Instruction: Is There Unserved Food in Your School?

A Short Guide from Discovering a Hidden Issue to Testing Your Solution

1. Notice What Usually Goes Unnoticed

Go to your canteen after most people finish eating.
To observe:
Is there still edible food being thrown away?

2. Understand Why It Happens

Talk to people part of the system:

canteen manager
other staff in canteen
school operation

Try to know:
What is the amount of unserved food?
Why is food prepared but not consumed?

3. Look for a Nearby Need

Now shift your attention:
Are there people in your school who cannot easily access canteen meals (therefore don’t have affordable and healthy meals?)

4. Communicate To See If We Can Bridge The Connection

Ask the canteen manager if he/she is willing to turn the unserved food waste into extra profit (though little).
Talk your idea with the group of people needing affordable meals.
Inquire the operation department to make sure the idea can be implemented under rules.

Also think about if there are other stakeholders that we may need to consult with.

5. If It Doesn’t Work, Look for “Twists”

Your first idea may fail.
Instead of stopping, try a twist!

a different side of demand
a different time slot
a different person to communicate with

There are always opportunities to be found.

6. Implementation: A self-sustained system

Be there and facilitate with the first a few trials.
Clarify the procedures with the stakeholders (the supply and need sides).
If it is self-sustained, all you need to do is to collect feedback and seek for refinements.

And maybe, you can scale it to make a larger impact!

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