Anim Steel, Director of National Programs, The Food Project; and Dylan Fitz, Food Project Fellow
In 1991, twenty teenagers from the Boston area began work on a farm. It was an unusual summer job for inner city and suburban kids -- weeding, harvesting, running a farmers market -- but that experiment, called The Food Project, was the beginning of a movement with echoes all over North America and, increasingly, the world.
In St. Lucia, a Caribbean nation of 168,000 people, Catalyst Organic Gardens is transforming the local food system by growing organic herbs and vegetables, selling them to local restaurants, and inspiring others to do the same. A youth-driven organization, Catalyst illustrates the impact that young, innovative individuals can have on our societies. Two young entrepreneurs created and run Catalyst, and many unemployed youth currently volunteer on the farm because of the lack of other available opportunities. With strong leadership and delicious food, Catalyst is already a huge success. Local businesses and individuals are asking Catalyst how they can learn to grow such excellent food and Catalysts impact is already extending beyond the rows of its farm. To learn more, email co-founder Ratoya Pilgrim at rp0333@hotmail.com .
In South Africa, Tshediso Phahlane and his neighbors started the Indali Agricultural Communal Property Association in 1996. Tshediso presently spends much of his time traveling to more than 80 schools in his region teaching students about farming. Over 125 families farm the Indali land to ensure their food security and create new opportunities for economic development. In addition to his work with Indali, Tshediso created an engaging curriculum that teaches students about food and farming while creating school gardens. Now 32 years old, Tshediso is already a leader who has transformed his community and served as a model for others hoping to do the same. To contact Tshediso, email tphahlane@gmail.com .
Three years ago, The Food Project observed groups like these all over the world and recognized the collective impact that we can have when people are brought together to transform our food systems. Building upon this realization, The Food Projects BLAST Initiative (Building Local Agricultural Systems Today) was started to link and support efforts like these, as well as ones in the United States, Australia, Ghana, Mexico, Nigeria, and many other countries. You, too, can join the movement, share ideas, or ask questions at blast@thefoodproject.org .
Resources on global youth movements:
Environmental Youth Alliance: www.eya.ca
Freechild Youth Movement Mapping Project: www.freechild.org
The Food Project: www.thefoodproject.org
Global Youth Action Network and takingITglobal: www.takingitglobal.org
Global Youth Connect: www.globalyouthconnect.org
UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Rural Youth Development: www.fao.org/ruralyouth
Links, history, and an overview of present youth movements: www.youthmovements.org
This article was originally published in the Fall 2006 issue of Community Food Security News
