The Kitchen Cultures program in Braybrook draws together young people from a range of cultures in a series of food-based workshops.

Participants will cook together, share stories about customs and be part of a joint creative project.

Director of education, employment and training, Steve Maillet, says a similar program last year helped break down barriers among young people in the area.

"It is about young people coming together and building those relationships. We're trying to get a real cross-section of people," he says.

Parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs and citizenship Kate Lundy visited the hub last Tuesday to announce $50,000 funding for the project. A series of eight-week workshops for 10 participants will be held over the next 12 months.

Peer leader Nexhmije Llugiqi says previous cooking sessions helped people to learn about other cultures and talk about their own experiences of racism.

"We talked about these experiences in Australia and things we can do to make the situation better. It made it better to realise we weren't the only ones, that it happens to us all."

The 22-year-old Braybrook resident came to Melbourne from Kosovo five years ago and found the initiative a good way to learn about other cultures.

The first workshops begin this month. More details: 83115400.