The purpose of this thesis was to explore the effectiveness of community kitchens as an
empowerment tool. This thesis observes the ways in which community kitchens empower their
participants, how they are being used to foster community development, and the opportunities
and constraints in using community kitchens as an empowerment tool. The research questions
are addressed in a variety of ways. First, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken to
define the meaning of empowerment and community development as used by this thesis.
Secondly, a multiple case study approach involving participant observation, key informant
interviews and a survey was conducted to examine these questions. A total of seven community
kitchens were involved in the case studies.
The research suggests that community kitchens do empower participants but at an individual
level. Participants learn skills such as cooperation, cooking and socialisation, and are
empowered through self-help and by gaining confidence and self-esteem. At a community level,
efforts have been made to empower the community and contribute to community building
processes but with limited output. In some community kitchens, community development
initiatives (such as volunteering to cook for a larger community) are in place but community
kitchens as a whole has a minimal effect in creating community. Community kitchens, however,
are effective at empowering individuals which is considered the first step to community
empowerment.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/8911 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Chung, Carrie Lee |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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