A local teenage nonprofit uses hydroponic technology to feed thousands of people in New York City and even Israelis abroad.
Steven Hoffen may only be 14 years old, but the founder of Growing Peace Inc. has done some very important work to help vulnerable communities.
“My driving force is seeing the smiles of the people I work with,” says Hoffen. “And we see young children working in hydroponic systems.”
Hoffen first learned about this farming system on a trip to Israel, where he accompanied an Israeli nonprofit called Cindyanna of Galilee, who were building hydroponic farms on the roofs of their homes. bottom.
He says it inspired him to make a documentary called Growing Peace in the Middle East. Winner of several awards and featured in over 70 of his film festivals worldwide. He took that inspiration and now helps feed some of the most underserved communities in New York and Tel Aviv.
Hoffen’s next plan is to install a hydroponics system in a local women’s prison, where she hopes to have a major impact and introduce incarcerated women to this kind of effort.