Canteen at local school granted €1.2 million in funding for innovative initiative - School project named Schoolmensa recognized with a budget of EUR 1.2 million
The Association of German School and Kindergarten Caterers (VDSKC) has announced a new model project aimed at improving school canteens in Lower Saxony. Funded by the state with approximately 1.2 million euros, the "Learning Space Canteen" project seeks to redesign canteens as integrative learning and living spaces.
The project's primary goal is to improve school canteens, focusing on nutrition, eating culture, sustainability, and community. It aims to integrate these topics into modern, holistic education, encouraging the involvement of students, teachers, and parents.
The project leader, Stefan Gerhardt, is spearheading the initiative. Interested schools can apply for the project until September 8, 2025. Four schools are expected to be selected for this innovative model project, which will run until February 2027.
The project encourages the promotion of regional, seasonal, and sustainable nutrition, aligning with the broader goals of the model projects, which are typically funded through state government programs dedicated to promoting healthy eating, environmental responsibility, and educational engagement in schools. Funding often comes from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education or relevant environmental and health ministries, sometimes supported by federal grants or EU funds for sustainable development in education.
Application deadlines for these projects can vary depending on the specific funding cycle and program year. Generally, calls for applications are announced annually, with deadlines often falling in the first half of the year to allow project planning and execution during the school year. For precise details on funding sources and exact application deadlines for the current cycle, it is best to check official announcements on the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education website or the dedicated portals for school nutrition and sustainability projects.
The "Learning Space Canteen" model project is based in Hannover, Lower Saxony. The project does not specify the exact number of schools expected to be selected, nor does it repeat the aim to link school catering with teaching content, which was mentioned in an earlier bullet point. However, it is clear that this initiative represents a significant step forward in integrating education and nutrition in a sustainable and community-focused manner.
- The "Learning Space Canteen" project, based in Hannover, focuses on redesigning school canteens as integrative learning spaces, promoting topics like nutrition, eating culture, sustainability, and community.
- This model project, funded by the state, is rooted in modern, holistic education and encourages the involvement of students, teachers, and parents.
- The project seeks to integrate regional, seasonal, and sustainable nutrition into school canteens, aligning with state government programs dedicated to healthy eating, environmental responsibility, and educational engagement.
- Stefan Gerhardt is spearheading this innovative project, which offers vocational training opportunities in the areas of nutrition, sustainability, and community-focused living.
- The project aims to contribute to education-and-self-development and sustainable-living, merging the concepts of home-and-garden, health-and-wellness, and lifestyle in a balanced, diverse, and interdisciplinary manner.
