Salome: The food revolution must begin in schools to end child hunger and malnutrition

Salome, a 17-year-old advocate with World Vision’s ENOUGH campaign, urges leaders at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris to urgently transform food systems to end child hunger and malnutrition, with children and young people as the driving force for change.

My name is Salome, and I am a young delegate from World Vision Colombia. I am a young leader in my community, working to raise awareness about environmental care and nutrition. It is an honour to be here today and to share my ideas on the involvement of children and youth in ending hunger and malnutrition.

Transforming food systems is urgent

I have the conviction that transforming food systems is not only possible but urgent. We have a historic opportunity before us: the possibility of turning education and biodiversity into powerful weapons to combat malnutrition and of making children and young people the driving force behind the transformation of these food systems worldwide. 

Why are children and young people central to the process of change? Because we are the driving force of tomorrow's and today's societies, with our creativity, innovation and energy, so overflowing that we can have no limits.

By empowering ourselves with tools, knowledge and platforms, we become the architects of more sustainable, fairer and biodiverse food systems. We have already seen extraordinary examples of young people leading this food revolution. Consider, for example, eco-influencers who have conscious eating as their banner, such as Greta Thunberg, who has added ethical food awareness to climate action, or Ridhima Pandey, who promotes sustainable agriculture in India. 

These young voices drive profound change and reinforce our own commitment to live a transformation.

The food revolution must begin in schools

I am confident that education is the best channel to foster real progress. Schools are, in fact, the place where the food revolution must begin. Let's think about school meals programmes, not only as a child feeding programme, but also as a programme linked to a programme of health, well-being, and the ability to learn. 

However, the task of the road to food justice will not end here if we do not promote the rescue and preservation of the cultural diversity of our food. In an increasingly globalised world, making a difference and enhancing that difference is fundamental; that is our great strength, which is culture and ecosystems. 

Rescuing the knowledge and practices of ancestral agriculture, native seeds and biodiverse food is, undoubtedly, building a path towards food justice. And, of course, here, young people emerge from local food fairs to new beginnings that reimagine food waste; most likely, they are the ones who catalyse these processes for food justice.

I believe it is essential to establish mandatory education programmes incorporating nutrition and sustainability as central elements, thus empowering young generations to make informed choices. We propose to expand biodiverse school meals programmes, ensuring that food is nutritious, culturally relevant and sustainably produced. 

We must act NOW

We are calling to action now. We cannot afford to ignore the immense potential of children and youth. Integrating us is not an option; it is a moral, social, and ecological duty. We raise our voices in favour of inclusive educational systems, courageous biodiversity policies, and food transformation in the hands of those who will inherit this planet.

We need the tools to build a society in which nutrition, equity, and sustainability are indispensable pillars. So, together, let us leap towards a tomorrow in which "eating well" is not a privilege but a right for all.

Children and young people like Salome are calling for Governments to listen to their concerns, experiences, and solutions to hunger and malnutrition. World Vision stands alongside these incredible young leaders. Stand with us and take action.