What happens when iEat_Green Bhavani Jaroff a Natural Foods Chef, Educator, Radio Host, and Food Activist meet with YPARD director Courtney Paisley?
What happens when iEat_Green Bhavani Jaroff a Natural Foods Chef, Educator, Radio Host, and Food Activist meet with YPARD director Courtney Paisley?
From their respective titles and barely a week after Earth Day, one would bet on an interesting talk on agriculture , youth eating health and development from a youth perspective. And you wouldn't be wrong.
Listening to the radio interview leads one into in-depth insights on youth aspirations and the need for agricultural education’s reforms, youth employment issues and the necessity for creating a pro-youth environment in agriculture, with the different stakeholders.
The importance of food and today’s attraction of the “eating well” plays a key role in building a positive image of agriculture, for the obvious link between food and agriculture. Media are a central vector, although too often, particularly in developing countries, media show a very traditional image of agriculture.
Issues Emphasised
Listening through the recorded 48.15 minute interview, here are some of the interesting insights Courtney emphasised;
- The role of YPARD in mobilizing the youth community both online though social media and on-the-ground through national chapters, so that the youth drive the change towards THEIR future. She talked about the YPARD mentoring program, a response program, based on those soft skills youth identify as those they need and that ae generally not addressed through formal education.
- The value of a community in responding to youth’s necessity to feel that they are not alone and that they are supported throughout their journey as young professionals in agriculture. Issues like finance and access to land were particularly expressed.
- Changing policies is fundamental, to support youth better. Learning the language of policy makers and how to frame messages are critical factors for influencing these policies .YPARD contributes to building these skills through different programs with partners. On a policy activism level, the movement mobilizes many people on a select topic/theme hence creating the momentum that will enable the players to be heard and to get a stronger response from their target audience.
Its these insights that led to a mini Q&A on the status of YPARD on GMOSs.
Bhavani:What about YPARD’s position around GMOs?
Courtney: YPARD wants to be an open platform for discussions where members feel comfortable to share and assert their opinion. Only then will we be able to exchange and create spaces for debates that will enable stakeholders to move forward together. YPARD’s position is one that promotes a sustainable future, that’s to say one that supports an agricultural development that doesn’t deplete our environment.
In closing, Courtney Paisley re -empasized the fact that the youth is not a homogeneous group. We need to take in account the heterogeneity of the youth, be it in term of origin, aspirations, gender, access to internet, skill level etc. Particularly, the need to support rural youth should be a priority and yet YPARD’s biggest challenge is to reach out to the most remote youth and to define how to support them better.
About YPARD
YPARD counts 12 500 members registered on the website and 5 times more outreach on social media. Notwithstanding is the fact that YPARD has only 2 full-time employees and some part-time consultants working remotely.
Learn more about YPARD Global network and sign up at www.ypard.net – we welcome young people in agricultural development and senior people sensitive to a stronger participation of the young generation in the sector to join the movement.
Brief About iEat Green
iEat Green is a motivational, educational organization founded by Bhavani Jaroff, . It provides tools to schools, corporations and families in their quest to becoming “Greener.” Follow iEat Green on Twitter: Bhavani Jaroff @iEat_Green #PRN #iEatGreen
Courtney Paisley’s interview starts at 10.23mins : http://www.ieatgreen.com/ieat-greens-interview-with-courtney-paisley-the-director-of-the-young-professionals-for-agricultural-development-ypard/