Youth stories | murals

Explore the stories shared by young people Across Africa and Europe about the food systems in their cities and inspiring action—both online and in their communities—on the issues that matter to them.

Explore murals

Along the Dora: A mural reimagining our place in the ecosystem

Submitted by Francesca Allemano
Turin, Italy

In Turin, Italy, a mural near the Dora River now tells a story of connection—between people, food, water, and nature. Sparked by a conversation between Francesca and a colleague passionate about sustainable cities and fair food, the project was brought to life with the support of QuFooMa and artist Shadé. The mural features a personified tree drawing nourishment from the river, symbolising the vital balance between humans and the natural world. Unveiled during a community event at Einaudi Campus in June 2025, the piece invites reflection on how we can grow sustainably when we act not above, but alongside nature.

Raising awareness through art: a mural against food waste

Submitted by Mahamadou Chitou Mariama
Niamey, Niger

This mural, created opposite Diori School near Katako Market in Niamey, addresses food waste by highlighting practical solutions such as waste sorting and composting. Inspired by local scenes, it aims to raise awareness among children and parents about environmentally responsible practices.

Eating Well Is a Superpower We All Share

Submitted by Abass Mbathie
Dakar, Senegal

The mural, **“Eating well is a superpower we all share!”**, was created at a school to directly raise awareness among students, both girls and boys, about the importance of healthy eating. Designed as a visual educational tool, it uses bright colours and playful characters to capture children’s attention and turn the message into a positive experience. The central slogan highlights the collective power of eating well, presenting it as a superpower that is accessible to everyone. To complement the imagery, four educational messages are displayed around the mural: * “Choose fruit instead of sweets at break time!” * “A colourful plate means a healthier you!” * “Learn to recognise healthy foods from today.” * “Eating a balanced diet also helps you succeed at school.” The mural thus becomes a daily learning tool, encouraging children to develop healthier eating habits.

Buy Local and Cook Together for a Better Ouagadougou

Submitted by Farida Tiemtore
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

A symbolic mural depicting local consumption and food security in Burkina Faso. On the left, a lively traditional market where women and young boys are selling and buying local products such as millet, vegetables, fruit and dried fish. On the right, a modest kitchen where young boys are cooking with their mother or grandmother, smiling and engaged. In the background, scenes illustrate community resilience in the face of insecurity, highlighting solidarity, peace and hope. The style is colourful and warm, inspired by contemporary African art, with symbolic motifs incorporated throughout, including calabashes, baobab leaves, suns and peace symbols.

A Community Mural at Kilombero Market Arusha

Submitted by Filbert Minja
Arusha, Tanzania

The mural project in Arusha created a public artwork in a central market space that visually represented the city’s diverse and interconnected food system. It served as a communication tool to encourage reflection on food security, safety, sustainability, youth participation, and climate resilience. Developed through a participatory design process, the mural elevated the visibility of women and youth in food production and trade, fostered local awareness of climate-smart practices, and inspired a sense of ownership and dialogue about the future of food in the city.

A better world starts with my plate.

Submitted by Clementine Bakole
Bukavu, DRC

The mural “Eating well is a superpower we all share!” was created at a school to raise awareness among students, both girls and boys, about the importance of healthy eating. Designed as a visual educational tool, it uses bright colours and playful characters to capture children’s attention and turn the message into a positive experience. Its central slogan presents healthy eating as a collective superpower that is accessible to everyone. Four educational messages accompany the artwork, encouraging children to choose fruit instead of sweets, eat a balanced diet, and learn to recognise healthy foods. The mural thus becomes a daily learning tool, encouraging children to develop healthier eating habits.

GROW IN THE CITY, HARVEST AT HOME

Submitted by Fernandes Sozinho
Quelimane, Mozambique

A message that conveys the importance of urban agriculture as a way to strengthen the food system in cities. This mural reflects the commitment of those who work day and night to produce food and deliver it to consumers. There is a need to demystify the idea that production only takes place in rural areas and that urban areas are only for living. In fact, we need to explore the potential of urban areas by promoting home gardens. GROW IN THE CITY, HARVEST AT HOME. Let's work together to strengthen our food system. Let's all be part of the solution now and forever. In the background, scenes illustrate community resilience in the face of insecurity, highlighting solidarity, peace and hope. The style is colourful and warm, inspired by contemporary African art, with symbolic motifs incorporated throughout, including calabashes, baobab leaves, suns and peace symbols.

Colours of garden, flavours and health at zero km

Submitted byTegitu Casiraghi
Milan, Italy

The mural rappresents the produce that grows in the Milan area and its provinces. The design features pumpkins, beetroots, chestnuts, figs, grapes and vine leaves, apples, pears, kiwis, cherries, corn and ears of wheat; a colourful vegetable garden inhabited by small animals such as butterflies, bees and snails. The project aims to transform an everyday environment into a visually stimulating and educational space, while promoting food awareness and a sense of community among students. The primary objective is to increase interest and curiosity about the consumption of fresh, local fruit and vegetables. The use of bright colours is intended to emphasise the link between the colours of nature, nutritional variety and health. The decision to create the artwork in the school canteen could be crucial, as it would embellish an often anonymous environment, creating a dialogue on the theme of food education. The idea could pave the way for future educational projects with children on the theme of food.

Between Garden and Table

Submitted by Farah Van Assche
Bruges, Belgium

This artwork explores the connection between nature and urban life. The tomatoes, apple, soil, and insects refer to how food is grown and the ecosystems behind it, while the chair and table represent how we consume food in the city. Their separation in the image reflects a key issue in urban food systems: the distance between production and consumption. By bringing these elements together in one composition, the work suggests a more connected approach—where cities don’t just consume food, but also take part in growing it. It invites us to rethink urban spaces as places where food, nature, and community can come together again.

Tunisian Women at the Heart of Food Systems

Submitted by Adel Azouni
Tunis, Tunisia

As part of the project, a mural entitled “Tunisian Women at the Heart of Food Systems” was created at Omar El Mokhtar School in Tunis to raise awareness of sustainable food systems and highlight the role of women in agriculture. Located near the school’s community garden, the artwork serves as an educational tool that encourages dialogue among students, educators and community members. The mural features Aïda, a farmer inspired by the publication The Right to Resist by the Observatory of Food Sovereignty and Environment (OSAE), symbolising the preservation of land, food sovereignty and the resilience of rural communities. Created through a participatory approach, the mural is the result of collaboration between students, teachers, artists, civil society organisations and project partners. The initiative contributes to raising awareness among the school community about sustainable food systems, gender equality and civic engagement.