Australian social enterprise bakery The Bread & Butter Project recently celebrated its largest annual cohort – and the 100th graduate.

This year saw 26 refugees reach the next milestone in their journeys to build a new life in Australia. A graduation ceremony was held on November 20 to celebrate their achievements and each trainee’s accreditation as a fully-fledged baker.

The 2024 ceremony also marked the program’s 100th graduate – Haseebullah, who is a 27-year-old refugee from Afghanistan.

Haseebullah grew up in Afghanistan, however when the Taliban took over the country in the 1990s he and his family escaped to Pakistan.

“Our family stayed in Pakistan for 10 years, and we only returned home to Afghanistan when it was safe again, once a new government came into power and the Taliban left,” he said.

“However, the Taliban returned a few years ago and separated us from our family. We had a big family, all living together, and when the Taliban came back we had to escape to wherever we could go.”

Haseebullah and two of his brothers arrived in Australia three years ago, while another two of his brothers were offered safe passage to the US with their families. His two sisters remained behind in Afghanistan in the hope they can one day join their other family members.

Haseebullah and his brothers made a home in Sydney, and he was introduced to The Bread & Butter Project through his brother, Kashif, who had joined the program a month prior to him and had felt it would be a great opportunity for Haseenbullah.

Through the program Haseebullah received hands-on training in the company’s Marrickville bakery, as well as a TAFE Certificate II in Baking, and intensive English language tutoring.

Outside of the bakery and his TAFE studies, Haseebullah said he is enjoying the beautiful natural landscapes in Australia.

“I’ve fallen in love with the ocean, which we don’t have in Afghanistan. I love going to the beach with my brother and friends,” he said.

The Bread & Butter Project CEO Eva Rabanal said following the successful completion of their traineeship, the social enterprise would assist the new graduates to find employment in the industry.

“The best way to prevent social isolation, create opportunity and alleviate poverty for refugees in Australia is through steady employment,” she said.

“A secure job helps our graduates build a sense of belonging in the Australian community, on top of their new-found English and baking skills.

“We’re proud of the fact that since we commenced in 2013, almost all our baker graduates are sustainably employed and have been able to discontinue welfare support.

“Following the graduation of our latest and largest cohort, we are now actively working to help our graduates find gainful employment, and we ask any bakeries or hospitality businesses seeking highly motivated and professional bakers to contact us, so that we can assist them in securing suitable roles.”