Student spearheads advocacy for food security at VCU and abroad

Tatenda Ndambakuwa started a mentorship program in Zimbabwe, helped develop two mobile apps and wrote a children’s book to promote agricultural education and food waste awareness, all while pursuing a degree in mathematics and applied mathematics at VCU. Her studies focus on agricultural development, social entrepreneurship and food security.

Now a senior, Ndambakuwa was selected as one of the 27 students from around the world to attend the Global Food Security Symposium — an opportunity to meet with national business, policy and entrepreneurial leaders — in Washington, D.C. this March.

What inspired your advocacy for Zimbabwean children through your mentorship program?

I was looking for what I thought is the most vulnerable population.

Zimbabwe is home for me. Mbare is a suburb in Harare, (Zimbabwe’s) capital, where there is the highest population density. There’s a lot of poverty going on there. Most of the time, the parents are busy so they don’t have as much time to give to their children to help them. I think it’s very important today for all kids everywhere to have digital literacy skills.

How do you anticipate youth influencing the agricultural economies of nations to evolve?

With technology, food processing and all these easy-to-prepare meals, we are becoming more far-removed from the store. And with home delivery systems, most people won’t even need to go to the store in the future. I think this is a pivotal moment in history to engage youth in agriculture. I think we need to use technology and the infrastructure that also engages with youth.

With the population continuing to increase, we need to start thinking about where the food is going to come from. If there is no food, there is no stability. That’s one of the reasons why I am currently writing a book on food and food waste.

After co-founding an app that analyzes Africa’s food production system, how do you see personal technology affecting agricultural stability in developing countries?

[The app is] basically the mixture of Facebook and Google for African farmers. They can share their information with other farmers and ask questions about symptoms of plants and animals.  They can also get access to information from microfinance agencies, seed companies, etc.

Most people have [smartphone-like devices] to be able to use mobile money. I figured if we could use these phones for mobile money, we could use them to connect farmers who are in remote regions of countries to have access to all these resources as well.

How has your internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture influenced your outlook on the government’s role in food security?

I worked primarily on child-feeding programs and also the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). There should be an open form of dialogue, because when I am sitting in the comfort of my home, I cannot understand why this person who is seeking SNAP assistance is seeking (it).

I went to the Hill many times to hear some of these recipients talking about how they are not lazy and they don’t just want benefits from the government. They want to have that cushion as they transition toward looking for a job. With what’s going on right now about the government wanting to change the requirements for SNAP programs, I just wish more people would get to know some of the SNAP recipients — seek out input from people who are recipients to know what their needs are and what they think.

Of course, you can find some bad apples who are recipients of this program, but to completely nullify the importance and significance of this program is a little heartless. There are many checks and balances — and of course there will always be people who maneuver around those checks and balances — but I just think the government should get to know these people better and not speak from the comfort of their tables, seats and offices.

How can VCU students help with your cause?

I am going to continue to advocate for digital literacy for every child everywhere in the world, no matter where they come from. Whichever department you are in at VCU, you use some sort of technology.

With the computer science department, there are many brilliant programmers — so there are many student startups looking for programmers and cyber security analysts. I would definitely appreciate some expertise on that. I am actively seeking an illustrator for the book that I am writing and I know VCU has an amazing art school.

There are also people who are going hungry in the world who need food, so we can be a little more cautious to stop food waste. As college students, I know at times you are out of time and you’re busy, but for the sake of our environment let’s not waste food.

Nia Tariq, Contributing Writer