My name is Chinju and I am from Kerala in the South of India. I am from a small family – parents and one sister – and I was brought up in a village where my parents are farmers. I learned cooking from both my mother and my father, but in different ways. I would watch my mother as she made everyday dishes – such as breakfast of Puttu (boiled ground rice and coconut) with chickpea curry. My father taught me to cook different spicy foods like chicken curry. After school I studied Indian dancing at university, with degree and post-grad qualifications.

When I joined the dance programme and shared accommodation with fellow students the cookery training from my parents was a blessing (or a curse!) as my friends had me grate coconut every day – I was the only one who knew how to do this! We made coconut chutney and mango pickle to spice up our cheap and simple meals! My husband is my rock. I am here because of him. He and my family mean the world to me.. I came to the UK to work as a home carer about a year ago, with the ambition to build a career here and for my husband to be able to join me. My first job did not work out well and with support from the Salvation Army I was introduced to Migrateful. I hope my journey with Migrateful and cooking my food from Kerala will enable me to build a new life in the UK.