Plant-Based Education

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Plant-Based Education at School

Meat is a common part of the Australian diet. Gold Coast volunteer Julia Wu proposed plant-based cooking classes with a focus on caring for the Earth. The first class was held at Ipswich State High School on 10 November 2011, giving teachers and students an opportunity to learn about plant-based food and experience a different approach to eating.

The program was warmly received. From then on, classes were held at the school twice a year, with more than 200 teachers and students taking part in each session. Over time, volunteers also developed close and lasting relationships with the school community.

From 2015, the program was further enriched with stories told by Master Cheng Yen and Jing Si Aphorisms, allowing teachers and students to encounter compassion and wisdom alongside their cooking lessons. This meaningful exchange continued for many years until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the program to pause.

In May 2024, the Gold Coast Office received a warm invitation from a teacher at the school, and classes officially resumed in October that year. After several years, the stoves in the classroom were lit once again, with 206 teachers and students taking part.

Today, the plant-based cooking program at Ipswich State High School, held every October, has become a regular school activity for the Gold Coast Office. It continues to plant seeds of compassion and mindful living in the hearts of young people.