Grant amount: $7,200
Murwillumbah-based organisation, Mem’s Soul Food (MSF) helps girls develop value life skills through a range of activities such as cooking, culture, music, wellbeing, health, nutrition, beauty and focuses on the participants finding their passions, purpose and targets in life.
MSF Founder and Creative Director Mem Hockley said good mental health and wellbeing are important so that people can reach their goals for physical health, education, employment and relationships.
“They are essential building blocks for a happy and successful life, a thriving community and a healthy economy,” she said.
“Our program promotes both physical and mental health. It provides knowledge, understanding, tools and skills for girls to teach them how to live a healthy and active life.”
The MSF program creates inclusive communities.
The core focus of the program is mentoring with guest speakers from several spheres in society which will give girls a better understanding of a larger world outside of their current one, introducing them to opportunities for an alternative future.
“We will connect interested participants with long-term mentors through our sister organisation, Rainbow Warriors women in business group,” Mem said.
Participants will “visit” a different country each week, experiencing cuisine from different cultures and learning new culinary techniques. Our facilitator will encourage discussion about each country, exploring differences and similarities. This will enable participants to develop an understanding and connection to cultures other than their own.
Participants will improve their work readiness by educating the girls as to how best to present themselves for work and employability.
The next Mem's Soul Food Tweed Shire program will continue to run in 2020 with the next group commencing in Term 4.
Social distancing measures and COVID-19 Safety Plan will be followed throughout all the program activities.