How schools can fight world hunger

After World War II, Americans of the Greatest Generation donated to feed the hungry in countries devastated by the conflict.

As the school year starts, today’s generation of students also has an opportunity to fight hunger in war-torn lands. One way is through an online learning game called FreeRice.

To play FreeRice, you answer trivia questions in vocabulary, science, English, social studies, math, languages and other subjects. Once you start playing, you get hooked!

For every question you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program. The rice is paid for by advertisers on the FreeRice site.

The WFP is the largest hunger relief organization in the world. They are leading food aid missions as we speak in Syria. Seven years of civil war between the Assad government and rebel groups has displaced millions of Syrians from their homes. The fighting has destroyed agriculture and food production.

Displaced families depend on the WFP for life-saving rations. Getting food to the hungry is extremely difficult because military forces often block aid deliveries. WFP has to use airlifts and complex overland routes to reach different parts of the country with food aid.

Millions of Syrians have also fled to neighboring countries in the Middle East. Many refugees have lost their income and savings. They need the help of WFP and other humanitarian agencies.

These scenes of tragedy and hunger are many miles from our communities and schools. But when students take action playing FreeRice they can raise funds for the WFP.

After World War II, schools helped with the Friendship Train which traveled coast to coast collecting donations to feed the hungry in Europe. Students gathered donations for the Train.

The many episodes of generosity after World War II saved nations from starvation. Food was the foundation for the rebuilding of Europe and Asia. Food from America won the peace after World War II.

Today, the needs are also massive worldwide because of food shortages caused by conflict and natural disasters.

In civil war torn Yemen, WFP is providing food in a country on the brink of famine. Without WFP millions of people would starve to death. South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen have all been on the brink of famine in the last year. In South Sudan WFP air drops food in hard to reach areas, which their partner Catholic Relief Services distributes to hungry and displaced civilians.

WFP depends on voluntary donations to provide food aid to the 70 plus countries they assist. When funding is low, WFP is forced to reduce rations or programs that feed impoverished children like school meals.

It’s vital WFP receives enough funding especially with conflict and hunger levels at their worst in decades. The funding comes from governments and the public.

Schools can do their part by playing FreeRice and raising donations for WFP. Students can be food ambassadors by informing others about the hunger emergencies ongoing in the world. Awareness is the key to action.

Schools could even hold FreeRice tournaments with a focus on Syria, Yemen, and South Sudan, Haiti or any of the countries afflicted with hunger.

The WFP has released a new improved version of FreeRice at beta.freerice.com that they want everyone to use.

Students can make this school year special, not only for learning, but for aiding those suffering in hunger overseas.