Growing together with schools
Connecting children in the Netherlands with children elsewhere in the world can bring together education, awareness and practical action. Food2Grow is glad to work with schools that want to do something tangible with pupils around nutrition and development.
A partnership can start small: one class, one day or one project week.
Education and action in one
A partnership with Food2Grow starts with a conversation, not a contract. Together we look at what fits your school: the age of the pupils, the time available and the moment in the school year.
For pupils, an activity often becomes meaningful only when they understand what it is about. Nutrition is a concrete subject for that: everyone eats, and everyone notices the difference between enough food and not enough.
Food2Grow focuses on nutrition as a foundation for growth and development. Nepal is currently the foundation's first active initiative.
- Educational: pupils explore nutrition, opportunity and global citizenship.
- Practical: the school sets up an activity with pupils that raises a tangible contribution.
- Accessible: a single class activity is just as welcome as a whole-school week.
Why a partnership can be worthwhile
A fundraising activity can deliver more than an amount. These are themes that often come up in conversations with schools.
Community involvement
An activity gives pupils the experience of organising something together that reaches beyond their own classroom.
Awareness around food
Nutrition is a recognisable starting point for a classroom conversation: where does food come from, and why is a meal not a given everywhere?
Taking responsibility together
Pupils come up with, organise and carry out the activity themselves. The school keeps control and sets the framework.
A clear link to the cause
Food2Grow works with practical initiatives. That makes it possible to explain what proceeds are for and what happens next.
Citizenship education in practice
An activity can fit citizenship education or community involvement, rather than remaining a stand-alone project.
Organising something together
A sponsored run or theme day is also simply enjoyable. Working towards a shared moment does something for the atmosphere in a group.
Food2Grow makes no claims about learning outcomes. What an activity means for pupils is for the school and the pupils themselves to determine.
Ways of working together
A partnership can be educational, practical, or both. The forms below are starting points for conversation — nothing is fixed.
An activity with pupils
From a sponsored run to a school fair: the school sets up an activity with pupils. Food2Grow helps think through the approach.
A theme or project week
Nutrition, health or global citizenship as a theme, with a joint activity as the closing.
An explanation of the work
When it is practical to arrange, Food2Grow can provide background information or come and talk about the initiatives.
A financial contribution
The proceeds of an activity, or a contribution from a school fund, parent council or student council.
A collection
A collection whose proceeds contribute to Food2Grow's initiatives. What is practically useful, we agree in advance.
Feedback to the school
After an activity, Food2Grow wants to report back on what the proceeds contribute to, so that pupils can see where their effort went.
Examples of activities
These examples are meant as inspiration and are not existing programmes. What a school actually does, we agree together.
Sport and sponsorship
- Sponsored run on the playground or in the park
- Challenge between classes or year groups
- Sports day with a sponsorship element
- Walk or bike ride with a voluntary contribution
Making and selling
- School fair or second-hand market
- Creative sale of homemade work
- Baking or cooking activity with the class
- Activity around an existing school moment, such as the end-of-year celebration
Learning and organising
- Theme day around nutrition or global citizenship
- Project week with a question of the pupils' own
- Fundraising activity that pupils set up themselves
- Voluntary activity from a student council or friendship group
Does the school already have its own tradition or a fixed annual moment? That is often the easiest starting point.
An activity that fits your school
A primary school works differently from a secondary school, and a vocational college or other education organisation differently again. That is why there is no standard package.
In a primary school, an activity often centres on doing something together: a sponsored run, a fair or a class activity, with an explanation that stays simple and positive. In a secondary school, students can organise much more themselves, and a link with citizenship education or a project assignment is closer to hand.
At a vocational college or university of applied sciences, a partnership can connect to the field of study, for example around nutrition, hospitality, logistics or social care. A student association or teaching team can also set up an activity.
Whatever the type of school: we agree the form, planning and communication together. You decide what is feasible.
How a partnership works
From a first, no-obligation conversation to feedback after the activity.
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Introduction
A short conversation or email exchange: we explain what Food2Grow does, you explain what is possible at school. No obligation to organise anything.
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Choosing a suitable activity together
We look at the age of the pupils, the time available and the moment in the school year. From that comes a form that is feasible for the school.
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Carrying out the activity
The school carries out the activity with the pupils. Where possible, Food2Grow provides background information and images, and is available for questions.
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Sharing feedback and progress
After the activity, Food2Grow reports back on what the contribution supports. Progress of the initiatives can be followed through updates on the website.
What Food2Grow can offer
Food2Grow is a small, volunteer-run foundation. That means no large marketing operation, but short lines and personal involvement.
Thinking through the approach
A conversation about what fits your school and which form of activity is realistic within the school year.
Background information
An explanation of Food2Grow's mission and initiatives, to use in class or in communication with parents.
Feedback and updates
After an activity, the school hears what the contribution supports. Updates about the initiatives are on the website.
A named contact
One contact person from the foundation, so that questions can be answered quickly and directly.
What a school activity contributes to
A school that organises an activity wants to be able to explain to pupils and parents where the proceeds go. Below is what Food2Grow stands for, and where that information can be found.
ANBI status
Stichting Food2Grow has ANBI status: Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling (public benefit organisation). The core details about purpose, board and accountability are on the ANBI page.
See the ANBI informationTransparency and use of funds
Contributions are used to carry out initiatives. The Transparency & use of funds page explains how Food2Grow approaches this.
Transparency & use of fundsRun by volunteers
The foundation is run by volunteers. Board members receive no payment for their work for Food2Grow.
More about the foundationUpdates on progress
Through updates and stories, Food2Grow shows how initiatives are developing. That way it remains clear what support contributes to.
See the updatesNepal as the first initiative
Nepal is Food2Grow's first active initiative. Daily meals for children are central there, organised together with local people.
Read about NepalLocal delivery
Food2Grow organises support locally wherever possible, so that solutions fit the context and are owned by the community itself.
See where we workFrequently asked questions from schools
Does a school have to raise a minimum amount?
No. There is no minimum amount and no target the school has to meet. Every contribution helps, and an activity may also be mainly educational.
Does a partnership cost the school money?
Food2Grow does not charge a participation fee or a fee for a partnership. Any costs of the activity itself, such as materials, are decided and managed by the school.
Can Food2Grow come and speak at school?
Sometimes, but not always. Food2Grow is run by volunteers, so this depends on availability and distance. If a visit is not possible, we look at an alternative such as background material or an online moment.
Where do the proceeds of an activity go?
Contributions are used to carry out Food2Grow's initiatives. Nepal is the first active initiative, where daily meals for children are central.
How do we handle photos and privacy?
We only use images of pupils if the school itself gives permission and it fits the school's privacy policy. Food2Grow shares nothing without agreement.
When is the best time to start?
Well before the intended date is helpful, but there is no fixed lead time. A short conversation just to explore the options is also welcome.
Let's talk
Do you have an idea for an activity, or would you first like to discuss what is possible? Get in touch. We are happy to explore a format that fits your organisation and Food2Grow's initiatives.
The contact form is pre-selected to "Working together". Prefer to call or email? The details are on the contact page.