Written by Rayna Almas
A few weeks ago, it hit me that we were coming up on a whole year of our youth volunteer program, a program that we’ve aptly called “Youth in Food Systems” (YFS).
It all started because of COVID-19. Leading up to the pandemic, our efforts were focused on physical gardens across the Region of Waterloo through our School Food Garden program (And it’s a great program that we’ve enjoyed and plan to continue with).
But, it didn’t make a lot of sense to keep all of our eggs in that basket. Not when schools were closed, students were learning from home, and there was no one on site to care for the garden spaces.
So, we decided to begin shifting focus to virtual platforms for learning, and to focus on efforts on high-school-aged youth.
The result: A hybrid program, YFS, that aims to engage young people in food systems learning through a number of self-led projects that work separately and in conjunction with one another to provide a strong introduction to the world of food and agriculture.
The first piece of the puzzle: This blog! It was exactly one year ago, April 1, 2021, that we published our first post. Since then, 2-3 posts each week have explored food systems and environmental topics, with 95% of the posts being written and edited by youth across southern Ontario.
Also part of the program are our social media content creators, resource developers, interviewers, Market Leaders, garden education participants, and more.
We have a number of plans in the works (stay tuned for those exciting developments this year!). For now, let’s hear from one of our youth volunteers, Alyssa:
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Introduce yourself! Where are you located and what grade are you in?
My name’s Alyssa, I live in Toronto and I’m in grade 11.
What role or roles have you filled on the team since you began volunteering with the program?
I’ve been working on designing infographics about Canada’s food systems.
What has your experience with the program been like?
I’ve liked it a lot, I like how I can manage my own schedule, and even though I live far away I can still contribute and gain volunteer hours remotely! Not to mention I get to do something I enjoy.
Do you have any specific moments or memories that you appreciate from your time here?
I don’t have many specific memories since I work remotely and by myself, but I remember how happy I was to be able to volunteer during lockdown. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to fill up all my volunteer hours, so getting this opportunity was a huge relief.
Has volunteering here sparked any new interests or led to a better understanding of your interests? If yes, how so?
I’ve always been interested in art, and working as a designer for infographics has helped me get better with colour schemes and composition.
How has your understanding of food or sustainability changed through your time with the program?
It’s changed a lot, I learned so many new things about the history and different sectors involved in Canada’s food system. It’s helped me appreciate the food I eat more, and the people who work hard to make that food readily available!
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Are you interested in joining the YFS team? We’re looking for additional young people to join our efforts in exploring, communicating, and empowering others to care about sustainable food in Canada. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your calling through our program.
Explore the Youth in Food Systems program here.
Get in touch with us: wrsfg@seeds.ca
Rayna Almas is Waterloo Region School Food Gardens’ youth programming manager.