Part 1 of Youth and Food in Waterloo Region: Cultivating the Next Generation
Today’s young people face some unique and complex challenges. But when given the chance, they can also help to create meaningful solutions, for themselves and their communities. In Waterloo Region, two innovative programs—Youth in Food Systems and Nurture—have been working in tandem to offer youth active roles in the local food system. These programs recognize that strong local food systems are not just about feeding people—they are about building community, well-being, respect for the land, and a sustainable future.
Nurture’s Origins and Growth
Founded in 2022 by University of Waterloo student Sriranjini Raman, Nurture was created as a way to get young people directly involved in the food system and in responding to the challenges they face. The program’s design was simple: let youth take charge of designing and maintaining school gardens, and experience all the good things that grow out of that.
“Youth in Waterloo Region were seeing food access issues, they were understanding that they didn’t have a lot of food literacy themselves, and they also didn’t have a lot of opportunity to connect meaningfully to the land, so Nurture started as a program to support youth in all of those things while also supporting food production and food sovereignty locally.”
~ Nikola Barsoum, Lead, Nurture
Challenging Times
Like a growing number of young people across Canada, many youth in Waterloo Region face mental health challenges and feel a sense of disconnection. In the latest Youth Impact Survey (2023), less than half of Waterloo’s youth reported a strong sense of belonging in their neighborhoods or schools and about half rated their mental health as fair or poor. At the same time, more people in our region than ever before have trouble paying for good food, and youth are seeing the impacts of this.
The program was delivered by Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab, in collaboration with Youth in Food Systems (YFS), which has been helping to create school gardens in the area since 2017. After launching at a handful of schools, the program grew quickly over the next two years.
2022: Nurture worked with YFS to set up youth-led teams at five schools, where volunteers took care of the gardens and grew food.
2023:The program expanded to 10 schools, with 40 youth involved. Most of these roles now came with stipends, making it easier for more youth to take part. Nurture took the lead in organizing the gardens, with YFS helping distribute the food through their Youth Food Market.
2024: Nurture grew even further, reaching 15 schools and 70 youth. The program also added adult mentors and garden advisors, ensuring young people had the guidance and resources needed to succeed.
Why Nurture Matters: Youth Leading the Way
While the numbers show how much Nurture has grown, the real success lies in the impact on those involved. By providing youth with the opportunity to engage in hands-on food production and leadership roles, Nurture has helped increase access to healthy food while creating a space for young people to develop skills, connect with their peers, and feel that they belong to something bigger than themselves. Working on the gardens allowed them to see the direct impact of their efforts, building their resilience and the confidence to shape their own futures.
“The point of this is just to turn nothing to something, so we’re just hoping to make this area just a great spot for the community, a good spot to hang out, hopefully grow some food and just make the environment a better place.”
~ 2024 student participant
Nurture’s stipend model was key in making the program an option for more youth. By paying participants for their work, it gave them a chance to focus on the program while learning job skills, building independence, and gaining life experience that could help in future careers.
The program’s value in the community was quickly reaffirmed after we featured Nurture in a social media video. Many local people jumped in with heartwarming comments of support. Again and again, the feedback highlighted how valuable the program is for empowering youth and fostering connections. People outside of Waterloo even expressed a wish for similar programs in their own communities!
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Mission with YFS
While the program’s impact has been deeply felt, a funding shortage in October 2024 forced Nurture to pause and reflect on next steps. However, this is not the end of the road. Nurture and YFS are working together to reimagine the program for 2025 and beyond, so youth can continue to grow their confidence, their skills, and their roles in a sustainable, equitable food system of the future.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series to learn more about YFS’s work so far and their plans for this year!