Geitmyra Juniorchefs

Many young people today are excluded from both education and working life – at the same time as society needs more safe and supportive arenas for belonging, development and healthy choices. With support from Kavli Trust, young people take part in Geitmyra Junior Chefs, gaining valuable work experience, a joy of food, and a concrete pathway into employment.

About the project

Geitmyra Junior Chefs – Youth in Action! is a training and work-experience programme for young people aged 14–19. The project has been developed to address several interconnected societal challenges: growing youth exclusion, school dropout, social health inequalities, and limited access to early work experience.

Many young people at risk of exclusion lack opportunities where they can experience achievement, belonging and hands-on learning. At the same time, research shows that early work experience can strengthen motivation for education, reduce dropout rates, and improve long-term prospects for further studies and employment.

Through practical cooking training, supervised work experience and paid assignments in a youth-led catering business, participants gain real-life work experience in a safe and supportive environment. The project provides young people with professional skills, increased confidence, and knowledge of healthy and sustainable food choices.

The purpose is to equip young people with concrete skills, work experience and confidence in their future.
The intended societal impact is that more young people complete their education, participate in working life, make positive choices for their health – and feel a stronger sense of belonging in society.

What the funding from Kavli Trust will support

The grant from Kavli Trust helps further develop and scale Geitmyra Junior Chefs as a sustainable model for youth employment and public health. The funding will be used to:

• Provide up to 250 young people with work experience through a three-year training programme
• Offer practical training in cooking, nutrition and sustainable food choices
• Enable supervised work placements and close follow-up of participants
• Strengthen collaboration with schools, NAV, child welfare services and employers
• Document and share knowledge about effective approaches to preventing youth exclusion

About Geitmyra Matkultursenter

Geitmyra Food Culture Centre for Children is a non-profit foundation working to ensure that children and young people across Norway develop a positive relationship with food that supports their health and wellbeing. Through teaching, courses and hands-on kitchen experiences, Geitmyra combines food joy, public health and sustainability.

Since its establishment in 2011, Geitmyra has reached tens of thousands of children and young people and set up centres in several parts of the country. With Geitmyra Junior Chefs, the organisation takes its work one step further – from food joy to empowerment and inclusion in working life.