The Farm Africa blog: #GivingTuesday

Kicking off the holiday season on Tuesday, December 1, #GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to charitable giving. This year Farm Africa has joined forces with three successful chefs who have each created new recipes specially to help raise awareness about a project helping improve the wellbeing of primary school children in Nairobi, Kenya.    

In 2014 more than 30,000 organisations in 68 countries got on board with #GivingTuesday and 2015 is expected to be even bigger, with people around the world harnessing the power of social media to bring about positive change and celebrate generosity in all its forms.

This #GivingTuesday, Farm Africa is raising funds for our Christmas appeal, which focuses on our work with primary schools in the slums of Nairobi. For many students, the only proper daily meal they get is at school but unfortunately this often lacks the vital range of nutrients they need. Poor diets leave them vulnerable to malnourishment, which can cause serious, irreversible health problems like stunted growth and impaired cognitive development.

Farm Africa believes that children everywhere deserve a healthy diet so that they can reach their full potential. That’s why we are helping primary schools in Nairobi grow urban vegetable gardens so that students, teachers and parents can come together to grow nutritious, fresh vegetables that children can eat for lunch, adding much needed nutrients to their diet and enabling them to learn and grow better.

All three recipes created for Farm Africa’s #GivingTuesday appeal feature ingredients that will be grown in the schools gardens.

Successful chef, restaurateur and caterer Kevin McFadden has created a tasty Goat Meatballs recipe.

Kevin said: "I feel really chuffed to be involved with Farm Africa’s #GivingTuesday appeal and being able to do something to help, no matter how small.

"I was quite naïve before, when I thought of Kenya what came to mind was coffee adverts with lush, green plantations, so it was shocking to hear that there are primary school children who aren’t getting enough food to eat. I’m a dad and I can imagine what a nightmare it must be for parents who can’t provide for their children, the thought of it breaks my heart.

"I think setting up vegetable gardens in schools is a really good idea. What’s clever is that its sustainable - its building the foundations for something that is going to help now and in the future, and that’s what needs to happen to bring lasting change. #GivingTuesday is a brilliant way to raise awareness about this kind of thing. Christmas is a privileged time of year so having a day when people have the opportunity to give to others who don’t have as much is great!”

Well known food writer and chef Rosie Sykes has devised a delicious Vegetable Gratin with Spicy Tomatoes.

Rosie said: ““#GivingTuesday is a great idea and a brilliant opportunity to redress the rampant consumerism that we are all taken in by and part of. On Black Friday and Cyber Monday people spend like crazy and it’s important that we take time out to think about helping others, it’s good to have a day like #GivingTuesday when we can all focus on it.

“It’s shocking that there are so many children in the world who could end up not being able to develop properly because they haven’t got the minerals and nutrients they need. Farm Africa’s work with primary schools in Nairobi, setting up urban vegetable gardens where they can grow healthy food for children to eat, is a brilliant idea.

“Simplicity is really important in food and good ingredients should sing. My way of cooking is very ingredients led so the brief from Farm Africa – to create a recipe using ingredients that are going to be grown in school vegetable gardens – was great.”

Cabrito Goat Meat supplier and former River Cottage chef James Whetlor has created a flavoursome African-inspired Kid Shank dish.

James said: “Cabrito Goat Meat set out to stop food waste, to stop billys being euthanised. We’re taking a wasted resource and putting it into the food system. It seems distasteful to throw things away when farmers in Africa have so little.

"We’re very lucky in the West and I think that if you have the opportunity to support a charity it’s your duty to do it. I will always help where I can and Farm Africa does great work.”

Farm Africa are inviting members of the public to donate money and are delighted to announce that leading food processors ABP Food Group, and poultry supplies Moy Park, have kindly agreed to match fund donations to the appeal, giving £1 for every £1 donated online between 17 November and 1 December- meaning gifts will go twice as far.

>>>Donate here