This is the third in a series of blog posts representing the voices of several Fix My Food youth advocates.
Fix My Food South Africa is a coalition of young people advocating for a fairer food system where healthy food is available, accessible, and affordable for every child and youth.
This post shares the story of Simphiwe Chantel Naidoo (21), a student at the University of KwaZulu Natal and a committed Fix My Food advocate.
I grew up in a low-income household in the townships and faced the challenges of food insecurity and its negative health impacts from an early age.
A lack of access to healthy, affordable food, combined with the limited resources in my family, led to me becoming obese. This made me a target for bullying at a very young age both in and out of school.
Being bullied for being the 'fat kid’ changed how I viewed the world. But it took me a while to realise that it wasn’t my fault and there were lots of difficult days. Over time, I realised I was on the receiving end of a broken food system that had failed to provide for the most vulnerable.
Determined to make a change, I decided to become a youth advocate for food justice in South Africa and I joined Fix My Food. Today I can use my personal experience to raise awareness about the systemic issues that plague the food system, and push for reform that will prioritise health, affordability, and accessibility for all.
“I stand with all South Africans and ask government to fix the food system. We need to do this to protect the health and happiness of everyone, including our most vulnerable, our children and youth.”
Add your voice and support the growing movement to improve the food environment in South Africa.
