Author: Thays Flores
Planning Unit: Estill County CES
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
Plan of Work: Individual and Family Development
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
According to Pew Research, 37 percent of Americans reside in their hometown and have never moved. The same research study says the percentage is much higher for individuals who have a mental, social, or physical disability. Because 30.3 percent of Estill County citizens live at or below the poverty line, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent decided to host this Cooking Around the World program. The Agent collaborated with another FCS Agent in Bath County to educate participants about different countries through culture, customs, and culinary delights. The Agents presented information through PowerPoint presentations, maps, recipes, and taste-testing through hands-on learning labs with clientele. An average of 10 clients attended each session. The audience included new clientele to Extension, including a 70 percent population of individuals with mental, physical, or social disabilities. Participants received surveys and gave testimonials on how they viewed the program. All participants were able to identify and follow food safety practices accurately, list ways in which countries recognized had similar and different characteristics of Kentucky, and compare traditional foods in those countries with staple food items available in their town. Participants also recreated culture-specific foods successfully. 70 percent of participants tried a new dish, and 50 percent of those same participants stated they would make the food at home. One participant, confined to a wheelchair, noted this program gave her something to look forward to where she felt equal to her peers.
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