Yuup | Panel: How Can Food Empower Communities?

The MAZI Project x Patagonia are bringing the first (of many) panel discussions exploring all things food, looking at the power food has in improving both physical and mental health and the impact that can have on the wider community. You will hear from those who have suffered from food poverty and those who work heavily in the sector and across social justice!

Drinks and food from Miyabi, Japanese Pop up will be included.
The panel will be hosted by founder of The MAZI Project, Melanie and will include:
Rebecca Burges - CEO @ The Hunger Project UK

Rebecca Burgess is a social justice advisor, previously working as CEO at The Hunger Project UK and City to Sea. Rebecca has held leadership roles in sectors including climate, health, policy, and gender. A passionate environmentalist and advocate for gender equality and human rights, Rebecca calls for these issues to be tackled together, not separately.

Mali Evans - Head of Engagement and Advocacy @ Feeding Bristol

Mali started working with Feeding Bristol in 2022. She is passionate about supporting communities to empower themselves to build resilience to face adversity. In the past year, she has led on developing the One City Food Equality Action Plan for Bristol and curating the city's first Food Justice Fortnight. Both projects focused on community empowerment through coproduction, building connections and celebrating diversity.

Leo - aMAZIng young person and pop up owner @ Miyabiya_uk

Leo met Melanie at a cooking workshop over a year ago and has since been receiving The MAZI Project's recipe kits. Leo had to escape a dangerous family situation and has struggled with food poverty previously. With the help of MAZI and Leo's incredible cooking talent, Leo launched her own Japanese pop up with an event at MAZI HQ and is now selling her food on All About The Cooks! She has a huge passion for food and it's power!

Tom - aMAZIng young person Tom is a care leaver studying fashion at city of Bristol college. He joined the MAZI Project after coming to one of our monthly supper clubs and then receiving our meal kits. He has supported our Wold Hunger Day campaign this year. He is a social person who enjoys going on nights out as much as having friends over to spend quality time such as having nice meals together.

By supporting The MAZI Project's events and by donating to their cause, you are empowering some of Bristol's most disadvantaged young people.

Adult Free

Adult	Free

Available dates

Sorry, there are currently no dates available

The good news is that we’re expecting more to be added really soon!

Want to be the first to find out when new dates are released? Register below to notify the host of your interest

How to get there

Patagonia store, 81 Park Street, Bristol, BS1 5PF

Changes happen, don't worry

How to change dates

Change of plans? You can easily rebook the next available slot up to 1 days before your experience.

How to get a refund

Can't make it? We understand things happen! You can cancel and get a full refund up to 1 days before your experience.

Please note that this refund policy does not apply to gift bookings. You may reschedule your gift if outside the time period stated above. Please note that Yuup gift cards are valid for redemption for 12 months, and if not redeemed by this date, you will get a Yuup credit added to your Yuup account equivalent to the unspent value of the Yuup gift card less a Yuup administration fee of 20%.

You'll be hosted by

The MAZI Project

MAZI (μαζί) means together in Greek. This community initiative believes that we can challenge food inequality in Bristol, together.

MAZI's vision is a world where access to sustainable and tasty food is not a privilege or predetermined by your social class or background. Their mission is to challenge Bristol's food inequality by connecting disadvantaged young people with Bristol’s rich, independent food culture. What are their three pillars? Inclusivity, social justice and community.

Inclusivity: Creating a world where everyone can enjoy the power of food and are included in the conversation around it, no matter what's their social class or background.

Social justice: Contributing towards the fight against food poverty, sustainable food production, and the needs of the young people they work with.

Community: Working with the local community to contribute to growing the local economy and building a network of diverse connections, dedicated to making the world a better place. Their cookery workshops which work with disadvantaged members of the community do just this.

Melanie Vaxevanakis

Melanie was born in Athens and moved to the UK when she was 13. Being raised in Greece, a place where food is central to its culture and identity, and where fruit & veg is rarely imported, Melanie experienced food as much more than a means to human survival. It was emotive. It not only uplifted her mood, but when it was cooked and shared, she saw it as an act of love.

These experiences and memories, combined with witnessing people in her community being unable to access and feel the power of food, are what inspired Melanie to start MAZI in early 2021.

MAZI (μαζί) means together in Greek. Together, Melanie wants to make sure everyone has the opportunity to access fresh and tasty food.

Any questions?

Ask your question directly to The MAZI Project.