On World Hunger Day (28th May) The MAZI Project, Bristol’s charity raise awareness
The duo are coming together to raise funds for the city’s youth living with food insecurity
On World Hunger Day (28th May) The MAZI Project, Bristol’s charity for disadvantaged young people, has teamed up with local bakery, Hart’s, to raise awareness for food insecurity in the city.
From Tuesday 28th May until Saturday 1st June all proceeds of sharable Garlic and Herb Buns, available to purchase from Hart’s Bakery, will go to The MAZI Project, which supports young people between 18 – 25 through nutritious and locally sourced recipe kits each week.
The charity supports up to 90 young people across the city, who otherwise would not have access to nutritious food. The MAZI Project reveals over 9 in 10 (91%) vulnerable young people worry whether their food will run out before they get money to buy more. And in Autumn 2023 it was reported that 3.4 million households (58%) in the UK did not have enough money for food.
With the launch of the special Garlic and Herb Buns, The MAZI Project hopes to encourage people across the city to come together to break bread, share a meal and learn more about World Hunger Day. In the UK, 81% of vulnerable young people say they must borrow money from family or friends to pay for food and/or rely on family or friends for donations of food. And 40% say they do this often.
Melanie Vaxevanakis, founder of The MAZI Project says: “The MAZI Project empowers youth through food, aiming to make nutritious, sustainable food accessible to all. This World Hunger Day, we’re partnering with Hart’s Bakery to raise awareness of youth hunger in Bristol. Despite the city’s vibrant food scene, food insecurity among its young people is rising, and we want to shine a light on this, and the importance of World Hunger Day“.
The MAZI Project provides weekly food boxes for disadvantaged young people across Bristol. Nikkita Berry is one of the young people whom The MAZI Project supports.
Talking about the weekly boxes, she says: “There has been times where I haven’t had enough money for food and the Mazi boxes tie me through to the next pay day. I probably wouldn’t have access to healthier food without them.”
This Summer, The MAZI Project will be opening a community kitchen in their HQ in South Bristol. The community kitchen will be used as a hub for monthly supper clubs, cooking workshops and events aimed at building life skills and confidence with young people in the city as well as a placebuild a united campaign for food equality in partnership with the local and young vulnerable community. The MAZI Project hopes to build a network with local organisations to host the events and workshops as well as support young people with employment opportunities.
The MAZI Project was founded by Melanie Vaxevanakis three years ago in response to the 2021 Free School Meal Scandal. Following the uproar against the pitiful food hampers provided by the government to families in need around the country, founder Melanie channelled her anger and decided to act herself. Since launching, The MAZI Project has supported hundreds of care leavers, young asylum seekers, young people recovering from homelessness or fleeing domestic violence by providing them with weekly boxes of recipe kits and fresh produce.
To support The MAZI Project or find out more: www.themaziproject.com or www.instagram.com/themaziproject
The MAZI Project HQ is located at: Unit 2, Whitehouse lane, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4DJ.
Hart’s Bakery can be found at: Arch 35, Lower Approach Road, Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QS.
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