Food Security + Accessbility

posted by World Vision Youth April 14th, 2013

The next section of HungerFree explores how the affordability and accessibility of food affect the world’s hungry. When global demands for particular foods increase, often farmers are affected the most negatively- selling their food instead of being able to eat it themselves. This is a shift in the food market because farmers are selling their nutritious, locally grown food and are, instead, eating unhealthy, imported foods.

Similarly, people who live in places affected by emergency and disaster often lack access to adequate food. When they have to depending on imported Food aid from other countries their access to local, nutritious food decreases. The West African region faces grave droughts affecting their food supplies. This crisis is an example of how decreased affordability and accessibility of nutritious, local food devastates hungry people.

(more…)

The Global Reach of 30 Hour Famine

posted by World Vision Youth April 12th, 2013

Youth throughout Canada are fasting from food and other parts of their daily routine for 30 hours during 12- 13 April. You may be thinking, “Are these people crazy?” The answer is “yes” and “no” because they are crazy about making a change in our world! These youth are participating in World Vision Canada’s 30 Hour Famine, raising awareness and money for projects relieving hunger and supporting education around the world. To be exact, they are supporting 18 different projects globally that move our world closer to being HungerFree! How amazing is that?!

(more…)

Nutrition + Emergencies

posted by World Vision Youth April 8th, 2013

Hunger is often an immediate consequence of a regional emergency, whether a natural disaster, war or other social conflicts. In these situations, emergency aid from outside sources is needed in the form of food, health care, money, shelter and emotional support. World Vision is on the front lines to respond to these situations. It is important that the right kind of resources are provided to emergency victims, including nutritious, and sustainable food to prevent malnutrition. Inadequate nutrition during these emergencies can lead to further health issues, and therefore preventivitve and innovative measures are needed.

(more…)

Basic Nutrition

posted by World Vision Youth April 7th, 2013

Basic Nutrition: Giving children the best start in the first 1,000 days

By Katheryn Reid

You’ve got to respect the tenacity of a babe in arms to hold up his head, focus his eyes, and grasp a grownup’s finger. An enormous amount of mental heavy lifting is going on behind those eyes, and a lot of high-quality fuel is needed to build the muscle and brain cells at work.

(more…)

Fighting Hunger – One Famine at a Time

posted by Paul Newnham April 5th, 2013

World Vision’s Famine programs are part of a global movement of youth going without food to fight child hunger.  The programs go by different names – from the 40 Hour Famine in Australia to Zip Your Lip in the Netherlands to Alto al Hambre throughout Latin America – but are united behind on cause: youth fasting for a hunger free world.

This month, three Famine programs, each called the 30 Hour Famine, will host their national weekend. If you’re from any of these countries, be sure to join them!

• Hong Kong: April 6-7
• Canada: April 12-13
• United States: April 26-27

We’ll be offering some pretty exciting ways to join them from wherever you’re from each of those days!

In the mean time, here’s some background on what the Famine movement is all about by Paul Newnham, our global youth engagement director:
(more…)