May 7, 2015, Ljubljana –– Director of Food for Life Global, Paul Rodney Turner met with the Slovenian Secretary of State, Mr Tadej Slapnik to discuss ways to collaborate. Mr Slapnik is responsible for establising dialogue with civil socieites and coordinating civil and social entrepreneurial initiatives. 

Food for Life Global will be opening a worldwide headquarters in Ljubljana and seeks cooperation and support with the Slovenian Government, including sharing good practice and supporting the government’s Food Surplus, Zero Waste initiative.

In this regard, a Food Surplus Entrepreneurs Network (www.fsenetwork.org) was established by the European community that brings together social entrepreneurs fighting food waste. 

Turner also spoke of Feed the World Week (October 15-22) & Food for Life Global’s plans to host a “Feeding the 5000” event on October 15 together with Feedback Global and Ekologi brez meja. He asked if Slovenian Prime Minister Dr. Miro Cerar could open the event in Ljubljana at Congress Square by serving the first meal.

Food for Life’s local affiliate is currently operating a Healthy Meals for Socially Depriviledged program and hopes to partner with the Ministry for Health. Later this year, Food for Life Slovenia will launch a Meat Free Monday Campaign.

Mr. Slapnik has been instrumental in starting and launching several social enterprises, worker cooperatives and several other initiatives of social entrepreneurships in Slovenia. He collaborated in the preparation of the national Strategy for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship 2013-16 and the plan for its execution. He is the founder and secretary general of the internationally operating Slovenian Forum of Social Entrepreneurship. He also follows the development of various initiatives in the field of youth entrepreneurship and other vulnerable social groups.