RETHINKING CAMPUS OBSERVANCES OF WORLD FOOD DAY
We are moving from our traditional 3-hour teleconference format to a more flexible approach such as class sessions, campus workshops or weekend retreats. Videoclips from previous WFD teleconferences (1984-2009) can be used. If October 16th (World Food Day) doesn’t fit your schedule select another October date. Seek to engage both old and new audiences.
Customize your observances from other resources available from your archives or the WFD web site. Involve local experts from public health, food banks, shelters, the faith community, etc. Do a current fact check: Has the global family made progress on ending hunger? What are current barriers to a food-secure world? Create an oral history on your campus from students who have faced hunger themselves or in their volunteer work . . . hold a hunger banquet or an Empty Bowls program . . . have a gallery of art or hold a theatre/movie program related to hunger and social justice . . . trace hunger and history such as the Irish potato famine.
FORTY HOURS – FORTY HUNGRY PEOPLE
Donating hours to save lives – an hour of service per hungry person. Plan to participate in your school district’s wellness policy to bring nutrition and wellness initiatives to your school community.
Challenge students to make a commitment to match volunteer service to the numbers of hungry people in the world . . . working in a food bank or school garden or interning with an international mission. Groups of 10 (perhaps college classes or clubs) could contribute a full workweek of forty hours by working together for 4 hours on a local project. Based on a 40-hour week this would symbolically identify with 40 hungry people and also make a difference in lives around the world.
WFD CAMPUS ACTION PROJECTS FOR HELPING END HUNGER
Consider encouraging substantive campus action ideas – ideas that can prepare students for global citizenship. Here are a few examples:
AWARDS . . . FOOD SECURITY SEMINARS . . . NEIGHBORHOOD/SCHOOL GARDENS . . . INFANT AND CHILD SERVICES . . . CAMPUS-PRODUCED HUNGER DOCUMENTARIES . . . GLOBAL ISSUE COURSES . . . INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS . . . IT OPTIONS . . . PUBLIC POLICY CAMPAIGNS . . . FUNDRAISING . . . NUTRITION RESEARCH . . . SERVICE PROJECTS . . . STUDENT TEACHING ASSISGNMENTS . . . MONITORING AND MENTORING . . . PROMOTING FOOD INDUSTRY “GO GREEN” CIVIC CAMPAIGNS
1 BILLION HUNGRY PETITION
The www.1billionhungry.org project offers a constructive outlet for feelings of frustration and anger about hunger.
This is an orchestrated drive to attract one million signatures to a worldwide petition calling on national and international leaders to move hunger to the top of the political agenda. We urge universities and colleges TO GET COMPETITIVE and individuals and groups TO BE CREATIVE! Be sure to publicize the petition – promoting it as a WFD event. During the year you can receive regular updates on the project, joining us on Facebook or Twitter. Don’t forget to tell us what you are doing! The Petition will be presented to world leaders at UN headquarters in October.
U.S. NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR WORLD FOOD DAY
2175 K STREET NW . WASHINGTON DC 20437 . WWW.WORLDFOODDAYUSA.ORG