the regional pre-competitions in their local contexts. These preparations help ensure a consistent, inclusive, and high-quality experience across all four countries. Who can apply? In all four countries, ChangeCup is looking for people with migrant backgrounds who are interested in sustainable cooking, creativity, and intercultural exchange. Sustainability criteria such as the use of regional, seasonal, organic or plant-based ingredients as well as avoiding food waste serve as guidance for developing the dishes. At the same time, we encourage the participants to reflect about the different priorities such as costs, availability, cultural traditions, and environmental impacts. By sharing recipes, stories, and skills across cultures, ChangeCup aims to create real opportunities in the culinary sector, strengthen intercultural exchange, and promote fair, climate-friendly food systems for all. What does ChangeCup offer? Through regional competitions, coaching, and exchange, ChangeCup gives participants opportunities to develop their skills, gain visibility, and connect with others. The project creates opportunities for participants to connect with restaurants and professional cooks, helping them build networks and making the step towards a career in the gastronomy sector easier. At the same time, the project helps local partners strengthen their capacity to promote sustainable food practices in their contexts. The competition follows a three-step process. First, participants submit their sustainable recipes through an open call. Selected participants are then invited to regional competitions, where they prepare their dishes, present their recipes and take part in a joint cooking competition. Winners of the regional competitions will be invited to the international ChangeCup final competition in Germany, where they will meet participants from the other countries and compete together. Spread the word! Whether through cooking, mentoring, or sharing expertise, ChangeCup welcomes people who want to be part of a shared European effort to turn ideas around sustainable food, inclusion, and cultural exchange into joint action. For further questions, please contact Jennifer Wiegard.