World Food Day Pohnpei
Pohnpei, FSM – October 16, 2024 - The Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Micronesia-FSM, in collaboration with the CRE Pohnpei team, successfully hosted a vibrant World Food Day celebration. The event was organized in partnership with UNICEF, FSM Resources and Development (FSM R&D), and the Government of New Zealand. Over 250 participants attended, including high school "Go Local" clubs, to take part in workshops, contests, and community outreach activities focused on promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.
The event was officially opened by the Governor of Pohnpei the honorable Stevenson A. Joseph, followed by key messages from the Vice-President of the Federated States of Micronesia the Honorable Aren Palik and the Chief of UNICEF in FSM Mr. Cromwell Bacareza. Ambassadors from the embassies of Japan, the United States, Australia, and representatives from the Chinese Embassy also attended, underscoring the global commitment to food security initiatives in FSM.
Preparation for this successful event began a month prior, when the Center for Entrepreneurship and CRE partnered with the Pohnpei State Department of Education (DOE) to organize a series of training sessions. These sessions helped establish the first-ever "Go Local" school clubs in Pohnpei, empowering students to take an active role in promoting local food production and sustainability. After the training, each "Go Local" club held its own cooking contest within their school, selecting a champion to represent their school at today’s main event.
During the celebration, training sessions on composting, water testing, and hydroponic gardening were conducted by CRE staff. Additionally, the Center for Entrepreneurship and CRE, with support from UNICEF, provided starter kits to all high schools to help them establish school gardens, encouraging sustainable food production at the educational level.
The highlight of the day was the "Go Local" cooking contest, organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the SAP020 project, GCF, MCT, FSM R&D, DECEM, and Pohnpei State R&D. The contest encouraged participants to use locally sourced ingredients in their dishes, promoting the health and environmental benefits of consuming local produce. FSM R&D also hosted booths promoting their food security projects, engaging the community with interactive exhibits and awarding prizes.
Today’s event marks the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between UNICEF, the Government of New Zealand, and the State Departments of Education to support food security and sustainable agricultural practices in FSM. A similar celebration was held in Chuuk, further expanding the reach of these initiatives across the country.
About the Center for Entrepreneurship at COM-FSM
The Center for Entrepreneurship at COM-FSM is committed to fostering innovation, sustainable business practices, and community development through educational programs and initiatives.
