By: Maggie Anderson, Intern

Photo from Unsplash

Food waste and public health are interconnected global issues that manifest differently across countries and cultures. 

Developed vs. Developing Countries

The patterns of food waste vary significantly between developed and developing nations. In developed nations, food waste primarily occurs at the retail and consumer levels. The key factors that contribute to this amount of waste include: oversupply, strict cosmetic standards for produce, and consumer behaviors such as over-purchasing. In order to address these issues, solutions that have a focus on consumer education, improving inventory management and implementing policy changes that encourage more sustainable practices are needed.

On the other hand, developing countries have a different experience as food loss is predominantly in the pre-consumption phase, peaking at the post-harvest handling and storage. The lack of proper functioning storage facilities, inadequate transportation infrastructure, and limited access to cold chain technology, such as freezers and refrigerators, exacerbate food waste in these regions. Therefore, in order to address this issue in developing countries improvements to infrastructure, storage methods and food processing capabilities are necessary in reducing waste. 

Globally, about one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. Developed countries account for approximately 222 million tons of food waste. To put it in a different perspective, that is almost equal to the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa, which is around 230 million tons. Addressing food waste requires tailored approaches for developed and developing regions, but it is essential for enhancing food security, promoting economic development, and ensuring environmental sustainability worldwide. Collaborative efforts across the supply chain and between countries are necessary to make meaningful progress on this complex issue. 

Regional Disparities

The impact of food waste on public health varies across regions:

In Europe, food waste is a considerable issue, with the European Union (EU) generating over 58 million tonnes of food waste annually. This waste has a market value of approximately 132 billion euros (approximately 144 billion United States Dollars).This waste contributes 16% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the EU food system, impacting the environment through land and soil degradation, water pollution, and resource depletion. Additionally, food waste in healthcare settings can lead to malnutrition-related complications, affecting patient recovery. The EU aims to halve per capita food waste by 2030 as part of its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3,.

Similarly, in North America, food waste is a major contributor to environmental pollution, emitting harmful gases such as CO2, CH4, and N2O, which pose direct and indirect health risks. These emissions can lead to respiratory issues and other health problems, ranging from mild lung irritation to severe conditions like cancer. The region’s high levels of food waste exacerbate public health issues by contributing to air pollution and climate change, which in turn affect human health.

In contrast, South America faces significant environmental issues related to food waste that indirectly affect public health. The region experiences substantial food loss and waste, with about 15% of available food being wasted. This leads to inefficient resource use, exacerbating environmental degradation and affecting food security, which can have serious health implications.

Moving to Asia, the impact of food waste on public health is closely tied to emissions from decomposing waste, including CO2, CH4, and N2O, which can cause respiratory and other health problems. The region’s rapid industrialization and urbanization have increased food waste, heightening these health risks. Efforts to mitigate these impacts include the adoption of technologies to capture emissions and convert waste into biofuels.

In Africa, unique challenges arise from food waste, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure and food distribution systems. The health impacts are often indirect, stemming from food insecurity and malnutrition, as significant portions of food are lost before reaching consumers. This exacerbates food scarcity and can lead to malnutrition-related health issues, further complicating public health efforts.

Finally, in Latin America, food waste contributes to both environmental and social challenges. The region experiences considerable waste, leading to inefficient resource use and environmental degradation, which affects public health by exacerbating water pollution and reducing food security. The social implications include increased food insecurity, as wasted food could otherwise be used to feed undernourished populations.

In conclusion, food waste presents significant public health and environmental challenges across these regions. Addressing food waste is crucial not only for improving food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also for enhancing overall public health outcomes globally. 

Public Health Implications

Food waste has far-reaching consequences for public health globally:

Food Security and Nutrition

• Food Insecurity: Food waste coexists with food insecurity, where millions lack access to nutritious food. In the U.S., for example, food waste is prevalent despite millions experiencing food insecurity, particularly among low-income families.
• Nutritional Impact: The wastage of food, especially fruits and vegetables, results in missed opportunities to provide diverse and nutritious diets. This is critical as undernourished populations are more susceptible to health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Food Redistribution: Programs like FoodRecovery.org have demonstrated that redistributing surplus produce to low-income families can improve dietary habits and reduce food waste.

Environmental and Health Consequences

• Environmental Impact: Food waste contributes significantly to environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing food in landfills. This exacerbates climate change, which in turn affects public health through increased extreme weather events and food supply disruptions.
• Immediate Health Risks: Incorrect disposal of food waste can lead to health hazards by creating breeding grounds for bacteria and attracting vermin, which can spread diseases.

Economic and Resource Implications

• Economic Loss: Food waste represents a substantial economic loss, with billions of dollars worth of food wasted annually. Reducing food waste can lead to financial savings for households and businesses.
• Resource Conservation: Wasting food also means wasting the resources used in its production, such as water and energy, which has broader implications for environmental sustainability.

Solutions and Initiatives

Global efforts to address food waste and its impact on public health include:

International Collaboration: Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment– This initiative brings together stakeholders from different sectors to share best practices and strategies to reduce food waste along the West Coast of North America. It aims to halve food waste by 2030 through public and private sector collaboration.

Policy Measures: U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions- This program encourages businesses and organizations to commit to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030. It involves setting measurable goals and sharing progress to inspire broader action

Consumer Education: Awareness Campaigns- Initiatives aim to educate consumers about the environmental and health impacts of food waste. These campaigns encourage individuals to adopt better food management practices, such as proper storage and meal planning, to minimize waste

Food Redistribution: Improving systems for redistributing surplus food to those in need addresses both food waste and food insecurity. This includes partnerships with food banks and charities to ensure excess food reaches vulnerable populations rather than ending up in landfills. 

In conclusion, addressing food waste is crucial for improving public health outcomes globally. While challenges vary across regions, common themes emerge, such as the need for better data, improved technology, and increased awareness. By learning from diverse cultural approaches and implementing targeted solutions, countries can work towards reducing food waste and its associated public health impacts.

Sources

Global food waste: developed vs. developing countries

Even Poor Countries End Up Wasting Tons Of Food

Tackling food waste: The EU’s contribution to a global issue

The Global Benefits of Reducing Food Loss and Waste, and How to Do It

Cutting food waste to feed the world: Over a billion tonnes squandered each year

Reducing Food Loss and Waste

Food loss and waste prevention

Food Waste

Food waste in European healthcare settings

EU Proposes Food Waste Reduction Targets As Part of ‘Unambitious’ Soil Health Initiative

The effects of gases from food waste on human health: A systematic review

Eyes bigger than belly: a habit which is harming Latin America

11 Effective Solutions for Food Waste

International Efforts on Wasted Food Recovery

Food Waste

Why should we care about food waste?

Food Waste and Nutrition Quality in the Context of Public Health: A Scoping Review

Urbanisation as driver of food system transformation and opportunities for rural livelihoods

Review: Food loss and waste in Sub-Saharan Africa

Understanding Food Loss and Waste—Why Are We Losing and Wasting Food?

Latin America And The Caribbean Has The Highest Food Waste Carbon Footprint In The Developing World

A Public Health Opportunity Found in Food Waste

Handy tips to reduce your food waste

By- Allie Wilson, Director of Operations: Northeast and California

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

FoodRecovery.org works across the United States to prevent food from going to waste by increasing food donations, and we have been fortunate enough to collaborate with food recovery organizations across the world.

We wanted to take a trip and talk about how FoodRecovery.org has been able to share our mission and work with organizations fighting hunger across the globe!

Community Engagement Exchange

Our first international connection began through the IREX CEE Program. IREX’s Community Engagement Exchange program is a leadership development program for young professionals between the ages of 21-27. Young professionals all over the world come to the United States to spend 3 months collaborating with civil society organizations, developing their personal and professional skills. FoodRecovery.org, then MEANS Database, was fortunate enough to host two CEE Fellows. 

Our fantastic fellows were Jeffery and Espoir, from Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively. We were so fortunate to have Jeffery and Espoir join our team for 3 months. They taught us about their experiences creating innovative solutions to waste in their communities, shared their perspectives on issues surrounding food security, and introduced us to their cultures.

The Zambia Food Bank

CEE also connected us with Enock Mwewa, one of the founders of The Zambia Food Bank. Allie met Enock Mwewa through the CEE End of Program Workshop in Washington, DC back in 2022. Enock shared his idea to start a food bank and food recovery program in his home country of Zambia. 

Allie was able to spend 2 weeks in Zambia through the CEE’s Community Engagement Project (CEP) Exchange, where she collaborated with The Zambia Food Bank team on program structuring, identifying potential partners, and even visiting some inspirational projects like Organic Farm 7. Allie continues to collaborate with The Zambia Food Bank and we’re proud to watch them grow!

Banco de Alimentos de Viçosa- The Food Bank of Viçosa

Our most recent international collaborator has been the Banco de Alimentos de Viçosa in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil! Organized by researchers from the Federal University of Viçosa, the Banco de Alimentos de Viçosa (Food Bank of Viçosa in English) aims to provide nutritious food to community members facing food insecurity across Viçosa and the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais.

FoodRecovery.org became involved with this project when Allie’s former professor at UFV, Silvia Eloisa Priore, learned about our organization’s work during a visit from Allie. Dr. Priore and her team of nutritionists and agroecologists at UFV have been working on food security initiatives across Brazil for years. After learning about a grant available for extension activities through the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education, Dr. Priore invited Allie to participate in the formation of a project proposal that would kick-start the Banco de Alimentos de Viçosa. The project was approved and the work to build the food bank has begun!

FoodRecovery.org’s mission, process, and our experiences were shared to the Banco de Alimentos team through a presentation by Allie. Other partners from The Ohio State University and University of Maryland led a leadership course to help participants in the formation of the Banco de Alimentos de Viçosa. We at FoodRecovery.org are looking forward to further collaborating with the Banco de Alimentos de Viçosa team and our fellow American partners at Ohio State University and the University of Maryland, as well as encouraging food recovery and food security in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

A Global Movement with Local Impact

As FoodRecovery.org continues to grow our mission of wasting less food and feeding more people, we hope to continue strengthening the global movement of individuals and organizations fighting food waste and food insecurity. We hope that our global reach can result in a local impact within communities across the world!

By: Grace Hoening, former Social Media Coordinator

As a young female professional it is hard to go to conferences and get taken seriously. It’s hard to sit back and listen to people who “know more” tell you things that you already know. Now don’t get me wrong, every conference I go to, I do learn more but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to jump through hoops to get there. I have to make sure I’m dressing the part because otherwise I’m not being professional enough. That doesn’t just mean looking nice, that’s business casual leaning towards the side of business professional because what I lack in age I need to make up for in how I look. I also can’t be taking notes on my phone, because “Gen Z are glued to their phones and it’s the only thing they know.” It’s never impressive where I’m at in my career or that I get to attend conferences and represent my organization. It’s cute that they trust little ole me in this kind of setting. As a young professional woman, it is so easy to feel like I am not enough. That is so discouraging.

While I wish this was an incident that happened once, I have countless memories of conferences I’ve attended that have made me feel less than enough. I have sat in rooms where older generations have said “Gen Z are the most connected but least able to make relationships,” and there are so many more instances too. I struggle with people telling me “Gen Z are the future!” because we are not. Gen Z is the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012. That is an age range of 13 to 27 year olds, making over half of us adults.

While I do not have the same experience as people older than me, that doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to bring to the table. I sat in a room where everyone laughed when a presenter made a joke about how Gen Z doesn’t know what a Rolodex is. And yes, I didn’t know what that was, but with a quick google search I can learn what that is and teach you how to use LinkedIn. My lack of knowledge of a staple office supply in the 80s does not discredit all the abilities I do have.

At a conference I attended there was a presentation all about Gen Z. Some highlights of the presentation included how we are passionate about what we believe in and how when we find a cause or organization we want to support, we will be devoted to the mission. It might take us a little bit to get on board as we always do some digging before we go all in, but we know our way around the internet and know how to find something that both matches our beliefs and is credible. We were described as loud and proud. The presenters said we have a lot to say and good insight, people just need to listen. These are all great things, throughout the entire presentation, there was not a negative thing said about us. They were so close to nailing this presentation, yet so far. The youngest person on stage had “proud elder millennial” in their LinkedIn bio. This really screamed practice what you preach. I’m not saying Everyone in the panel had to be born before 1997, I’m just saying it would have been nice to see myself represented on stage.

If you want us to feel welcomed, think about the spaces you’re inviting us into (or excluding us from.) I love it when I feel empowered, but if it’s backhanded, I would argue it’s worse than if you would have just done nothing. We want authenticity, not some fake apology with a lack of empathy to cross it off your to-do list. As a 20 year old, there were places and spaces I legally couldn’t enter. That’s okay, just because I can’t drink doesn’t mean I can’t have fun whether that be going bowling, or spending time with people I care about. While I couldn’t drink, that doesn’t stop people around me from having alcohol. And again, there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem comes in when parts of a conference supposedly empowering Gen Z is held at a rooftop bar with a strictly 21+ policy. It’s an issue when before said event the hosts are describing the beautiful view and how “everyone is invited” when I know I’m not. And you have to bring it up more the next day because of how much fun it was. But don’t worry, I was told, you’ll have other time to network. Yes I did, from 8-9 in the morning as people are starting to drink their coffee and not ready to talk to people let alone network. And nobody did talk to us between 8-9 each morning, even when we tried networking and building connections. There was a little bit more time when we got to network, and when someone asked “not to be rude, but how old are you?” it was followed by “well it’s an open bar, so I don’t think they would check your ID if you wanted to get something to drink.” I don’t want a drink, I want a seat at the table.

I went to my first conference as a professional when I was 16. Not only was I invited, but I was also one of the presenters. FoodRecovery.org saw my potential and gave me an internship. They saw my passion and valued my voice. FoodRecovery.org believed in me and gave me a seat at the table. They believe in young people. 

If you want Gen Z in your workspace and you want to empower them, take a good look at yourself. Are you giving them an environment where they are heard and listened to? Are you giving them the respect they deserve? Are you making them feel welcomed and not excluded?

I have come to a point where I never share my age or the fact that I’m still in school with people in professional settings unless they bring it up first. It sucks when people discredit me because I haven’t finished my undergrad or because I’m not qualified because I’m young. I’ve been working with FoodRecovery.org for 6 years. That’s longer than other participants have worked with their organization, but I’m “less than” simply because what I have in experience I lack in age. I’ve been a part of a team who in 2024 recovered over 81 million pounds of food. It was through young innovative minds that we were founded and thanks to young innovative minds that we can continue to grow and develop.

I didn’t get to where I am today because I knew how to behave and when to sit down and let the more important people talk. I’m here because I know when to advocate for myself and I know my entire team supports me. I know they have my back when I am treated less than and I know that they will encourage me to speak up. In fact, I wrote this blog post because they encouraged me to share my experience with the hopes that conference organizers and alike, will keep in mind that the drink does not matter as much as the seat. 

So yes, I don’t want a drink, I want a seat at the table. 

We, Gen Zers, want a seat at the table. 

By: Emily Grant – Director of Operations

Every morning I wake up and read the news, and there are days when I feel pretty helpless. It is easy to get stuck in a dark hole whether it is about politics, global wars, our environment… and the list goes on. I am sure you know the feeling.

And yet. I remember when I had my first job after finishing college and working at a Title 1 school in California. I would hear teachers say (and remind me) that change can happen with one person, one student at a time. If you change one person’s world, you can change the world.

Over the years that has really stuck with me, and has helped me overcome times of apathy or cynicism. As we continue to fight for food security through our work with FoodRecovery.org, there are things each of us can do at home that make a difference.

Here is a short list to consider (and I bet you are already doing at least one of these):

• Plan weekly meals: each Sunday I sit down and look at the week ahead to see what meals to make and when we might be going out. It helps so I don’t overbuy and have food go bad (especially with the cost of food these days, I definitely don’t want that!)
• Keep your ends and stems: If you are a cook like me, you can freeze your carrot tops, and celery ends and make a soup stock
  • If you aren’t so much of a cook, consider compositing or vermicomposting with worms (you can do this on a budget if you are game for a little building!)
• Have a leftover night every week: I love leftovers because it gives me a night off from cooking plus an opportunity to eat through the fridge.
• First in first out: keep the foods that need to get eaten up front and center. Consider adding a bin with a label “eat me first” so it doesn’t get lost in the back of the fridge. (And who hasn’t found the old lasagna a month later in the back of the fridge, right?)
• Be cautious with couponing and warehouse-style shopping: Don’t get me wrong, I love wholesale shopping as much as the next person, but since I am feeding only two people, many of the quantities are just too much for us, and can go bad. (Now, if you have a large family, an extra freezer or share with neighbors or friends, by all means, go for it!)
• Shop local: If and when you can support your local farmers and producers, sign up for a CSA or go to the farmers market.

Whether you love local honey, produce, meat or seafood, it makes a huge difference to the local economy and environment. Here is a photo of me shopping locally at Honeyside Farms!

• Want to save even more? Go towards the end of the market day or as the farmer is wrapping up. You may not have the same variety but more likely you can bargain since the produce might be tossed otherwise, and if the farmer can make a sale, they would prefer that than take the loss.

I don’t do all these things all the time. That would be impossible and unrealistic, but I try to incorporate at least one on a regular basis. It makes me push against the feelings of helplessness and reminds me that one person can make a change.

By: Emily Grant – Director of Florida Operations

Trade or toss?

Growing up, we started school after Labor Day, and my favorite thing to do was get all my school supplies organized. I still remember the excitement of freshly sharpened pencils and erasers. I suppose it also helped that I liked school too.

 

Now living in Florida, the school year starts in mid-August, and when I was recently shopping, I got a little chuckle seeing all the school supplies on sale – down to the coolest lunch packs.

 

I was the kid who sometimes had a packed lunch and sometimes bought lunch in the cafeteria – and like so many others, I never thought about waste. If I didn’t want something, I would toss it or trade it. It wasn’t even on my mind.

2024 and beyond

This school year, the pilot program continues. As FNS Manager Frank Soltes at Avalon Middle School said, “While I was reluctant at first to try something new, I said let me give it a try. I soon found out how easy and quickly it was to use FoodRecovery.org and input the information. It took less than 5 minutes and the response time was so quick on getting a pick up for the items.”

 

Frank continues to be a school food waste champion, alongside many of his colleagues, who go above and beyond to reduce waste, improve inventory management, create share tables and make sure everyone is fed.

From a devastating fire, a beautiful relationship formed between Bmore Community Food and MEANS Database. A donor introduced us and mentioned their need as they work through this trying time and still make an impact on their community. Since July 20th, we have recovered 92,752 pounds of food which is equivalent to 77,293 meals! Bmore Community Food knows food insecurity is in their community and believes they have the capacity to end hunger if they put their minds to it. With the goal of bringing 10 million pounds of food to Baltimore before 2025, founder and Executive Director, J.C. Faulk, has big dreams he believes are not only possible but probable.

Through this relationship we have been able to provide a continuous supply of food that wouldn’t be possible without both our financial and food donors. No matter what hardships organizations face, people will always need food and Bmore Community Food is committed to helping serve their community. While they ask for a $10 donation when they give out food, around 85% of people do not donate and Bmore Community food still happily gives food to anyone who comes. Just like MEANS, Bmore Community Food sees hunger as a systemic issue that we are working on fixing together. This is not a job for one person or one organization. There is enough food and resources, all it takes are people who are passionate and willing to stand up and help solve the problem.

It’s tragic that so much work can be put into getting food to people yet a person with a match can make such a negative impact. J.C. Faulk feels that this fire has challenged him to not only continue his work, but also grow because nothing will stop him from feeding his community. Together we can end food insecurity; we just need to combine efforts. In fact, together, we have moved more food than we could have done apart. We appreciate all Bmore community food does for their community in Baltimore and are always looking for more organizations we can collaborate with to help waste less and feed more.

By: Grace Hoening

By Espoir Sepa

I am super excited to share with you my first-ever experience in the United States in Washington DC, where I did my fellowship program for three months which started in September 2022 and ended in December 2022. 

The Community Engagement Exchange(CEE) Program is a dynamic global network of innovators working with communities to address critical 21st-century issues. CEE equips dedicated visionaries with the expertise, skills, and resources to develop multisector approaches and build healthy and engaged communities in over 100 countries.

My Trip Experiences

My first experience started in Kenya when I traveled by airplane. Traveling in an airplane was my first experience, and this was an adventure of a lifetime. From Kenya, I traveled to Ghana’s international airport. I will never forget the experience I had. What I hated the most at the airport was the fact that I had a seven-hour transit and indeed the spicy food I ate there.  And finally, when I arrived in the United States, I landed in Michigan, where i was excited to meet more than a hundred co-Community Engagement Exchange fellows coming from eighty different countries to participate in the program. We had fun and got to know each other and meet everyone in person who was involved in the programs such as mentors, coaches, advisors, and the entire CEE team. After staying in a hotel for five days in Michigan for our orientation sessions, I traveled to Washington DC where my host organization was based. When I came to DC, right away when I arrived, I believe my life changed tremendously because I learned many things not only from the organization but also from society.

My Experience Working with MEANS Database

Before I go deeper, allow me to explain what “MEANS Database” is MEANS stands for Matching Excess And Need for Stability. The name was created by co-founders Maria Rose Belding and Grant Nelson in 2014. Food businesses sign up as donors and create a post whenever they have extra food available. 

Basically, when nonprofit users sign up, they tell the team where they are and what type of food they need. When any food donation fitting those parameters becomes available on the system, users get an email or SMS text message about it. If interested, they can claim the donation, and they receive the contact information of the donor, and the donor receives the contact information of the nonprofit to coordinate delivery. Should you have any questions or concerns, visit the website here.

Now, let me dive into sharing my experience working as an IREX fellow at this impactful organization.  I have been focused on environmental protection in Kenya for the past two years. However, working with MEANS Database I have learned that protecting the environment is not all about planting trees, organizing clean-up campaigns, or collecting waste plastics, but also getting to understand how harmful the food we consume daily in our normal life can cause crisis when wasted and how excess food can play a role to end food insecurity. It is not just about collecting extra food, but also about giving it away to people who need it. Food recovery is hard work but rewarding when you know that your efforts are helping those in need.

Cheers to the MEANS Database team for this great initiative. You are truly heroes and I am really grateful to be part of the team.

Challenges with Working Remotely During my Fellowship

Since MEANS Database operates remotely,I found working remotely takes work. But if you are someone who doesn’t like working under the pressure of a boss like me, you will find it interesting as I do. You need to be organized and disciplined, self-motivated, and have a good work-life balance; you will learn a lot in the process. This role require a high level of commitment and a bold heart for learning with I found learning tio work remotely a process to be challenging and required a lot of patience, because I was new to the United States.

I  needed to learn about different cultures, customs, and values that cannot be learned from any book or website alone. I had to rely on my own observations and experiences

throughout each day as well as during meetings and sessions hosted by my

co-workers. In addition, it took me time to understand the U.S. work culture and my co-fellow Jeffrey from Ghana. Along the way, once all our efforts had been completed successfully then our efforts together paid off when management approved our work. 

The Learning Process

I am very happy with my experiences working with MEANS Database. The team was very supportive and helpful, which made it easy for me to get into the flow of things. 

When our group worked together, we made it seem like less work because everyone helped me in many ways. Working with a team allowed me to learn and work with different digital platforms, how to work as a team, how to collaborate, how to do research, how to prepare reports, and how to write grant proposals as well as how to create partnerships with other organizations. Please keep in mind that the process was not easy, but it is worth it if you are determined and motivated. This is the case for me, and I think it’s also true for most people new to working remotely with their organizations.

My Takeaway Skills

As a person who has been in the U.S. for three months now and working with such a big organization here, I can say it is very challenging but worth it. The skills I have acquired are amazing. However, if you want to work in America then there are many things that you need to know before doing your internship, fellowship, or work. 

The most important thing is communication skills because all organizations or companies are looking for someone who knows how to communicate well with other

people from different backgrounds and cultures. Also, time management plays an important role when dealing with people from different backgrounds since most workers have very busy schedules which means that we might not be able to meet them during lunch break or after work hours.

To sum up, I learned so much about food rescue during my fellowship at the MEANS Database organization. I feel that the experience has given me a better understanding of my career goals and what it takes to get there. It’s not easy doing a fellowship in the U.S. but I am happy I had an incredible organization and am looking forward to networking and collaborating with the team in the future.

By: Jeffrey Kwabena Yeboah

The Community Engagement Exchange Program (CEE) is an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) that focuses on developing a global network of emerging civil society leaders who work on community development projects in their home country. According to IREX, “The CEE Program chooses 130 fellows from over one hundred countries for their dedication to improving their community, experience working in civil society programming, and commitment to solving societal problems.” MEANS Database is proud to host 2 fellows from the CEE program who have diverse experiences in waste management and recycling. Through this cross-cultural exchange of knowledge and experiences, MEANS has been able to learn from our fellows and vice-versa.

In 2014, I used to support myself in school by hustling here and there. I was thinking so much of what to do in school to make ends meet. I was allocated a room in commonwealth hall, the only prestigious all-male hall in University of Ghana, Legon. H28 was the room number and it was a mess. A friend advised me to make it “my room” and that statement sunk in deeply. I decorated the place and anyone who came to see it later offered to pay me to decorate their rooms. Over time, my work grew out of campus. I learnt on the job everyday and I realized I had a lot of in-depth passion for it. One day, on a hunt for a center table with a client, we came across a heap of waste car tires blazing with fire. Apparently, the vulcanizers had set fire to them to discard. The smoke churning out of the heap of flames had clouded the area, causing people to flee from the scene, coughing. I saw a woman carrying a child and her eyes were cherry red because of the smoke.

The uncomfortable scene that never seems to leave my memory was a very sad one. I told the client that it would be great for us to find use for the car tires other than burning them and that gave birth to a whole business idea. He gave me the challenge of making a table out of the tires in a week and if it was nice, he would purchase it. I took the challenge and succeeded in making the furniture out of waste car tires and he honored his promise. I used that money to make more and as part of my interior decor work, I made sure to add the small tables from the tires as freebies while preaching the narrative of not burning waste. I researched a lot on the menace of waste burning and it consumed my time for years all while I was simultaneously focusing on my interior decor works and schooling. Since then, I have been looking forward to different ways of sharpening my knowledge and experience on problem identification and solving with relation to automobile waste upcycling and Interior decor. I have enrolled in different engagement programmes in Ghana, Burkina Faso and The United Arab Emirates.

Fast forward to 2018, I scaled up my business. I have since started full interior designing and decor for homes and offices in Ghana. In addition to the service aspect of the business, I make interior and exterior decor products from automobile waste resources. Again, I have formed a team from some Universities in Accra, Ghana, namely University of Ghana, Central University, Ashesi University, University of Professional Studies, and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Our goal is to educate people on the importance of changing the narrative of waste to waste resource and also in the near future organize training for the youth. All of these great ideas and more need training. I felt in my heart that there is definitely an opportunity out there for me to enhance my knowledge, create an impactful network and fuel my passion.

In 2020, one evening, a friend in the fight against Climate Change sent me a link to the Community Engagement Exchange Program. Excited as I was, I did my research on the program and realized it could be very helpful. I had no time to inform my team about the program because I had only about three hours until the application was closed. I applied for the program and informed my core team the next day. In a few months, I got an email from CEE that I have been selected among 130 participants out of over 4,400 candidates. The feeling was overwhelming in summary. 

There are a lot of Exchange Programmes organized by IREX and Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) is one of them. The maiden event aims at equipping its first cohort of 130 young people from over 100 countries with the necessary skills,resources,expertise and abundant resources to combat 21st century global issues. The program brings together civil society leaders ages 21-28 who are passionate about solving problems in their communities in any of these four listed thematic areas, Youth Engagement, Women and Gender Issues, Resilience and Sustainable Development, Open and Participatory Government, and Civic Dialogue and Peace Building. This resourceful program aimed at providing skills to young fellows across the world is sponsored by the US Department of State.

After satisfying all the requirements which included English Proficiency Examinations and other exciting modules, the program was postponed three times because of COVID-19. We remained resilient and that process taught all of us a great lesson. It made us appreciate the waiting period in life. It made us , in this case – me, appreciate the fact that there are no accidents in life. A lot of great things happened during this period. I was able to take a contract in Accra, Ghana under the name of my company. I designed and decorated an office space in Accra within a month. I built my first set of furniture and I realized how ready I was for the world. I landed another contract for a two storey building house in Accra which needed a full interior design and decor services. I told the client about my traveling and he decided to wait for me so I will return in December after my practicum to complete it. They say good things happen to those who wait and CEE made that statement a reality for all of us, or most of us, depending on how you view the world. 

I was very excited on the night of 4th february as I got on the nonstop flight to Washington Dulles, USA. I arrived at the airport at 6:20am and met other fellows who were also connecting flights to Detroit Metro. Our flight got delayed for about 3 hours. It was still sunny after 6pm when the bus got us to Downtown Detroit. We were comforted by the beautiful hotel after the long hours of waiting for the local flight at Dulles Airport to Michigan. We joined the already existing queue to quickly take our Covid test. The swift process only took about 15 minutes. We then moved to our room to collect our neatly arranged souvenirs and took the keys from the Reception area to our allocated rooms. The view from my room was a sight to behold. I could see taller buildings and I took time to inhale the moment! From across the hotel, I could see Canada. That’s the first time I could see a country’s ending point and the beginning of another country. We had dinner, met new friends and enjoyed the new view. We were at least out of our scope to a new one.It was a beautiful moment seeing different cultures, different smiles, different people, all grouped together in one space at the same time. That very moment I realized the very importance of CEE was networking.

The next day was the game changer for me and I think most of us. There was a session about our Personal Code of Conduct and values. We were made to clarify the principles that we would like to include in our personal code of conduct and what our top values will be as leaders. This exercise revealed the hidden virtues, values and beliefs I had in my subconscious. I chose, in order of Priority, Spirituality, Integrity, Ethics, Environment and Creativity as my top counted Values. These are values I have within me for decades but I have never paid attention to any of them that much, in detail. The session allowed me to meditate on them and prepare my mind for challenges. The session made me yearn for difficult challenges just so I will be able to use my first five codes to solve them easily and happily. I sum all the codes into one mantra I have been using for sometime now-THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS. We learn from every challenge and it’s up to us as humans to learn joyfully or painfully. I choose joyfully every time.

Then came the day for our “Detroit in Context Tour”. We toured the city with a well informed guide who opened up Detroit for us historically. It was a beautiful experience because of my passion for creativity, architecture and design. I later got the opportunity to have an eye-opening conversation with my mentor Stephen Lavalah from Liberia and CEE specialist, Chibuzor Charles Agomuoh from Nigeria. These two gentlemen shared with me some advice and directions and it influenced me a lot. They did it voluntarily. I took advantage of the orientation process which was full of many resources and guidelines to a much better person. It enhanced my way of thinking, appreciating the gift of today by learning from the events of yesterday and being hopeful for a better tomorrow for myself and my community.

We left Detroit Michigan for our respective states to begin our Practicum journey. I was paired with MEANS Database in Washington DC. I asked myself a lot of questions- why was I assigned to an organization that is into food recovery while my passion is interior designing and creativity through upcycling of automobile waste resources? Then I got to understand that it is still aligned with my passion. This is because MEANS Database is also passionate about recovering food resources in a creative and efficient way. They are changing the waste narrative just as I am doing in my small impactful corner back home, in Ghana. The beautiful hearts of MEANS Database in no order, Allie, Oliver, Kenna, Sammie, Suzy, Naomi, Ellen and my CEE colleague Sepa have made working experience rather fun for me. I enjoy how we work with beaming smiles. I have since been working with the NGO and it has been very exciting. I am being challenged to work outside my comfort zone and try new ways of getting results. This writeup is even one of the many things because I prefer telling stories by speaking other than writing.

The CEE program has been very phenomenal in shaping my mind and given me a broader perspective of the world. It has made me appreciate my core values in a broader scope and made me love my country more. I have learnt a lot of things so far and I cannot wait to go back home. I cannot wait to be the change I have longed to see in the world, precisely in my community in Ghana. I cannot wait to impact my community by being an example of possibility.

Program Description 

MEANS Database is seeking a Program Manager applicant based in Florida to join our team starting in mid-September. As a food recovery platform, we have been making strides to increase food recovery in Florida and are looking for a food waste savvy, multitasking master to join our team. While our team is remote, we’re looking for a Florida-based individual to assist with outreach and attend in-person events on behalf of MEANS. If you are interested, please send a cover letter and resumé to seniorstaff@foodrecovery.org  by August 22, 2022. 

Tasks: 

• Coordinate food recovery outreach in the state of Florida- with a special emphasis on Orange and Sarasota Counties.
• Create biweekly reports to update stakeholders on progress within the state of Florida.
• Present MEANS Database to nonprofit organizations, businesses, school districts, and municipal governments through multimedia presentations.
• Lead weekly meetings with MEANS staff focusing on the Florida program and attend related meetings.
• Serve as a point of contact for donation drivers and community partners across the state.
• Collaborate with potential food donors, nonprofits, mutual aid organizations, and community members to develop an inclusive and functional food recovery system.
• Work with other program managers on ongoing food recovery initiatives across the country.  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree,  or similar experience.
• Experiencing leading a small team to reach measurable goals.
• Proficiency in Google Drive and Canva.
• Understanding of food pantry operations, food service operations, or related areas.
• Passionate about food systems, food sovereignty, food recovery, food waste, or food insecurity in America.
• Currently reside within the state of Florida.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is a salaried, full-time, W-2 position, with base salary and additional opportunities for performance-based bonuses. The base salary of this position is paid biweekly at a rate of $1923.08 per pay period for a yearly base pay of $50,000.00 (before taxes). Full-time staff are expected to work an average of 36 hours per week including our weekly staff meeting. 

Benefits include:

• Half-day Fridays
• Volunteer Time Off
• Four weeks of PTO
• Additional Holiday Leave
• Sick Leave
• Mental Health time
• Health insurance through a QSEHRA plan

Even two years later, the United States is still recovering from the aftermath of the SARS-COVID-19 pandemic. During the immediate lockdowns and government shutdowns, the essentials such as food became scarce, but the burden was unequally distributed. The pandemic deeply exacerbated existing disparities and in 2020, left 20% of low-income adults marginally food insecure, and 44% food insecure, affecting more Hispanic and Black communities than white. Those with low or very low security reported their local stores being more sold out of products pandemic conditions encouraged stockpiling. As supply lines were unable to keep up with rising demand, families without savings and the opportunity to purchase for the future, faced food shortages.

By December 2021, across all income levels, one-third fewer households experienced food insecurity than in December 2020. Still, statistics show that a larger proportion of food insecure households are Black (20%), Hispanic (16%), or sexual minorities (13%) compared to whites (7%) or Asians (4%), highlighting the continuous disparities even as we move out of the pandemic shutdowns. As we address food insecurity nationwide, these disparities cannot be discounted.

These increases have been driven, in part, by rising food costs. As pictured below, January of 2020 exhibited a sharp increase in supermarket prices, nearing 6% within only a month or two. To many families, this is a very significant difference. For example, beef, pork, and chicken prices are respectively 26.2%, 19.2%, and 14.8% higher in October 2021 than January 2020. These changes in prices disproportionately affects families of lower SES significantly more than higher. The average price-per-pound of fresh vegetables shipped increased 19% and fresh fruit was up by 10% from December 2021. This pressure is not limited to consumers, but food banks as well. According to Feeding America’s food network, their food banks have been serving 55 percent more people. Coupled with higher food prices, safety networks have struggled as well.

So how do we move forward? Acts such as the CARES act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provide direct support, but lack the structural change necessary to face the perpetual problem of hunger in the United States. SNAP offers a safety net and has increased during the pandemic, but with inflation rising and food insecurity remaining higher than 2019, the benefits must continue to reflect this change. For the foreseeable future, this resource’s expansion is vital in supporting food security. While a step in the right direction, we, as a nation, must emphasize change to our food systems and legislation. Combined with the 133 billion pounds of food wasted annually, there must be a better intersection between ending waste and decreasing food insecurity.

By: Victoria Cao

Fighting Hunger: How Congress Should Combat Food Insecurity Among Low-Income Americans.

The Food Bank Response to COVID in Numbers | Feeding America.

Food Insecurity and COVID-19: Disparities in Early Effects for US Adults

Inflation Gobbles up Fresh Produce, Driving up Price of Super Bowl Guacamole.

What Is Driving the Increase in Food Prices?