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End
Hunger - Walk the World
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End
Hunger - Walk the World |
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United
to end child hunger across the world |
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Thousands
of children who know what it feels like to be hungry took to the streets
yesterday, together with caring citizens, in a worldwide walk to raise
awareness about child hunger. From Indonesia to Guatemala, more than 250,000
people in 70 countries participated in End Hunger: Walk the World, an event
organised by the World Food Programme together with its largest corporate
partners, TNT and Unilever.
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| The
Walk took place as world leaders gathered in Rome for a High-Level Conference
on World Food Security, 3-5 June 2008. "Walk the World delivers a strong
message that hungry children in school should not be forgotten, especially
in this time of high food prices and hardship," said WFP's Deputy Executive
Director, John Powell, adding that WFP was grateful to everyone who participated
in the event, including its corporate partners. |
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Across
24 time zones and in more than 250 locations, initial reports indicate
the global walk raised more than $500,000 - enough to feed two million
children for one day - through WFP's school feeding programme. The number
is expected to increase significantly in the weeks to come.
"Walk
the World is the event to raise awareness for all the children who suffer
from hunger every day," said Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT. "At TNT we believe
that hunger is not acceptable in today's world. I am proud that so many
TNT employees, their families and friends on all continents of the world
have actively taken part in this Walk to show their solidarity and to raise
funds to give these children the daily meal they deserve."
The
walk showcased the many faces of hunger across the globe. In Malawi, more
than 50,000 people walked in 13 districts, most of them schoolchildren
who receive WFP meals. The King of Swaziland joined thousands in the capital,
Mbabane. Tanzania had walks in six locations across the country, with over
12,000 participants including the First Lady and Prime Minister.
Indonesia's
colourful walk of 12,000 participants was opened by the coordinating Minister
for Welfare and WFP National Ambassador Against Hunger, Luna Maya, and
followed by a concert featuring popular bands.
Guatemala,
a country where approximately half of all children are chronically malnourished,
kicked off its Walk on May 14th with the support of WFP Honorary Spokesperson
Lauren Bush, with a turn-out of over 20,000 people. Honduras saw the participation
of more than 30,000 in Tegucigalpa, and San Pedro Sula.
Under
the patronage of HRH Princess Basma, Chairperson of the Jordanian National
Alliance Against Hunger, 8,000 participants walked five kilometres across
the campus of the University of Jordan on May 12th in support of Walk the
World. In Egypt, the event was held under the auspices of the First Lady.
Walks
also took place in 25 European countries in 70 locations around landmarks
such as Windsor Castle in the UK, Cologne Cathedral in Germany, Plac Pi©©sudskiego
in Poland and the Little Mermaid monument in Denmark.
"I
am very proud that employees across all regions unite and actively engage
to raise awareness of child hunger and malnourishment," said Doug Baillie,
Unilever's President west Europe.
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| Source:
World Food Programme WFP, June 2008 |
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Walk
the World campaign |
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On
Sunday 21 May 2008, more than 760,000 people in 118 countries and 420 locations,
across 24 time zones, participated in Fight Hunger: Walk the World.
The
world community still has to make a huge progress in order to improve the
lives of children. Fight Hunger: Walk the World makes a step forward on
the path
All
around the globe, people came out in force to deliver a message: child
hunger has no place in this world and citizens working together can root
it out.
WFP,
its humanitarian and corporate partners, political leaders, artists and
sport champions, as well as war-displaced families and over 100,000 school
children in sub-Saharan Africa alone, stepped forward in fight against
child hunger.
From
Auckland New Zealand, to the pacific ocean island of Samoa, people rose
up to declare it is unacceptable that 18,000 children die of hunger daily
on a planet that produces more than enough to feed every inhabitant.
Out
in all weather
International
capitals, rural communities, neighbourhoods and historical landmarks served
as the backdrop to walks which varied in size and style.
In
northern Uganda alone, on a hot and sunny day, more than 100,000 displaced
civilians living in camps participated in the Walk.
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The
downpour in London could have caused some problems for Walk the World,
but there was no stopping committed walkers led by Princess Haya of Dubai,
WFP Goodwill Ambassador.
In
the Bolivian capital, La Paz, two brothers were reunited after having been
separated for six years.
Both
are being fed by two separate school feeding programmes administered by
WFP. |
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Swimming
oceans, climbing mountains
Participants
in Lesotho had a wonderful time during the 11km Walk in Maseru, which was
led by the country's Hon. Queen 'MaSenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso.
The
President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was at the head of a 30,000-strong
crowd through Monrovia that ended in the City Stadium.
In
Indonesia, a world champion swimmer set a new world record on behalf of
Walk the World by crossing the treacherous Bali straits while other supporters
of ending child hunger were planting Walk the World: Fight Hunger flags
at Mount Everest and Kilimanjaro summits.
The
call to end child hunger was heard in Red Square in Moscow, on The Great
Wall of China, in the historic centres of Budapest and Prague, in the old
cities of Amman and Cairo, and in hundreds of other locations in all continents
around the globe.
Papal
support
And
in his special Sunday morning address, participants around the world were
encouraged when Pope Benedict XVI expressed his support for the Fight Hunger:
Walk the World initiative to end child hunger by 2015.
"If
we ignore child hunger, it remains a daily reality that ravages millions
and goes unseen by most. We are bringing this otherwise invisible problem
into the spotlight and moving citizens and governments to action," said
Arlene Mitchell, WFP Director of Walk the World.
"There
is no excuse for children to be chronically hungry, day in and day out
in the 21st century. The world community still has to make a huge progress
in order to improve the lives of children. Fight Hunger: Walk the World
makes a step forward on the path."
"The
event, initiated three years ago by TNT, global provider of express, mail
and logistics services, aims to engage citizens worldwide, throughout the
next decade to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion
of hungry people globally by 2015," said Mitchell.
"Without
citizen action, the status quo will remain. But with it, the world can
help to end the unnecessary suffering of children."
Reducing
hunger
The
cash raised through the walk (the final tally is being calculated) will
fund two successful global activities aimed at reducing child hunger: projects
to help pregnant and lactating women and young children and school feeding
projects which provide food for school students in developing countries.
Last
year, WFP provided school meals for 21.7 million children in 74 countries.
The
Programme plans to reach 50 million schoolchildren by 2008. All too often
pupils - particularly girls - are deprived of education because their families
cannot afford to send them to school.
Yet
educating girls is one of the best ways of permanently escaping the vicious
cycle of poverty, illiteracy, poor health and hunger.
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| Source:
World Food Programme WFP, May 2008 |
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