Giving Back

Making a Difference with FOODIE INTERNATIONAL

 

My passion for food and culture has literally taken me around the world, drastically altering my life. It’s an incredible gift to be able to follow my dream, connecting to people through their local cuisine. Last April, my travels took me on a different path. I spent a week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia volunteering at a school for impoverished children where the concept of food and culture took on a new meaning: the difference between life and death.

The school, Fresh and Green Academy, is making a major, positive impact in the lives of 125 young children from the poorest section of Addis Ababa.

One of the reasons why Fresh and Green Academy is unique is that the school offers the students three meals a day in addition to their education. There is no option for these children to eat at home; the school is literally saving their lives.

These kids are amazing – eager to learn and full of joy. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know each student, spending time with them in the classroom and on the playground. The story behind the school is compelling, thanks to the courage and perseverance of Muday Mitiku, a local Ethiopian woman with a dream, and Trish Hack-Rubinstein, a flight attendant from New York, who has the heart and drive to make this dream come true.

If you read my blog and enjoy my tales of rushing around the world, immersing myself in diverse and delicious cuisine, please consider making a small donation to Friends of Fresh and Green in my honor. It’s a great opportunity for fellow foodies to join me in taking action to make sure the poorest children of one small Ethiopian community have food on their plates.

Make a PayPal donation directly to Friends of Fresh and Green via their website here: http://www.friendsoffreshandgreen.com/how-you-can-help/donate

Click to view the Friends of Fresh and Green Academy Press Release.

Please share this page with your friends and anyone who may be interested in helping the program.

-Elyse Pasquale, FOODIE INTERNATIONAL

Friends of Fresh and Green Academy, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, fully dependent on donations. They operate a student sponsorship program through the organization’s website, www.FriendsOfFreshAndGreen.org. Volunteers travel to the school four times a year bringing clothing, milk powder, medical supplies, toothbrushes, school supplies and whatever else is needed. Through organized fundraisers and private donations, every penny raised goes directly to the operation of the Academy.