Youth Stories
Youth stories
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.
Sharing diverse voices
AfriFOODlinks ambassadors are taking on urban food system challenges by working directly with their communities. They raise awareness, amplify voices that often go unheard, and lead hands-on city-level activations to make food systems more inclusive, sustainable, and fair.
Their efforts range from organising market tours and running environmental workshops to working closely with informal vendors like women fishmongers and vegetable sellers. These vendors play a vital role in bringing fresh, affordable produce to cities. By shining a light on their contributions and the challenges they face, the ambassadors push for better support and recognition for those facing significant challenges in their daily work in urban food systems.
Through storytelling, they share real-life experiences that highlight how urban food systems affect people’s everyday lives. These personal accounts don’t just inform—they give a glimpse into the mosaic of actors that drive urban food systems. They provide fresh perspectives, foster understanding, and encourage practical, community-driven solutions.
By combining action and advocacy, the project ambassadors are helping to reshape how we think about and manage urban food systems, one step at a time.
Explore the youth ambassador stories
Seeds of change: How Fattoria Roggero blends farming, conservation, and community
Submitted by Francesca Allemano
Turin, Italy
Nestled in Rivoli’s scenic moraine hills, Fattoria Roggero champions beekeeping, biodiversity, and sustainability. Bees are the heartbeat of their work, vital for ecosystems and food security, enhancing crop quality while thriving in chemical-free mountain areas. Collaborating with Coldiretti Torino, they ensure a healthy, biodiverse environment through regular environmental checks.
Education is at the farm’s core. Their teaching garden inspires children and adults to reconnect with nature’s rhythms, embracing patience and respect in contrast to today’s fast-paced world. On-site sales deepen this connection, empowering consumers to make thoughtful, responsible food choices.
Fattoria Roggero’s social mission shines through its work placement programs, supporting individuals with disabilities or unemployment challenges. By seamlessly blending production, conservation, and education, they show how sustainability isn’t just about taste—it’s about ethics, community, and protecting the planet.
Without borders against waste
Submitted by Francesca Allemano
Turin, Italy
Since 2016, Ecco dalle Città has been transforming Turin’s market surplus into opportunities for change. By recovering unsold fruits and vegetables, they fight food waste while providing meals to those in need.
Beyond food distribution, the organisation empowers individuals facing economic hardship by offering jobs in collection, production, and distribution. This approach provides a second life to surplus food while fostering employment and social inclusion.
Their initiative blends sustainability with compassion, ensuring that good food doesn’t go to waste but instead supports those who need it most. By combining environmental responsibility with social impact, Ecco dalle Città turns surplus produce into a lifeline for both people and the planet.
Voice of change: Sambazah's story
Submitted by Filbert Minja
Arusha, Tanzania
Sambazah is a digital platform that connects food and grocery vendors with consumers, empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Arusha’s marketplace. Launched in 2016, it faced early challenges, including technical failures and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the leadership of Loibulu, Sambazah successfully relaunched in 2023, focusing on groceries and food. Now operating in Kilombero, Soko Kuu, and Samonge, it plays a crucial role in strengthening local food supply chains.
As part of Arusha’s food system, Sambazah helps vendors reach more customers, supports sustainable food distribution, and enhances regional food security through digital innovation. By bridging traditional markets and modern consumer needs, it ensures fresh, local produce remains accessible.
Transforming Fish Waste in Kisumu
Kisumu, Kenya
In Kisumu, an innovative initiative is transforming fish waste—scales, bones, and offal—into valuable products like high-quality animal feed and organic fertilizers. By recycling discarded fish parts, the project reduces environmental pollution and supports a circular economy. It also creates jobs and new income streams, empowering local communities. This waste-to-wealth model showcases how creativity and technology can reshape traditional industries, offering a practical blueprint for sustainability in the fishery sector. Kisumu’s approach blends environmental care with economic development, inspiring broader regional adoption of these eco-friendly practices.
Adel Azouni
Tunis, Tunisia
Bio: Adel Azouni is a PhD student in geology applied to the environment at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunisia. He is also a radio host and editor-in-chief of an environmental programme on Radio Misk. Actively engaged in various initiatives for nature protection, Adel contributed to the EARTH’na collective, which developed a universal periodic report on environmental rights and development submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2022. He has authored numerous articles on environmental and climate issues in Tunisia, published by the Tahrir Institute and the Baker Institute. In 2022, he was recognised by UNDP Climate as one of five young leaders in the Arab world inspiring hope in the fight against climate change, and in 2024, he was honoured with the African Activism Prize in Ghana by Africans Rising.
Adel Azouni
Tunis, Tunisia
Bio: Adel Azouni is a PhD student in geology applied to the environment at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunisia. He is also a radio host and editor-in-chief of an environmental programme on Radio Misk. Actively engaged in various initiatives for nature protection, Adel contributed to the EARTH’na collective, which developed a universal periodic report on environmental rights and development submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2022. He has authored numerous articles on environmental and climate issues in Tunisia, published by the Tahrir Institute and the Baker Institute. In 2022, he was recognised by UNDP Climate as one of five young leaders in the Arab world inspiring hope in the fight against climate change, and in 2024, he was honoured with the African Activism Prize in Ghana by Africans Rising.
Seeds of change: How Fattoria Roggero blends farming, conservation, and community
Submitted by Francesca Allemano
Turin, Italy
Nestled in Rivoli’s scenic moraine hills, Fattoria Roggero champions beekeeping, biodiversity, and sustainability. Bees are the heartbeat of their work, vital for ecosystems and food security, enhancing crop quality while thriving in chemical-free mountain areas. Collaborating with Coldiretti Torino, they ensure a healthy, biodiverse environment through regular environmental checks.
Education is at the farm’s core. Their teaching garden inspires children and adults to reconnect with nature’s rhythms, embracing patience and respect in contrast to today’s fast-paced world. On-site sales deepen this connection, empowering consumers to make thoughtful, responsible food choices.
Fattoria Roggero’s social mission shines through its work placement programs, supporting individuals with disabilities or unemployment challenges. By seamlessly blending production, conservation, and education, they show how sustainability isn’t just about taste—it’s about ethics, community, and protecting the planet.
Without borders against waste
Submitted by Francesca Allemano
Turin, Italy
Since 2016, Ecco dalle Città has been transforming Turin’s market surplus into opportunities for change. By recovering unsold fruits and vegetables, they fight food waste while providing meals to those in need.
Beyond food distribution, the organisation empowers individuals facing economic hardship by offering jobs in collection, production, and distribution. This approach provides a second life to surplus food while fostering employment and social inclusion.
Their initiative blends sustainability with compassion, ensuring that good food doesn’t go to waste but instead supports those who need it most. By combining environmental responsibility with social impact, Ecco dalle Città turns surplus produce into a lifeline for both people and the planet.
Voice of change: Sambazah's story
Submitted by Filbert Minja
Arusha, Tanzania
Sambazah is a digital platform that connects food and grocery vendors with consumers, empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Arusha’s marketplace. Launched in 2016, it faced early challenges, including technical failures and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the leadership of Loibulu, Sambazah successfully relaunched in 2023, focusing on groceries and food. Now operating in Kilombero, Soko Kuu, and Samonge, it plays a crucial role in strengthening local food supply chains.
As part of Arusha’s food system, Sambazah helps vendors reach more customers, supports sustainable food distribution, and enhances regional food security through digital innovation. By bridging traditional markets and modern consumer needs, it ensures fresh, local produce remains accessible.
Sam Wesamoyo
Mbale, Uganda
Bio: Sam is a professional agriculturalist with extensive experience in the animal and crop sectors. He specialises in strengthening local government systems through the Results-Based Financing Approach, which has proven instrumental in driving sustainable growth and development in agriculture. His work focuses on fostering resilience, improving productivity, and supporting communities reliant on agriculture as a livelihood.
In addition to his agricultural expertise, Sam is an experienced insurance professional. He is passionate about enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers by developing innovative climate resilience solutions. These initiatives aim to help farmers adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change, enabling them to better manage risks and safeguard their livelihoods. Sam’s combined expertise in agriculture and insurance positions him as a dedicated advocate for sustainable and inclusive development in the food system.
Adel Azouni
Tunis, Tunisia
Bio: Adel Azouni is a PhD student in geology applied to the environment at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunisia. He is also a radio host and editor-in-chief of an environmental programme on Radio Misk. Actively engaged in various initiatives for nature protection, Adel contributed to the EARTH’na collective, which developed a universal periodic report on environmental rights and development submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2022. He has authored numerous articles on environmental and climate issues in Tunisia, published by the Tahrir Institute and the Baker Institute. In 2022, he was recognised by UNDP Climate as one of five young leaders in the Arab world inspiring hope in the fight against climate change, and in 2024, he was honoured with the African Activism Prize in Ghana by Africans Rising.
Sam Wesamoyo
Mbale, Uganda
Bio: Sam is a professional agriculturalist with extensive experience in the animal and crop sectors. He specialises in strengthening local government systems through the Results-Based Financing Approach, which has proven instrumental in driving sustainable growth and development in agriculture. His work focuses on fostering resilience, improving productivity, and supporting communities reliant on agriculture as a livelihood.
In addition to his agricultural expertise, Sam is an experienced insurance professional. He is passionate about enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers by developing innovative climate resilience solutions. These initiatives aim to help farmers adapt to the growing challenges posed by climate change, enabling them to better manage risks and safeguard their livelihoods. Sam’s combined expertise in agriculture and insurance positions him as a dedicated advocate for sustainable and inclusive development in the food system.