African Food Systems Forum: Children and youth at the forefront
Diarraye, 18, is a World Vision youth ambassador from Sare Bidji in the Kolda region and is taking part in the African Food Systems Forum, held from 1 to 5 September 2025 in Diamniadio, Senegal. For her, this forum is an opportunity to make youth voices heard.
Through her participation, Diarraye is carrying a clear message: every child deserves enough nutritious food to grow, learn and thrive. Her role at the Forum is not only to share her lived experience, but also to highlight practical, community-led solutions that strengthen nutrition, climate resilience and food systems, while calling for greater investment in children and young people.
"This gathering provides a platform for children and young people to draw attention to their concerns, particularly the issues of hunger and malnutrition, which continue to affect children most" - Diarraye, Youth Ambassador
For World Vision's West Africa Regional Leader Carla Dominique Denizard, the African Food Systems Forum is both a space for dialogue and an opportunity for influence. It offers a platform to engage with policymakers, partners and other stakeholders on agriculture, nutrition and resilience which are issues that sit at the heart of World Vision’s work across West Africa.
She emphasises that young people like Diarraye are critical actors in transforming food systems, whether through innovation, agroecology, local entrepreneurship or advocacy.
“Youth are not only the future of food systems ; they are already part of the solution." - Carla Dominique Denizard, World Vision West Africa Regional Leader
At the opening of the Forum, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye echoed this message, stressing the urgency of transforming African agriculture to achieve food sovereignty. He underlined the essential role of young people in identifying and driving solutions to agricultural challenges across the continent.
“Our strength lies in this youth”, said the President, calling on them to recognise the responsibility they carry in shaping Africa’s future.
As part of its ongoing efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition, World Vision has launched the global ENOUGH (ASSEZ) campaign, which calls for sufficient nutritious food, sustained political will and stronger systems so that no child goes hungry. To learn more about the campaign and contribute, click here.