The project offers a hands-on, direct-to-community approach to youth food learning and leadership. Since 2021, youth in our program have grown and sold fresh, local produce at their own pop-up produce stalls, set up in self-identified food-insecure neighbourhoods, using a pay-what-you-choose pricing model. The project supports food access in priority neighbourhoods while empowering youth to take on leadership roles in making a real difference in their communities.
As food insecurity becomes a greater problem in our local communities, we want to set up Markets in new, priority neighbourhoods, and create and deliver quality training and experiential learning for youth in the pre-season. Youth will become better equipped for success in collaboratively growing and distributing food, resulting in more local food reaching community members in Waterloo Region.
We will:
- Develop and provide training and workshops, creating a schedule of community-based activities for youth during the spring months that give them opportunities to connect with each other and adult allies, learn about local food systems and food security, and gain practical skills for running the project during summer.
- Work alongside youth leaders and community partners to identify and establish food production and distribution in neighbourhoods with high rates of self-identified food insecurity.
- Build out a set of activities and learning opportunities to ensure youth leaders are able to confidently implement and communicate the pay-what-you-choose pricing model at Market.
- Operate the Market on a weekly basis in three priority neighbourhoods during summer, with two school gardens feeding into each. This will include significant targeted outreach to community members who could most benefit from dignified access to affordable food.
By putting youth in the driver’s seat of our programs, we empower them connect socially, educationally, and in service according to their own values.
The 2023 Waterloo Region Youth Impact Survey indicates that measures of well being for local youth continue to be low post-pandemic. Only 51% of youth feel they are a valued member of the community, with <50% feeling a strong sense of belonging in their neighbourhoods and schools. 3/4 felt a sense of responsibility for the natural environment, but a majority can't find suitable programs to meet their interests. About half of youth self-assessed their mental health to be fair or poor, an issue that increases as youth get older. Our program provides opportunities for youth to work in peer-teams toward shared objectives in community food production and distribution, learning real-world skills, while inspiring each other in community service and future food-system leadership. The “off season”, that period of time when the Markets aren’t actively running, is also when youth are in school and often seeking meaningful extracurricular activities to supplement their routines. When youth are confident and competent heading into the main season, the Market is able to reach more community members and ultimately have greater community impact ie. more food distributed to more people with more thoughtful pricing and outreach. In 2024, 1 in 8 households in Waterloo Region accessed food support, according to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Rising food prices are creating food inequalities, and youth are eager to help become part of a solution. The issue of food insecurity has become even more prevalent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting more members of the Waterloo Region community than ever before, making it an important issue both in terms of learning and action. Dignified access to food is a top priority, with community members invited to visit the Market and access food at below-market cost. Youth participants help customers navigate pay-what-you-choose pricing, ensuring the dignity of customers who benefit by paying a little less without embarrassment.
support
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You guys did so great!
Meeting like-minded community members and teens designing green and edible spaces at their schools enriches the landscapes of our neighbourhoods.
I had alot of fun participating in these markets. I met new people, and learned about produce. The market is nice for customers who want to buy local produce.
Supporting youth gardeners as a mentor was a fulfilling and enjoyable experience, getting to see their knowledge, skills development, and confidence grow!