We live on a planet that can produce enough food for everyone, yet hunger and poverty persist, pushing millions to the brink of starvation. The systems designed to feed the world may have worked in the past, but they are no longer delivering on the promise of ending hunger.
“We need to review the system we’ve created to feed our planet. They may have worked in the past, but they are not achieving our goal of ending hunger,” says Rowlands Kaotcha, President and CEO of The Hunger Project. “It’s time to shift our mindset and invest in building resilient communities and local food systems.”
We believe that young people must be at the heart of this shift.
Youth aged 15 to 24 currently represent 16% of the global population, according to the United Nations. That’s more than 1.2 billion young people worldwide—and yet their power to shape the future of food is often overlooked. The food sector is already the single largest source of employment for young people globally. With the right support, youth are not just participants in the food system—they are poised to be its most transformative force.
Our work in Malawi proves that when we invest in young people, they rise. Through training in high-value crops, access to finance and land, support for youth-led cooperatives, and vocational and entrepreneurship workshops, we’re seeing youth take the lead. They are establishing agricultural enterprises, launching food-related ventures, and introducing climate-smart and sustainable innovations into their communities.
Gelson’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we center youth in our strategies to end hunger. He is not the exception—he is the future. At The Hunger Project, we’re committed to walking alongside young leaders like Gelson as they build thriving, equitable, and sustainable food systems from the ground up.
