A social movement thats putting food on the table.
By Chia Kylie
At a recent blood donation drive in schooI, I was determined to do my part for society by donating a pint of blood in hopes that it might one day, help save a life.
However, a pre-donation checkup revealed that I had a low blood iron count and I was certified ineligible to donate. Oh, one can only describe the agony of waiting in line for hours only to be turned away at the end. One thought led to another and I concluded that my low iron count could be attributed to the food that I was eating or in this case, wasn’t eating enough of. Food plays an integral part in our immune system and bodily functions; a lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, low beta-carotene levels cause bad eyesight and insufficient amounts of Vitamin C equates to a low absorption rate of Iron within the body. This got me thinking about the state of millions of people worldwide who have little or no access to food. I stumbled across the World Food Programme website a few weeks back and it served as a harsh reality check.
Using graphic visuals and statistics to explain the state of poverty all around the world, the WFP has devised several outlets for people to get together and help eradicate hunger. These range from monetary to resource aid. With the global economy plummeting in downward spiral, most of us might not be able to fork out enough to help make a difference. Here are a list of ways you can make hunger history without having to burn a hole in your pocket.
FreeRice
FreeRice is an interactive game commisioned by the World Food Programme (WFP) aimed at feeding the world’s poorest nations. You start off by choosing subjects like Maths, Chemistry, English and other languages to test your knowledge through a series of questions. For every answer that you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated through the WFP to a child in need. FreeRice aloso doubles as a food aid organization to disaster hit countries like Cambodia and Japan.
Hunger IQ Test
The WFP Hunger IQ Test is sponsored by donors who help donate funds to help feed children in poverty-stricken nations. For each quiz question answered correctly, US$0.25 is donated to the WFP – an equivalent of how much it takes to feed a child 3 meals a day in an undeveloped country. For more interactive games and more information on how you can make a difference, visit the World Food Programme website today.
It doesn’t take much to help make a difference in someone’s life. Be the change you want to see in the world and help feed a hungry child today.
