Green Gown Awards 2018 - Kent Union - Finalist

EcoFeast is a local student-run social enterprise that aims to bridge the gap between younger and older generations, tackle food waste and encourage independence in young people. Each week, a cookery lesson is delivered by a retired individual/s to secondary school pupils. In the local community in Canterbury, 1 in 5 people are over the age of 65 and loneliness is attributed to be one of highest causes of death among the elderly population.

This project provides weekly interactions for the elderly and they have the opportunity to pass on their cooking knowledge to students. The project also tackles the pressing issue of rising food waste levels by making food waste the main ingredient in the classes.

Many young people go on to university without sufficient cooking skills and as a result end up relying on unhealthy meals therefore the project addresses that problem by ensuring young people are able to gain cooking skills.

Top 3 learnings:

1. Resilience and persistence is key.

2. Teamwork and hard-work pays off.

3. True socio-economic change is achievable: simply unite the younger and the older generations.