Flying Visit for Adventuring Kiwi Socialpreneur
Flying Visit for Adventuring Kiwi Socialpreneur
12 Months on, this former Alexandra barista is changing lives in Buenos Aires Slums with free lunches, music, art, drama and toothbrushes
Twelve
months ago Ben Whitaker embarked on his audacious dream of
offering free lunches in the Buenos Aires slums. He bit off
more than he could chew and chewed like mad.
Now, twelve months on and 1000’s of meals later, Ben’s Food for Thought kitchen in Gonnett is a roaring success and literally changing lives, one meal at a time, thanks to a team of international volunteers and donations from New Zealand and Australia.
The 32 year old socialpreneur is visiting his hometown Alexandra for a family catch up and for a fund raising event this Sunday (26th).
Ben started his barista days at the family cafe in Alexandra before training as a teacher and moving to the UK. After a few years he then settled in Melbourne where he opened an award winning cafe, The Final Step (South Yarra). However Ben’s dream was to move to Buenos Aires and start a kitchen serving lunch to slum kids.
The dream became a reality and succeeded beyond his expectations, though he acknowledges there were plenty of challenges to overcome. He’s only now getting used to the laid back attitude to time which is inherent in the Argentinean culture.
As important as their free, nutritious lunches are, Ben and his team teach the kids about personal hygiene too, as well as introducing them to music and drama to build their self-confidence. “The kids usually come from large single parent families where washing and toothbrushes are non-existent. Violence is the norm and good role models are absent,” he says.
Toothbrushes were donated, proper behaviours taught and the children became less unruly and keen students.
The team of volunteers include an Italian rapper, a NZ lawyer, a Brazilian vet and an Austrian recorder player. A 70 year-old local grandmother Christina, is the head cook.
To fund the humanitarian venture Ben uses the profits from his small South Yarra cafe and annual fund raising events. He’s also in the process of establishing a sustainable cafe in Buenos Aires which will provide the running costs for Food for Thought.
www.socialopportunitygroup.com