This year, I had the privilege to found a student-led initiative called the “Vancouver Youth Food Alliance” (VYFA). We are a group of five UBC students who are leading an after-school cooking program for youth aged ten to eleven. Throughout our project, the VYFA aims to achieve five overarching goals:
- To mitigate food security gaps in Vancouver
- To promote healthy living
- To empower youth to realize their important role in our food system
- To ensure that VYFA’s efforts are sustainable
- To make a positive contribution in the Vancouver community
Throughout our endeavors, we have strived to tailor all of our activities towards these goals to ensure that our project is indeed successful.
From the start of our project, we recognized that our executive would have to go through a lengthy process to develop ourselves from our modest means to indeed carry out a meaningful initiative in the Vancouver community. Through the help of several community members, we eventually applied and were awarded a $1,796 UBC Community Learning Initiative (CLI) grant and created a partnership with Teri Corcoran at David Thompson Family of Schools to successfully carry out our after-school program.
Throughout our endeavors, we were able to carry out six after-school cooking lessons. In regards to concrete results, we organized three sweet and three savory recipes, which we cooked collaboratively with the students. Additionally, we organized and participated in a fieldtrip to the UBC Farm on March 10th. This was an opportunity for the students to take part in an experiential learning venture, where they learned directly from UBC farm workers regarding various processes that go into growing food. We felt that bringing the youth to the UBC Farm tied in very well with several lessons that we taught the children.
As each of these students lives in an urban centre, our program provided an opportunity for them to engage in agricultural practices that may have otherwise not been commonly offered to these students. For example, during one lesson, we had students contemplate various farming practices, such as the potential advantages and disadvantages of monocropping (in very simplified terms). The following lesson, we gave each student a clay pot, a watering can, seeds and soil. First, each student painted his or her own clay pot to personalize it. Next, each student was given two Ziploc bags; one filled with rosemary seeds while the other was filled with soil. Lastly, we gave each student their own watering can along with instructions regarding how to grow their own rosemary. With this particular activity, we hoped the students would be inspired to plant and grow their own herbs at home, which could potentially unlock their unknown passion of growing their own food and exploring their role in our food system. Overall, we felt these cumulative activities and learning lessons encouraged each student to begin pondering the origin of their food, how it is grown and what their potential role in this process can be.
In addition to these activities, we created cookbooks for each child. These books compiled the various recipes that we cooked with the students throughout the program. Lastly, we created a toolbox kit at the end of our project. This consisted of the lesson plans, meeting minutes, recipes, executive mission and grant application. When moving forward, we feel that this toolbox kit will be integral in ensuring that VYFA’s efforts are sustainable, as future executive members will be able to refer to these materials when carrying out their activities.
From a personal standpoint, by taking on this leadership role, I had the opportunity to take greater ownership in recognizing the important role that I have in making a positive contribution in Vancouver. It was very meaningful to apply knowledge that I have learned on land, food and the community at UBC and indeed turn this into tangible actions.
Additionally, although we aimed to empower youth throughout these endeavors, I personally felt incredibly empowered at various points throughout this project. Overall, although we aimed to empower youth throughout these endeavors, I personally felt incredibly empowered at various points throughout this project.
Moreover, I felt that VYFA’s successes were certainly a result of the cumulative efforts that were made by several members that were involved in this initiative. I was incredibly blessed to work with a team of four assiduous, approachable and passionate students on our executive; moreover, our community stakeholders at David Thompson were always approachable and enthusiastic to have us on board with them. We really valued their mentorship throughout this process. Additionally, we really appreciated Kyle Nelson’s guidance (the LFS Community Based Experiential Learning Coordinator) and mentorship throughout this process, particularly when we were applying for the CLI grant, as his input was instrumental in ensuring the eventual funding and success of our project. Lastly, the CLI team running the grants were integral in providing resources and opportunities that we otherwise would have not been able to pursue. They were always available for guidance and clarification throughout our project. Without having these several members involved, the VYFA certainly would not have encountered the same levels of success. It was a very humbling experience.
Overall, I truly enjoyed having the opportunity to take part in this experiential learning experience. Becoming involved in a community outreach project is certainly something that I would encourage fellow UBC students to partake in, as I feel that there is so much to be gained through exploring concepts and ideas first-hand. Personally, I felt that I gained invaluable knowledge about myself, including what my role is in the Vancouver community and ways to work collaboratively on an interprofessional executive. Overall, the VYFA set five overarching goals for this project. Through the help of a CLI grant and continual support and input from several community members, I felt that we made significant progress towards achieving these goals; however, progress can still be made and I look forward to discovering what the VYFA will accomplish in future years.