When it comes to food allergen feeding education, the ripple effect of education can change entire communities. That’s why GrowHappy proudly sponsored dietitian Bronwyn Edkins to take part in the FARE Pediatric Food Allergy Course, created by GrowHappy’s own Professor Carina Venter and her colleagues.
A Lifelong Calling to Help Children Thrive
Based in Durban, South Africa, Bronwyn Edkins is a Grade 2 Clinical Dietitian at Victoria Mxenge Hospital, where she has worked in the public health sector for over 12 years. Her days are filled with caring for children facing malnutrition, chronic illness, and increasingly food allergies. In many ways she has followed the footsteps of Dr. Venter, who also was born in South Africa and did much of her research there.
“Being a dietitian is deeply meaningful to me because of my own health journey,” Bronwyn shares. “Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools we have to repair our health and restore our immune system.”
Her work touches nearly every aspect of child health, from supporting growth-faltering infants to helping families navigate the financial and emotional challenges of raising a child with complex feeding or allergy needs.
Confronting Food Allergy Challenges Head-On
In South Africa, misinformation about food allergies is widespread, both online and within healthcare circles. Bronwyn sees firsthand how this confusion can delay allergen introduction or lead to unnecessary food restrictions that worsen malnutrition.
“Caregivers often feel anxious about re-introducing foods after a reaction,” she explains. “Providing clear guidance and support helps parents feel heard and confident to re-introduce allergens safely.”
Her hands-on experience includes managing children with FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome) and complex allergy cases in a resource-limited hospital setting, where she has seen the power of education, teamwork, and persistence turn fear into thriving outcomes.
Why Training Matters
When Bronwyn learned about Professor Carina Venter’s Pediatric Food Allergy Course, she immediately knew it could help her bridge the knowledge gap in her community.
“This course gives me practical, evidence-based tools for managing allergies and teaching families how to safely introduce or re-introduce allergenic foods — even within the limited resources of the public health sector,” she says.
After completing the training, Bronwyn plans to share her knowledge with colleagues, educate local healthcare providers, and create simple educational materials to reach families across South Africa.
The GrowHappy Sponsorship: A Ripple of Impact
For Bronwyn, being selected as a GrowHappy sponsorship recipient is both an honor and a responsibility. “Opportunities like this don’t come often,” she says. “This sponsorship allows me to improve care, prevent unnecessary restrictions, and help children achieve healthy growth.”
GrowHappy’s mission is built on the same principle, empowering families and healthcare providers with science, tools, and confidence to feed allergens Early & Often. Supporting leaders like Bronwyn extends that mission far beyond product innovation, it creates a ripple of change across continents.
Bronwyn’s hope is simple: to bring clarity, compassion, and evidence-based guidance to every family she meets. “Allergies that begin in childhood shape the lives of both children and parents,” she reflects. “By helping families feel supported and informed, we can prevent unnecessary fear, and give every child the chance to grow happy and healthy.”
