Our Common Home: A Youth-Based Approach to Food Security
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Date
2018-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
A pilot project was launched in 2016 to address the challenges of youth engagement and food security in the sister cities of Columbus, Ohio and Accra, Ghana. The project integrated the assets of the YMCA and 4-H youth development to rehabilitate two barren, urban plots into youth gardens and carbon sinks. The project also enabled an exchange visit for five Ghanaians to visit Columbus and learn about urban agriculture while cultivating cultural competency between Ghanians and Ohioans. Attendees are invited to share their ideas, recommendations and suggestions for the next phase of the project.
Description
The sister cities of Columbus, Ohio and Accra, Ghana share common challenges of positively engaging youth and food insecurity. The "Our Common Home: A Youth-Based Approach to Food Security" pilot project was launched in 2016 to integrate the assets of the YMCA and 4-H youth development to address the aforementioned challenges. These organizations have been operating in both municipalities, albeit independently, and have shared visions. The North YMCA in Columbus and Greater Accra YMCA have each donated plots of land for youth urban gardens. Ohio 4-H, Franklin County Master Gardener Volunteers (via OSU Extension), and 4-H Ghana have been providing technical expertise and facilitating hands-on gardening and food preparation workshops for YMCA youth. This has resulted in approximately 30 youth planting, tending, and harvesting a garden at the North YMCA, yielding about 150 pounds of fresh produce during two growing seasons. The plot in Accra is currently being prepared for the upcoming growing season. These two plots were previously barren. They are now, and will continue to be, food production sites and carbon sinks in urban areas. The sister city relationship enhanced the impact of this project by also enabling an exchange visit to build cultural awareness and competency toward addressing the issues of climate change and food security. Three young girls and two adult men, representing 4-H Ghana and Greater Accra YMCA, visited Columbus and surrounding areas in August 2017. The applied learning tour included visits with city and county government officials, and to urban agriculture sites. This project was funded by an Initiative for Food and AgriCultural Transformation (InFACT) Linkage and Leverage grant, and the Turkson Development Fund. Members of the project team representing the YMCA, 4-H, and Ohio State will present the project results thus far. The team hopes involvement in the Community Engagement Conference will facilitate new ideas, recommendations, and partnerships for the next phase of the project. Intended audience members include faculty, staff and practitioners working to address youth development, food security, and climate change; community change organizations focused on youth, hunger, and/or cultural barriers; city, county and state officials and lawmakers; and community members with a general interest in the project.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Dustin Homan, Program Manager, State 4-H Office, homan.64@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Steven Blalock, Program Coordinator, Mershon Center for International Security Studies; Trevor Secord, Associate Executive Director, North YMCA.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Dustin Homan, Program Manager, State 4-H Office, homan.64@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Steven Blalock, Program Coordinator, Mershon Center for International Security Studies; Trevor Secord, Associate Executive Director, North YMCA.
Keywords
food security, youth, international, climate change, urban
Citation
Engaged Scholars, v. 6 (2018).