Nina Severn of the UN World Food Programme reports on a student awareness campaign in London.
Here is the text of the story:
A group of students at the London School of Economics went out onto the streets recently to engage passersby in debate about world hunger and to collect funds for WFP’s work feeding hungry school children. Their message? Ending hunger is within reach. Watch video
LONDON – Keen to show that everyone can play a role in the fight against hunger, an enterprising group of LSE students kicked off their new academic year by grabbing red cups and staging a week-long campus campaign to raise awareness and funds for WFP.
“Food is such a basic human right; it’s incredible that there are now a billion hungry people. Ending hunger is within reach for my generation and we are determined to make it happen," said LSE student Isabella Hayward, organiser of the initiative.
Isabella planned her campaign with WFP's London Liaison office, arming herself with 10 plastic red cups, a WFP banner and various brochures. Then she set out with her troupe of student volunteers.
Discussing hunger
They set up a stall on Houghton Street, in the middle of the LSE campus, and for five days, come rain or shine, at least four volunteers engaged passing students and lecturers in heated discussions about hunger relief.
Some of them were persuaded to part with their lunch money, some even more. The total figure raised was £800 - enough to provide a hot school meal for 5,000 children!
The initiative highlights how individuals, as well as governments, have a crucial role to play in fighting hunger, not only by providing funds but also by helping spread the word.
"Next generation"
This idea is central to WFP’s Billion For A Billion campaign, which aims to get the billion people on internet helping the billion people in the world who are hungry.
"If change is going to happen, it's going to come through the next generation of parents, workers and voters raising awareness about the issue,” said WFP’s Youth Outreach Coordinator Graham Bell. “Hunger is unacceptable. Step up and take action, just like the students at LSE did."
contributed by Nina Severn. photo courtesy of the World Food Programme
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