Through a Telethon-funded program, EON gives vulnerable children the skills to grow, harvest, and cook nutritious food.
Thanks to the Telethon funding, EON has expanded its Thriving Communities Program to Rangeway Primary School in Geraldton, where more than 85% of students are disadvantaged. The program aims to reduce food insecurity and improve health and well-being for families affected by poverty.
The foundation has supported a total of 173 children and delivered 182 lessons at Rangeway, one of the 11 beneficiaries in the food security space.
EON builds edible gardens in remote Aboriginal schools and communities to provide them with a secure supply of fresh fruits and vegetables. The foundation also delivers hands-on, fun nutrition and gardening education to empower Indigenous children with lifelong skills and habits.
“There is a ripple effect throughout communities when kids are eating healthy, nutritious food, from being able to turn up and learn and concentrate in class, to better health. Good nutrition means some diseases are preventable, such as type 2 diabetes, which is at pandemic levels throughout Aboriginal communities,” EON chief executive Kathryn Taylor told The West Australian. “Kids are learning through curiosity and fun in a beautiful, safe environment; they are getting to taste and experiment and feel a sense of pride.”
Taylor said the cost-of-living crisis meant food insecurity also impacted families in middle to high-socioeconomic areas who struggled to put nutritious food on the table.
“It comes down to affordability, one of the first things in a family budget to go when things get tight is fresh fruit and veg because often it’s not affordable, and prices are sky high in some of these areas,” she said. “But, of course, it’s affordable to grow your own so this (program) is easy access, sustainable and affordable.”
Read also: New survey reveals Australians’ food security is the biggest cost of living concern
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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