FOOD SYSTEMS - African youths to connect through art competition on climate and environment sustainability

African youths are being urged to connect for climate and environment sustainability to showcase their talent through art and video competition, thanks to FSNet and AUDA- NEPAD initiative.

FOOD SYSTEMS THINKING - It is time we begin to engage young people in all our conversations related to food systems in the work of emerging issues related to climate change on the African continent (Photo - Courtesy of Elizabeth Mkandawire)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Planet Defence) – Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet – Africa) and African Union Development Agency – NEPAD have partnered in a continental stakeholder engagement dialogue by roping in African youths under the age of 18 years to connect for climate change and sustainability to showcase their talent through art and video competition.

FSNet – Africa based at the University of Pretoria will be hosting a stakeholder engagement dialogue in October. The event is broken up into five thematic sessions. One of which is climate and environmental sustainability.

The youths are expected to respond to the following questions in their course of developing their art work. Why we should care about the environment? What we should be doing to protect the planet ? Why you care about the environment ? Why you think it is important that we take care of it.

CROP DIVERSIFICATION - This is very vital in the work of climate change to ensure the growing population has a wide variety of choices and ensure long term food and nutritional security resilience

Six best works of art and best videos will be showcased at our FSNet-Africa stakeholder engagement dialogue, slated for October 2023, during the session on ‘Climate-smart and sustainable food systems for Africa’. The audience will vote for their favourite artwork and video and winners will be announced on 18^thOctober, 2023. Eligible applicants are also being urged to send a photo, drawing, painting, sculpture, or any other type of artwork.

Researchers from our network will be sharing their findings with policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders and engaging in conversations about how this work can transform the Africa food system, Elizabeth Mkandawire, FSNet-Africa Network and Research Manager told Planet Defence in an interview from South Africa.

“The future of food security is in the hands of the youth. We need to start teaching them at an early age so that they don't get left behind, but can work with us to secure their future. We need to start teaching them at an early age so that they are not left behind, but can work with us to secure their future. We wanted to make sure that the voice of the youth is part of this conversation because it is for their future that we need to have conversations on sustainability,” Mkandawire explained while highlighting the need for more young people engagement in these issues.

RESEARCHERS PARTICIPATION - Active participation from researchers will add more knowledge to food systems in the work of climate related emerging challenges such as cyclones in recent decades

According to Mkandawire they have invited children below 18 years to share videos or art showcasing why we should care the environment and why they care about the environment.

According to Mkandawire three Malawians academicians namely Dr. Frank Tchuwa and Dr Sera Gondwe from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources will participate in the session on governance and economic transformation of African food systems respectively while Dr Tiwonge Mzumara-Gawa, from the Malawi University of Science and Technology will participate in a session on one health.

Editor’s Note

Prizes to be won:

$30 book voucher for the best artwork (or an amount equivalent to $30 in your country)

$30 book voucher for the best video (or an amount equivalent to $30 in your country)

The deadline for submissions is 18 September 2023.

To enter:

Your parent or guardian must complete and sign the consent form available here: https://bit.ly/3KEMkHV

Complete the entry form available here: https://bit.ly/3E15zrf

(The entry form has a place where you will attach/upload the consent form your parent completed, a photograph of your artwork, and/or your video.)

Terms and conditions:

Only individuals under the age of 18 will be permitted to enter the competition.

Only original artworks and videos will be considered.

Entrees will only be considered if a consent form has been signed by a parent or guardian and submitted with the entry form.