GRASSROOTS GROWTH

HOW HAS EAT UNITED GROWN FROM ZERO?

"Why waste food when we can share it instead?"

Eat United was born as an idea in Nicaragua 2013.

It began as an iniative led by young volunteers. What did they have in common? 

A belief that food waste and food insecurity shouldn't coexist.

Over the years, the work of Eat United has been shaped by the efforts of a huge number of Vendors, Community Leaders, and Volunteers from all different walks of life. It has grown from the seed of an idea, to a simple action, to a fully-fledged organisation creating lasting impact.

We believe that food is fundamental for health, growth and unity.

 We believe that food should be valued. 

​

 That's why we focus on building a well-organised, streamlined system that not only rescues and shares food, but also creates meaningful changes in the habits and capacities of those who participate (that includes "us"!) and in the conditions of the spaces where the organisation operates.

2013

The idea was born.

First investigations + Pilot project

​

Launched in Managua

Began re-distributing and cooking food

First Food Workshops with children.

​

Formed Nicaraguan volunteer board

2014

Public presentation of project and first results:

PAC Cultural Centre, Managua

Alianza Francesa, Managua

Collaborations:

 UCA (University of Centroamerica)

Raleigh International

Seeds of Learning

​

Developed Theory of Change model

2015

Put the power in the community:

Community Leaders took responsibility for cooking and sharing food

​

Started receiving International Volunteers and began Homestay Program

​

First worldwide crowdfunding campaign

"Snap Your Snack"

2016

Developing volunteer capacities:

Trained "Collection Coordinators"to manage and oversee the Food Rescue and Volunteering

​

Most Significant Change method:

Formalised monitoring and evaluation

​

Full time staff + office; opened internship opportunities 

​

Eat United registered as a UK charity

2017

Eat United registered a branch in Nicaragua

​

Launched "Food Justice Activist"

new program for local volunteers

​

Food Bank Model

Focus on sharing food packs to families.

Community cooking became more education-led.

​

Grant Awarded from the German Embassy

Built infrastructure in collaborating communities + food bank structures

2018

Launched the "App" to track Food Rescue and Volunteering Programs

​

"Human Centred Design" method

to find innovative ways to motivate healthy food consumption

​

Formalised Food Bank Service

Registered the Food Bank Users and introduced a new food pack service