Chef Thomas Zacharias' passion for indigenous cuisines led him to open 'The Locavore' in 2022. In what is now touted as a "food revolution," Zacharias' venture has helped him reach out to tribal communities and blend their culinary legacy in contemporary cuisines to offer the urban milieu a taste of regional flavours.

　　Ahead of its second anniversary, The Locavore initiated a fundraising campaign for a tribal school in Maharashtra known for its nutritional meal program. Surrounded by chikoo orchards in Dahanu, the Tamarind Tree School is a centre of quality education for tribal children and integrates the teaching experience with nutritional meals, setting an example of "learning with sustainability."

　　With a menu extending beyond the western belt, kids are offered diverse foods like idlis and dosas, which are new to many. When The Locavore partnered with the school in 2022, they were impressed to see its dynamic classroom, which curates learning with practical exposure by engaging kids in meal preparation. "This innovative approach to education, where the student's well-being is considered holistically, aligns perfectly with The Locavore's mission to support sustainable, community-based food systems," said Chef Thomas Zacharias.

　　Amid the ongoing fundraising campaign, Chef Zacharias spoke to OT on how their collaborative efforts have helped them garner over six lakh rupees for the school, ensuring that it continues to empower the marginalised and act as more than a meal provider.

　　Excerpts from the interview:

　　QAIn today's culinary landscape, this expanded locavore philosophy is more crucial than ever. As the world becomes increasingly globalised, the food journey from farm to plate has grown longer, often disconnecting us from the source of our meals. By consuming locally, we ensure that we eat fresher, reduce our carbon footprint, and support the biodiversity vital for a healthy ecosystem.

　　QAThis innovative approach to education, where the student's well-being is considered holistically, aligns perfectly with The Locavore's mission to support sustainable, community-based food systems.What further motivated my decision to support Tamarind Tree School through our philanthropic efforts was the school's philosophy that mirrors The Locavore's ethos: the understanding that local resources—be it food, culture, or educational content—can and should be leveraged to empower communities.

　　QAQAAddressing this, we've embarked on a multifaceted strategy to tackle the funding challenge head-on. First, we're leveraging social media and other platforms to raise awareness about the importance of the school's meal program, highlighting nutrition's critical role in educational outcomes. By sharing stories from the school and the impact of these meals on students' health and learning, we aim to connect with potential donors on an emotional level.

　　Furthermore, we're actively seeking partnerships with organisations and businesses that align with our sustainability and community empowerment values.

　　QARegarding utilising the funds, transparency and accountability are not just operational policies but the foundation of Tamarind Tree's guiding principles. Every rupee we've been fortunate to raise through the generosity of our donors is allocated to directly benefit the nutritional program at the heart of the school's mission. Their commitment is to ensure that these funds are utilised in ways that have the most significant impact on our students' health and education.

　　Separately, we're thrilled to share that, through dedicated efforts and the support of a CSR fund from a leading tech company, we've successfully raised an additional six lakhs earmarked explicitly for school salaries.

　　QAThis year, we're keen on literally and metaphorically taking The Locavore mission to new territories. We're expanding geographically and exploring new realms of influence, from policy advocacy to community education, ensuring that our impact resonates far and wide. Our aspiration for The Locavore is to catalyse widespread sustainable change, creating a ripple effect that encourages communities globally to embrace practices that support a healthier planet.