FOOD-Y PROGRAM
The FOOD-y program offers a new way to engage youth in their community, promoting sustainable improvement and empowering them to provide solutions to the issues they select, using food as an activation of interest.
More specifically, the proposed program includes:
– Learning about the food system, analysing how food is wasted and disposed of, and examining the value chain from cradle to an alternative to the waste bin that they can activate and implement in their community.
– Exploring the concept of a circular economy in the food industry and drawing inspiration from case studies.
– Using community analysis techniques to map and investigate issues related to food waste and the wasting of food resources in their community.
– Mapping the key players in the local food value chains, such as farmers, big buyers, and shops.
– Cooperating with other participants in the program, including those from other countries, to find solutions together and enhance their intercultural skills.
– Learning elements of project design and management techniques to prepare a plan to solve the issues they detect.
– Understanding how to use social media professionally to promote their ideas and projects.
– Mastering the art of making official requests to local actors to sponsor the projects they create.
The program is delivered using non-formal techniques, with support from digital learning content available on the project’s website, providing a flexible learning experience and facilitating participation throughout all stages of the program. In the most delicate or sensitive cases, the partners and their expert youth workers and educators offer mentoring or refer participants to specialised support services if they feel it is necessary. The educators and youth workers delivering the program currently find the information and knowledge they need in the EDUCATORS MANUAL. All materials are delivered in the languages of the partners to facilitate use with local teams.
Project Result 1:
Educators Manual
Cumulative Report
Project Result 2:
The program toolkit
Project Result 1 of the FOOD-Y project is an “Educators Manual” designed to equip educators and facilitators with comprehensive resources and guidance to educate and empower young people, unemployed youth, and community organisers in addressing the critical issue of food waste. This manual covers topics such as understanding the circular economy, exploring case studies of successful practices in the food industry, community mapping, project planning, communication tools, and advocacy strategies. It aims to enable educators to deliver workshops, both online and in-person, to teach project management, design, and the principles of circular economy to their target audience. The ultimate goal of this manual is to empower individuals and groups to take action in solving problems related to food waste in their communities and move towards a more sustainable future.
The cumulative report dives into the effective management of food waste within the framework of circular economy principles. It explores various facets, including Circular Economy Action Plans, partners’ country-specific benefits, the current status of food waste generation, strategies, and exemplary practices in food waste management in Turkey, Italy, Greece and Romania. Additionally, it highlights success stories in this domain and concludes with insights on how to address food waste within the context of circular economy concepts.
Project Result 2, “The Program Toolkit” in the FOOD-Y project, is a comprehensive resource designed to be developed after local activities. The future content will serve as a guide and reference for participants and local organisers involved in addressing food waste and implementing sustainable solutions.
The manual supports the successful implementation of the program by ensuring engaging, educational, and adaptable local activities focused on addressing food waste and promoting sustainability.
Supporting Tools
The supporting tools encompass a set of digital resources designed to aid educators in delivering workshops and activities throughout the entire project. These resources include icebreakers, infographics, videos, and quizzes tailored for each workshop or chapter. These tools serve to maintain a consistent and engaging learning experience for participants while enhancing the effectiveness of the educational activities. Whether used for introductory icebreakers, visual aids through infographics, multimedia content like videos, or knowledge assessment through quizzes, these supporting tools are valuable assets for educators throughout the project.
