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“Peace from Food” Summer Campaign Donation Benefits — Available until September 21!
Makiko Abe
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 3
“Nutritious meals nourish both body and soul.”So says Debora, an ARI graduate who now volunteers. She repeated these words carefully and emphatically, time and again.For Debora, eating is not merely an act of survival. It is a vital practice that cultivates inner peace. In a painting she created, vibrant fruits like mangoes, bananas, and dragon fruit—grown in her homeland of Indonesia—are vividly depicted.Being nourished—it nurtures not only the body but also the soul, and it creates connections between people. This simple yet truly vital lesson is what we are learning … Read more
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 2
Before ARI, Mako Masukawa once worked in the kitchen of a top restaurant in Kyoto. Now, she volunteers at ARI, helping with meal preparation.She shared: “If everyone could eat delicious food, I don’t think wars would happen.” When she worked in high-end cuisine, Mako was always busy and had to push herself through work, even when experiencing deep frustration. After a certain point, she asked herself, “Was this the kind of cooking I truly wanted?” That moment led her to the decision to come to ARI. Now, as a volunteer, … Read more
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 1
“Food can make you happy just by looking at it.”This is what Peace from Food means to Thi Thi, a member of the ARI team from Myanmar, working in FEAST (Food Education and Sustainable Table). Thi Thi’s drawings of vegetables and flowers reflect her hometown’s rich food culture and her heartfelt appreciation for the beauty of cuisine. “The cook’s feelings reflect directly in the taste of the food.”Her message connects you, your food, and your loved ones. “First, it’s important that you, yourself, feel it’s delicious. Because that connects to … Read more
“Peace from Food” from the tables of ARI’s graduates Vol. 5
For the future of children Nilani is a pioneering social worker in Sri Lanka. Born and raised in a poor family, she received a scholarship and studied at Sri Lanka’s first social welfare school. After teaching at her school and other educational institutions, she worked with Save the Children, where she interacted with a wide range of people. On December 26, 2004, an event occurred that would dramatically change her life. While on a business trip with her family to the coastal region, she encountered the massive tsunami caused by … Read more
“Peace from Food” from the tables of ARI’s graduates Vol. 4
Return of the Forest When Veny and Kengo’s time at ARI came to an end in 2012, they had no plans to make a food forest in the tropics of North Sumatra, Indonesia—Veny’s hometown. Both of them are ARI graduates (2005 and 2012), having met when Veny was a training assistant in 2012. Kengo, originally from Japan, had never been to Indonesia before, and the term ‘food forest’ was likewise new to both of them. At ARI, Kengo learned the basics of organic farming and was especially attracted to permaculture, … Read more
“Peace from Food” from the tables of ARI’s graduates Vol. 3
Healing from the Soil Have you ever thought about what it is like to be a refugee? Much to my surprise I found it can be sheer boredom. I learned this from ARI graduates in Sri Lanka, who, during their civil war, had to flee their homes and lived in refugee camps for some time. At breakfast, they lined up for food. At supper they lined up for food. The rest of the day they just sat. No work. No TV or radio. Nothing. There was absolutely nothing to do. … Read more
“Peace from Food” from the tables of ARI’s graduates Vol. 2
Two Bags of Food A big bag brimming with fresh vegetables. Another bag filled with flour, grains, salt, sugar, and spices. It’s a hefty amount, good for a week or two. Every month 35 families gather at the SEEDS India compound, not just to receive this food donation, but to greet each other and talk over tea and snacks. With all those kids laughing and playing, the atmosphere is super bustling. SEEDS India is a local NGO started by ARI Graduate, Thomas Mathew. They have numerous programs to help folks … Read more
“Peace from Food” from the tables of ARI’s graduates Vol. 1 – an Introduction
Peace from food. This is the theme of our summer fundraising campaign for ARI, and I was asked to share with you some things we can learn about it from ARI’s graduates. By the way, I am Steven Cutting, the coordinator for Graduate Outreach, which means I frequently communicate with our graduates. I talk to them almost every day, as a matter of fact. So, I am probably the best person to assign this task. But…Peace from food. Peace from food. What does this truly mean? No peace from no … Read more
