Community: Kitchener-Waterloo

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Grant Type: Youth and Community Wellness 2024

Q: Tell us about your group and project!

A: Hope for Community Development, a non-profit registered with the Canadian Government in 2020, supports BIPOC youth and families in Kitchener-Waterloo since 2018. The organization aims to foster change through education, programming, and community engagement, addressing poverty among Black, Indigenous, and newcomer families with tailored services. We offer innovative programs such as Next Gen Photography, Advanced Youth Entrepreneurship, Senior Empowerment, Afterschool Homework Club, Emergency Food Hamper, and Youth Soccer programs. These initiatives empower over 500 participants annually with practical skills, leadership development, and community connection. We believe in the power of community-driven solutions and actively involve our participants in the development and implementation of our programs. By fostering leadership opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship, and offering essential resources, we aim to uplift individuals, enabling them to realize their full potential.

Our project, Food Knowledge through Cooking Workshops, was about combining creative cooking with healthy practices. These sessions transformed meal preparation into an opportunity for healthy choices, mindfulness, and connection. Youth learned new techniques, deepened their relationship with food, and nurtured personal growth, either cooking solo, with peers, or with loved ones. The cooking workshops also fostered community belonging, bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds to share stories and culinary traditions, building mutual respect and understanding. Furthermore, the cooking workshops incorporate discussions on traditional food practices of Indigenous and POC communities, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of connecting with the land. This has enabled participants to understand and respect their heritage, fostering a sense of pride and identity. 

“Participating in these cooking workshops has been a transformative experience. Not only have we learned valuable culinary skills, but we’ve also discovered the joys of healthy eating and the power of community. The sense of connection and creativity fostered through this project has been truly inspiring.”

Sarah

Q: As the youth running the project, what impact do you hope it will have?

A: As the youth running the Food Knowledge through Cooking Workshops project, we hope it will profoundly impact our community in several meaningful ways. Firstly, we aim for it to strengthen our sense of community belonging. By encouraging feedback and collaboration, engaging on social media, and celebrating our successes, we hope to create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. 

Furthermore, we aspire for the project to foster personal development among participants. Through consistent engagement, enthusiasm, and the opportunities provided by our diverse activities, we hope each individual will gain valuable skills and insights that will benefit them in their future endeavors. These experiences should help build confidence, inspire leadership, and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning. 

Additionally, we hope the project will empower participants to embrace their heritage and identity. By incorporating discussions on traditional food practices of Indigenous and POC communities, we believe we can foster a deeper understanding and respect for our history and culture. This sense of pride and identity is crucial for personal growth, wellness, and community cohesion. 

Ultimately, our goal is for these initiatives to enrich the lives of participants, providing them with practical skills, leadership development, and a strong community connection. By fostering leadership opportunities, promoting food systems, and offering essential resources, we hope we can uplift individuals and enable them to realize their full potential. We envision a future where our community thrives on mutual respect, shared goals, and a commitment to collective success. 

“One piece of advice we’d share with other youth who want to run a project is to prioritize creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. The success of your project depends on making all participants feel valued and heard, regardless of their background or skill level. Foster collaboration and feedback, engage actively with your community through social media, and celebrate every achievement.”

Hope for Community Development

Q: What is something you have learned?

A: The Food Knowledge through Cooking Workshops taught us the cultural importance of different foods, helping us appreciate the culinary heritage of our peers. This exchange fosters inclusivity, connection, and personal development, broadening our perspective on diverse foods and strengthening community bonds. 

We learned new techniques, built stronger relationships with food, and grew personally, whether cooking alone or with others. The workshops fostered community belonging by bringing together young people from various backgrounds to share stories and culinary traditions. They also included discussions on Indigenous and POC traditional food practices, emphasizing their historical and cultural importance. This helped participants understand and respect their heritage, fostering pride and identity. 

  

To promote participation and eliminate barriers, transportation was arranged to ensure youth could attend the workshops. Participants appreciated the accessible spaces. The workshops focused on culinary skills, healthy eating, and community engagement, fostering connection and creativity. 

We also learned that by creating a welcoming and inclusive space, our cooking workshops empowered youth to embrace their identities and contribute meaningfully to their community. These activities collectively encouraged youth to value their natural surroundings, leading to improved mental health and a holistic sense of wellbeing. The joy and sense of community that emanated from that experience were nothing short of magical. 

Q: What is one piece of advice you would share with other youth who want to run a project?

A: One piece of advice we’d share with other youth who want to run a project is to prioritize creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. The success of your project depends on making all participants feel valued and heard, regardless of their background or skill level. Foster collaboration and feedback, engage actively with your community through social media, and celebrate every achievement. 

By cultivating a strong sense of community belonging, not only will you enhance the participants’ learning experiences, but you will also build lasting connections beyond the project. Through mutual respect and shared goals, your project can serve as a powerful platform for personal development, wellness and community cohesion, empowering everyone involved to realize their full potential. 

Connect with folks from Hope for Community Development!

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