Naema outside Number 10, delivering the Say Yes petition
Naema outside Number 10, delivering the Say Yes petition
I'm Naema, the Children’s Food Campaign Officer at Sustain. I work on our Say Yes to School Food for All Campaign and lead our Parent Ambassador Programme. I am also part of the organisation's core diversity group which has focussed on everything from adapting policy on cultural holidays to spotlighting underrepresented groups in the sustainable food sector.
During my undergraduate study, I was always involved in charity work and mobilising student’s voices. I also part-time tutored children from 11-16, which was super rewarding (which is why I still do it). I decided to complete a Masters in Public Policy as I saw ‘influencing’ policy as a way to make change.
While I was not specifically looking for roles in sustainable food sector, I completed a short-term internship at Bite Back to gain more practical skills in policy and public affairs. Working in the policy and public affairs team, I learned so much about our food system, including unhealthy food advertising and school food. It was very inspiring to see how young people were using their voice for change to challenge big corporations and the Government about their health.
I was lucky to find my current role open immediately after my internship ended, and I applied without hesitation.
I first explored ‘food policy’ during an undergraduate module and through my undergraduate dissertation about different food programmes. Although at the time, my interest was still surface level and was not genuine passion. During my Masters, I was still interested in amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities through policy-making. I had all this knowledge about different policy making but no idea which policy area I wanted to specifically go into, until I completed my internship at Bite Back. As my interest in children’s health and child poverty began to grow, I soon realised how important the sustainable food sector is to ensure healthy food is accessible and affordable to all.
It aligns with my genuine passion for making a positive impact on society. I take great pride in contributing to a sector dedicated to fostering sustainable and meaningful change. Additionally, I appreciate the opportunity to bring a diverse range of experiences to my role, from my interest in diversity and inclusion to my skills in design app Canva.
As a person of colour, I always faced imposter syndrome, often feeling out of place and doubting my abilities in environments where few shared my background. What has helped me overcome this, is building my self confidence in my capabilities and believing I do have lots to offer.
I also struggled with being an introvert which can be challenging at times when you are trying to assert yourself. However, this also meant I had other strong skills to offer and I began to challenge myself a lot more.
My work in this movement is primarily inspired by the passionate and dedicated voices of young people advocating for change. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and determination to address issues such as climate change, food sustainability, and social justice are incredibly motivating.
I hope to see more representation and diverse voices in this space. More young people from different degree backgrounds entering this field. And, of course, seeing a Government bring in free school meals for all children, regardless of background.
Do internships and look for experiences in fields you haven't explored yet as you never know - it might spark an interest like it did for me, plus it's a great opportunity to gain transferrable skills. I did a marketing internship in my undergraduate in International Relations, which isn't where I ended up, but it's where I learnt how to use Asana, Canva and lots more, which I apply in this role. When you are exploring career options, avoid getting lost in trying to reach a strict career goal. Instead, focus on your transferrable skills and personal development.
Find out more about Sustain's Children's Food Campaign online or follow the campaign on X.
Roots to Work: Roots to Work is a platform for people to advertise and find jobs in the field of good food. We noticed there wasn’t a unique gathering place for good food opportunities to all sit together and felt it was time to make it happen in the UK.
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Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture.
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