Charles - Shahnaz
Community Care
Charles - Shahnaz Community Care
Empowered by Coriander Connections
Fostering Compassion, Empowering Women, Building Community
A heartfelt initiative dedicated to enhancing lives through holistic care, cultural enrichment, and meaningful connections. With a special focus on women’s empowerment, we aim to create opportunities, foster leadership, and inspire resilience. Supported by Coriander Connections, blending innovation and empathy to uplift and empower communities.
Shahnaz, dedicated to honouring Charles' legacy, leads as the Executive Director of Charles - Shahnaz Community Care, a transformative organisation that creates compassionate, inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. Her work focuses on championing causes that uplift vulnerable children with mental and physical disabilities and provide essential support for women and children in correctional facilities. Through these efforts, she embodies a mission of compassion, inclusivity, and empowerment, making a lasting impact across countless lives.
At Charles - Shahnaz Community Care, the vision is clear: to foster a world grounded in community well-being, sustainable living, social justice, and environmental stewardship. With a hands-on, collaborative approach, the organisation builds genuine partnerships with charities, organises impactful events, and mobilizes vital resources. Each initiative reflects a deep commitment to creating positive change and nurturing a community where resilience and hope flourish. Guided by Charles' legacy, Shahnaz continues to inspire a future marked by compassion, opportunity, and a profound sense of belonging for all.
In 2009, Shahnaz Barker founded Coriander Connections in Hong Kong, where she passionately introduced the wonders of Asian cuisine through presentations, demonstrations, and cooking classes. Her venture quickly gained a devoted following, with students eager to explore the rich flavors of dishes from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Building on the success of her classes, Shahnaz expanded into catering and delivered educational presentations at schools and universities, highlighting cooking techniques and the health benefits of herbs and spices.
Her culinary journey later took her to Thailand, the UK, and Pakistan, where she continued to share her expertise. Beyond the culinary world, Shahnaz is also a talented website designer with a strong interest in textile and clothing design, reflecting her diverse creativity and skills.