WHAT IS EAT UNITED?
Eat United Nicaragua is the first and only project in Nicaragua that provides an innovative, sustainable and replicable solution to food waste and food insecurity in one go.
VISION
A fair food system that guarantees access to ample nutritious food for all while keeping the planet healthy and harmonious.
MISSION
Provide a sustainable and replicable method for increasing access to healthy food and reducing food waste in urban food insecure communities
VALUES
LOCAL
facilitate community action
LOGICAL
seek the most efficient solution
LONG-TERM
sustainable approach; no quick fixes
WHAT DO WE DO?
1
Food Rescue
Rescue surplus fresh produce and distribute it to low-income neighbourhoods in Managua.
2
Food Banks
Share packs of fruits and veggies with families to cook at home.
3
Hands-on Food Education
Motivate healthy food choices by experiencing food together in a fun environment.
WHY?
In Nicaragua huge quantities of fresh, nutritious produce goes to waste from food markets every day.
At the same time, low-income families struggle to put food on the table.
They also face risks of serious long-term health problems due to poor nutrition.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
FRom Markets
Wholesale Vendors in the market donate surplus fresh produce. Volunteers rescue, sort and re-distribute the food to Community Centres around the city.
To Communities
Each Community Centre runs a Rescued Food Sharing Service. Local Users arrive to collect a pack of fresh produce that contains enough food for over 30 meal portions and a variety of at least 5 kinds of products.
To families
The change only happens at home. Interactive cooking and food education in each community motivate dietary changes.
SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
HOW DO WE CREATE LASTING CHANGES?
1.
everyone an agent
for change
No one in the Eat United family is a victim. Instead, our work is a collaborative effort. Everyone contributes to making the change: Vendors, Volunteers and Users.
2.
training
on the ground
We focus on growing together. We build the skills of our team through training and peer-to-peer education. Volunteers take on responsibilities early on to learn by doing.
3.
user collaboration
Users of Eat United's Rescued Food Sharing Service make a voluntary contribution of U$0.5 per food pack. This goes towards the logistical costs of bringing food to their community.
"That's awesome. What can I do?"
You can join our fight for food security, gaining incredible experience and skills, by taking on a Volunteer Project or Intern role.
Win a trip to Nicaragua and visit the work of Eat United!
Be a Champion Fundraiser in the "Ugly Veg Olympics", our online fundraising competition.
Be an Agent for local food solutions. Your contribution directly supports activities that build food security and community resilience, while combatting food waste.
We need you now more than ever.
Eat United has been running in Nicaragua since 2013. However, this year the local situation has changed dramatically. In April 2018 Nicaragua entered a prolonged period of political unrest and violence. Many lives have been lost, and families torn apart. Marches and demonstrations continue to occur, and the situation remains volatile.
The terrible events and chaos have gravely affected the country's economy too, which has lost over U$638 million and 215,000 jobs have been lost already [Source: FUNIDES]. Thas has very serious consequences for people's daily lives and buying power.
The price of food has risen by 7%. [Source: Nicaraguan Central Bank].
The hardest hit by the continuing economic effects are the working class and small business owners. These are exactly the people that Eat United works with. Many of the people who receive food packs rely on informal work to survive; for example by selling tortillas on the streets, washing clothes, giving informal care, or watching over people's cars. Income was already scarce. Now many have lost even those small sources that they were using to provide for a whole family.
That's why the food Eat United provides is a vital source of support for local families who are now facing even more challenges to put a plate of food on the table.
