This is Zahistha Gafoor, 22, and I am a Registered Associate Nutritionist (Association for Nutrition), Member of Royal Society for Public Health and Certified Diabetes Educator (IDF). I am currently working as a Diabetes Prevention Practitioner at Thrive Tribe and volunteering with The Food Foundation as a Food Ambassador.

I originally come from Tamil Nadu, India, where I had this deep desire to move abroad and pursue my further education, which led me to start my Masters in Global Public Health Nutrition (GPHN) from our University at the age of 20 (yes, I finished my bachelor’s and jumped next onto Master’s in the same year).

Coming from a society where the community still prevents young women from getting education, my entire motivation and goal was based on breaking the stereotype and proving that even young women from lower middle-class backgrounds, in their early 20s and single, can achieve many things in life and that education never goes to waste. With the same fire, I started my educational journey with an added responsibility of being a course rep for my course in MSc GPHN (2022-23). I am also an amateur artist, which led me to join the Arts Society of the University and taking the additional role of an Events Manager of the society. In the end, we won the Best Emerging Society of the Year Award at UWSU Awards Ceremony (2023).

One thing led to another and I started to actively engage with the Student Union through collaborating with the sabbatical officers on period poverty campaigns, cost of living crisis campaigns, as well as sharing suggestions for dedicated PG spaces across campuses, and launching free breakfast and meal deals across our campus (initiative by LAS School representatives in 2022-23). Also, during my academic journey, I was volunteering with School Food Matters, assisting project officers with their breakfast and afternoon school clubs across Southwark and Lambeth boroughs.

Recently, our University hosted the WPHN Congress 2024 for which myself along with my lovely coursemate, Dr. Fabia Mone, won the SCC Bid for running Community conversation tour for WPHN Congress and GPHN Newsletter initiation. I was also a speaker on the Community Conversation Series, speaking of lived experience of food insecurity amongst UK international students and suggesting a few suggestions to help tackle this issue.

All these on- and off- campus experiences also supported me to become the Student trustee of our Student’s union (2022-23) under the Finance/ audit sub-committee, as well as the Academic Integrity Champion of our University (2023). In the end, I was also awarded the Westminster Employability Award (WEA) Postgraduate Gold Winner Award and, during the UWSU Awards 2023, I won the LAS Best Course Rep of the Year Award.

Whilst in this hustle to prove everyone the concept of women’s independence and right to education, I slowly started to realize the struggles international students and general community face here in the UK. As a result, I take part in seminars, debates and report launch events at the Houses of Parliament, making sure to voice out for the international student community which is barely heard or discussed. Currently, through volunteering with The Food Foundation, I share my lived experiences and suggest solutions for food insecurity to policy makers, politicians and media. One of my goals is to start my own campaigns around tackling food insecurity amongst the international community in the UK and restricting ultra-processed food marketing later this year. Also, I am currently discussing with my local council MPs and politicians to take the subject of reducing minimum salary requirement for the skilled worker visa to the Parliament and submit a petition as this is expected to drastically affect the recent graduates in the UK after the skilled worker visa.

My active advocacy for international students, food insecurity and passion over science and nutrition is being recognised and celebrated in various ways – from sharing my successes and connecting with the online community to delivering guest lectures back home in India. I am also proud to say I’m inspiring many families within my community to get their daughters educated and let them achieve their dreams. Finally, I was recently shortlisted for Masters Student of the Year Award by Find a University – with 250+ competition entries from all across the country, being shortlisted in the top 5 of this category is an incredible achievement.

I really hope to continue making this impact amongst the student and graduate community and prove my stance that money never comes along the way of passion.

And a mention of gratitude to everyone who came along the way to support a 20 year old girl achieve her dream, especially family, friends, my UoW family included ofcourse.

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Big thanks to Zahistha for sharing her inspirational journey! We wish her all the best of luck for her future.

Zahistha is a Registered Associate Nutritionist (Association for Nutrition), Member of Royal Society for Public Health and Certified Diabetes Educator (IDF), currently working as a Diabetes Prevention Practitioner at Thrive Tribe and volunteering with Food Foundation as Food Ambassador. She completed a Masters in Global Public Health Nutrition from the University of Westminster 🎓

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