Information for teachers
Students should understand that hunger anywhere affects all
people, everywhere, that we are all involved in the problems of
hunger and malnutrition, and that there are specific actions that
can be taken by each of us to achieve a world free from
hunger. The lesson should instil in students a sense of caring
and commitment towards their fellow human beings and it
should show them that they have an important role to play in
fighting hunger for themselves, for their families, for their
communities and for the world. The method used to present
these messages is through the exploration of legends and
stories to illustrate the moral, ethical, spiritual and practical
reasons for the unacceptability of hunger and how we can all
be heroes to help end hunger.
Many legendary figures, real and mythological, are heroes
because of their work against poverty and hunger. Drawing
from the wealth of local stories, teachers can use their own or
students’ favourite legends, myths or actual people to
introduce the concept of heroes and discuss the qualities of a
hero relative to ending hunger.
Objective 1 identifies some courageous people throughout
history who have worked to make the world a better place for
all of us and encourages students to think about local “heroes”
who have made a difference in their communities and
countries. It presents the idea that we all have a contribution to
make in ending hunger and malnutrition and that each one of
us, even in small ways, can be a hero to someone else.
Objective 2 suggests actions that can be taken by students
to help fight hunger and malnutrition for themselves, their
families and their communities.
It presents the Rome Declaration on World Food Security,
signed by the heads of state of over 180 countries, as a basis
for discussion of the commitments and strategies adopted by
world leaders to ensure food security for all. Teachers can
select from the many questions provided for structuring
classroom discussions appropriate for their situation, as time
allows.
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The lesson has
been designed
to be covered in
45 minutes, but
it can be
covered in
greater or less
detail to fit the
needs of the
class. Teachers
are encouraged
to cover all
objectives and
content areas.
For each
objective, a
variety of
activities and
discussion
points are
provided, from
which teachers
can select
those most
appropriate for
their students.
The materials
for each lesson
can be found in
the Materials
section
beginning on
page 75.
secondary level
lesson 3
What Can We Do to Help End Hunger?
Objective 1
To identify the responsibility and ability of
individuals to act to fight hunger and malnutrition
and ensure food security
We can all do our part to help end hunger and malnutrition and each
one of us, even in small ways, can be a hero to someone else
Great heroes have existed throughout time. Legends about the struggle against
poverty and hunger tell the stories of courageous people who have changed our world.
Who are our heroes? Ask students to list three of their heroes, living or dead,
real or mythical. Discuss what personal qualities these heroes have in common.
Discuss what personal qualities we value as people.
From the list the students and teacher generated, select several heroes and
leaders who have worked against poverty, hunger or injustice and briefly describe
their contributions. Ask students if these heroes are very different from the rest of us,
or can we all find the qualities within ourselves to work for change?
Ask students if they know people in their community who are caring and have
courage to help others in emergency and day-to-day situations. Do they think they
are heroes? Why or why not? Have students describe the contributions of some of
the local people who are helping others.
Ask students what they themselves would like to do to help their families,
their community or their world. Ask students to write a story about, or draw a picture
of, what they would like to do to end hunger.
Objective 2
To identify specific actions that we can take to help
end hunger
Fact Sheet: Rome Declaration on World Food Security
Statements:
• About World Food Day
• Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger
We can take action to reduce hunger and malnutrition
World governments have committed to work together on the problem of
hunger. Students should become familiar with the commitments their government,
along with other nations, has made to end hunger.
feeding minds
fighting hunger
a world
free from hunger
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Concept
Content
Activities
Materials
Concept
Content
secondary
level
lesson 3
The International Conference on Nutrition. In 1992, 159 states and the
European Economic Community released a World Declaration on Nutrition. All nations
involved at the conference agreed that “hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable…
and that access to nutritionally adequate and safe food is a right of each individual”.
An action plan was developed to fight hunger and increase food security.
The World Food Summit. In 1996, more than 180 nations participated in a
World Food Summit and committed to decreasing the number of undernourished
people to half their present level no later than the year 2015. Two documents were
adopted: the Rome Declaration on World Food Security, listing seven commitments
that the participating governments would make to increase food security; and the
accompanying World Food Summit Plan of Action, listing specific objectives to
accomplish the goals stated in the Declaration. All nations involved agreed and
signed the statements, including “We emphasize the urgency of taking action now to
fulfil our responsibility to achieve food security for present and future generations”.
We can learn about hunger in many ways. Organizations and agencies have
resources to help us. Hundreds of organizations have been set up to work on various
aspects of the problems of hunger and malnutrition. Organizations include private
groups, governmental agencies, international organizations and regional coalitions.
The scope of their missions includes relief, research and advocacy. Some groups
concentrate on specific countries; some groups concentrate on specific areas, such
as education or agriculture.
Either provide as handouts to each student, or to small groups of students, or
read aloud to students, the fact sheet Rome Declaration on World Food Security.
Discuss their government’s participation in the World Food Summit in 1996.
Discuss the major points outlined in the Declaration, as time permits, using
the discussion questions provided.
This project – Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger – has been developed to
provide education to help end hunger. Read or paraphrase the statement describing
the project goals and ideals. Discuss how the students could benefit from exchanging
the information that they have gathered on hunger, malnutrition and food security with
other classes in their country or around the world. Send these suggestions to the
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Activities
Partners in Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger listed in the Introduction.
World Food Day is an annual, global activity with the objective of raising
awareness of hunger and malnutrition in the world and encouraging people
worldwide to take action against hunger. Discuss how the students’ classroom is one
of thousands of classrooms all over the world participating in World Food Day
lessons. Students around the world are learning how they can work together, to be a
part of ending hunger. Read or paraphrase the statement About World Food Day, 16
October, to students to let them know some of the efforts being made worldwide to
fight hunger.
Hunger is a global problem, but part of the solution involves many small steps
at the local level. Some examples of cooperative projects that have increased food
security for families and communities are listed below. Read these project descriptions
to students and discuss how these and similar projects might be implemented locally
to help others. Also discuss how projects such as these could be funded.
• Women fish vendors in Burkina Faso bought insulated boxes to mount on
the backs of their bicycles. Packed with ice, they keep 10 to 15 kg of fish
fresh, ensuring that the catch receives a top price at the local market.
• Beekeepers in the Islamic Republic of Iran were
able to purchase a bee colony and hive with a
small amount of donated money. Besides
producing 15 kg of honey each year, the bees
pollinate nearby fruit trees.
• In Nicaragua, farmers obtained a small grant to
purchase metal silos to protect harvested
maize from humidity and pests. Each silo
holds 550 kg of grain, enough to feed ten
people for a year.
• With a small amount of funding, 40
women farmers from Ghana bought the
materials to make 50 1-square-meter
covers to protect their banana
seedlings from the harsh African sun.
• A group of Senegalese farmers cooperated
to purchase a treadle pump capable of
irrigating up to 2 500 square metres of vegetables from a
hand-dug shallow well.
• A farmers’ cooperative invested in enough high-quality seed to plant 20
hectares of cabbages, onions, cauliflowers and potatoes plus forage seeds
to grow food to feed their animals.
We can get information on hunger in our communities and in the world from
many sources. We can write letters, make visits to people or calls to offices and
libraries. (Where accessible, searching on the Internet.)
Contact, or have students contact, the international organizations that are
Partners in Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger. Some of these organizations have
country representatives or local project officers who could be contacted and invited
to the school to talk about their work. Ask the organizations to send information on
their projects or on their activities to end hunger that could be shared with the class.
Have the class contact others involved in hunger organizations, and local,
national, regional or international leaders and ask what is being done about each of
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secondary
level
lesson 3
the pillars of support for food security (as discussed in previous lessons). In addition,
have students look up or request information indicating how much hunger there is in
their areas.
Contact local civil authorities and invite them into the classroom to talk about
what local actions are being taken to prevent hunger and malnutrition. Have students
interview a variety of public officials about local hunger projects or actions. Each
student or group of students could then write a small summary report and present it
to the class.
Gather information (or have students gather information) about what steps are
being taken in the area to insure a consistent food supply. Invite members of the food
and education system into the classroom to discuss how food security is protected in
your area. Attempt to discover how much food is stored in your area in case of an
emergency. Do people know what to do in a food emergency? Building on the
information about local problems with hunger from Lesson 1, ask students how local
problems with hunger could be improved.
Discuss the importance of education in fighting hunger. Much hunger is
related to poverty resulting from a lack of education. Students should be encouraged
to stay in school and learn as much as they can about agriculture and nutrition in
addition to basic skills.
Discuss the benefits of a career in social services and fighting hunger and
how students can learn to help in this area. Invite local health and extension agents
into the classroom to discuss how many people are needed in careers related to
fighting hunger.
Ask the students for their ideas on actions that they, and others, can take in
their communities and in the world to help solve the problems of hunger and
malnutrition. List those actions and identify who could carry them out. A list of some
actions that are being taken around the world is provided below.
Pick one or two examples from the list created by the students or from the list
provided, and explore how these actions could be carried out and the ways in which
these actions could help fight hunger in the local area or in the world.
Examples of actions:
• Help improve food supplies by increasing the quantity and
variety of foods available:
- plant home, community and school gardens
- find ways to raise poultry, small animals or fish to eat and/or sell
- re-discover forgotten foods that grow in the area
- grow the best crops for sale and use
- match crops to soil and water conditions
- use the best tools available for farming in the region
- find the best balance between sale and home use of crops
- become involved in co-operative efforts to grow and sell foods
- support local farmers; buy locally grown foods
- establish centers or food banks to share food.
• Help keep food safe to eat:
- keep food clean
- keep food preparation areas and utensils clean
- keep stored food dry and away from insects and animals.
• Help all people meet their needs for food and nutrients:
- know your own needs for food and nutrients
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- know the different needs for different people (life stages)
- seek the most nourishing foods available
- volunteer to work for hunger issues
- volunteer to work in food or meal distribution centres
- establish food centers or food banks to share extra food
- work with the food industry to redistribute surplus food
- invite commercial food growers and producers to be part of the solution
for community hunger problems.
• Learn about foods, nutrition and hunger and share
knowledge and ideas with others:
- learn about the food system in your area
- know who in the community is working to
fight hunger, listen to them, and share
ideas with them
- know who in the community has
knowledge about health and
farming, listen to them, and
share ideas with them
- take information home to
families and neighbours
- share school projects and reports in
community spaces
- share ideas with leaders in the
community and nation
- urge community leaders and service
providers(doctors/nurses/hospital
workers/librarians) to become
involved with school projects
around issues of hunger and nutrition.
Summary
In the three lessons in this curriculum, originally developed for World Food Day, 16
October 2000, we have focused on the problems of hunger in the world. The goal of
World Food Day is to end hunger as soon as possible in the new millennium. Many
millions of us today still do not have enough to eat every day. We must all try to
understand why this is. Young people have the creativity and energy to tackle great
problems such as hunger. When we can all share the vision of a world without hunger,
the confidence that we can make a change, the knowledge of the steps to take and
the will to take action, we can solve the immense challenge of feeding all of the
people of the world. And our young people, who have inherited the problem of
hunger in our world, will be the key to finding the solutions.
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We, the Heads of State and Government, or our representatives, gathered at the World Food Summit at the
invitation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, reaffirm the right of everyone to have access
to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free
from hunger.
Discussion: Do you agree that everyone has the right to have access to safe and nutritious food and to be free
from hunger? Why or why not? What does it mean to have a “right”? How can we make this happen?
We pledge our political will and our common and national commitment to achieving food security for all and to
an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an immediate view to reducing the number of undernourished
people to half their present level no later than 2015.
Discussion: While progress has been made, it now appears that this goal will not be met. Based on what we
have studied in this lesson on hunger, when do you think the number of undernourished people in the world
could be reduced to half their present level? Do you think this goal can be met? What needs to be done for this
goal to be met?
We consider it intolerable that more than 800 million people throughout the world, and particularly in developing
countries, do not have enough food to meet their basic nutritional needs. This situation is unacceptable. Food supplies
have increased substantially, but constraints on access to food and continuing inadequacy of household and national
incomes to purchase food, instability of supply and demand, as well as natural and man-made disasters, prevent basic
food needs from being fulfilled. The problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and are likely to
persist, and even increase dramatically in some regions, unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given
the anticipated increase in the world’s population and the stress on natural resources.
Discussion: The above statement lists three major causes of food insecurity. What are these? (1. constraints on
access to food and continuing inadequacy of household and national incomes to purchase food; 2. instability of
supply and demand, natural; and, 3. human-made disasters. Discuss more specifically what is meant by each of
these, the causes of and solutions to each. What can governments and individuals do to improve these situations?
We reaffirm that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment is the essential
foundation which will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication. Democracy,
promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, and the full
and equal participation of men and women are essential for achieving sustainable food security for all.
Discussion: This section outlines changes related to social justice for all people; democracy, human rights
protection and equal rights for men and women. Discuss how these issues affect food security in your region and
how social and cultural changes can be initiated locally and across the globe.
Poverty is a major cause of food insecurity and sustainable progress in poverty eradication is critical to improve
access to food. Conflict, terrorism, corruption and environmental degradation also contribute significantly to food
insecurity. Increased food production, including staple food, must be undertaken. This should happen within the
framework of sustainable management of natural resources, elimination of unsustainable patterns of consumption and
production, particularly in industrialized countries, and early stabilization of the world population. We acknowledge the
fundamental contribution to food security by women, particularly in rural areas of developing countries, and the need to
ensure equality between men and women. Revitalization of rural areas must also be a priority to enhance social stability
and help redress the excessive rate of rural-urban migration confronting many countries.
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Fact Sheet: Rome Declaration on World Food Security
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Discussion: This sections targets major global issues such as poverty, war, terrorism, corruption and
environmental degradation as critical in the fight against hunger. Solutions offered include increased food
production, protection of natural resources and elimination of the wide gap between the richest and poorest
nations and people. The need for equality between men and women is restated. The section ends with the crisis
of rural-urban migration and suggests revitalization of rural areas as a priority. Discuss these broad critical issues
with students. Ask them to think about how they would start to address the issues. As resources are always
limited, what priority would they assign to each issue? What criteria would they use to assign a priority? The most
urgent to address? The easiest to solve? What about the competition for resources between food relief for
emergency situations and funds for development work on long-term problems? Which should get the highest
priority and why?
We emphasize the urgency of taking action now to fulfil our responsibility to achieve food security for present
and future generations. Attaining food security is a complex task for which the primary responsibility rests with
individual governments. They have to develop an enabling environment and have policies that ensure peace, as well as
social, political and economic stability and equity and gender equality. We express our deep concern over the
persistence of hunger which, on such a scale, constitutes a threat both to national societies and, through a variety of
ways, to the stability of the international community itself. Within the global framework, governments should also
cooperate actively with one another and with United Nations organizations, financial institutions, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, and public and private sectors, on programmes directed toward the achievement of
food security for all.
Food should not be used as an instrument for political and economic pressure. We reaffirm the importance of
international cooperation and solidarity as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures not in accordance
with the international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security.
We recognize the need to adopt policies conducive to investment in human resource development, research and
infrastructure for achieving food security. We must encourage generation of employment and incomes, and promote
equitable access to productive and financial resources. We agree that trade is a key element in achieving food security.
We agree to pursue food trade and overall trade policies that will encourage our producers and consumers to utilize
available resources in an economically sound and sustainable manner. We recognize the importance for food security of
sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development in low as well as high potential areas. We acknowledge
the fundamental role of farmers, fishers, foresters, indigenous people and their communities, and all other people
involved in the food sector, and of their organizations, supported by effective research and extension, in attaining food
security. Our sustainable development policies will promote full participation and empowerment of people, especially
women, an equitable distribution of income, access to health care and education, and opportunities for youth. Particular
attention should be given to those who cannot produce or procure enough food for an adequate diet, including those
affected by war, civil strife, natural disaster or climate related ecological changes. We are conscious of the need for
urgent action to combat pests, drought, and natural resource degradation including desertification, overfishing and
erosion of biological diversity.
We are determined to make efforts to mobilize, and optimize the allocation and utilization of, technical and
financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, to reinforce national actions
to implement sustainable food security policies.
Convinced that the multifaceted character of food security necessitates concerted national action, and effective
international efforts to supplement and reinforce national action, we make the following commitments:
• we will ensure an enabling political, social, and economic environment designed to create the best conditions for the
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81
eradication of poverty and for durable peace, based on full and equal participation of women and men, which is most
conducive to achieving sustainable food security for all;
• we will implement policies aimed at eradicating poverty and inequality and improving physical and economic access
by all, at all times, to sufficient, nutritionally adequate and safe food and its effective utilization;
• we will pursue participatory and sustainable food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development policies and
practices in high and low potential areas, which are essential to adequate and reliable food supplies at the household,
national, regional and global levels, and combat pests, drought and desertification, considering the multifunctional
character of agriculture;
• we will strive to ensure that food, agricultural trade and overall trade policies are conducive to fostering food security
for all through a fair and market-oriented world trade system;
• we will endeavour to prevent and be prepared for natural disasters and man-made emergencies and to meet
transitory and emergency food requirements in ways that encourage recovery, rehabilitation, development and a
capacity to satisfy future needs;
• we will promote optimal allocation and use of public and private investments to foster human resources, sustainable
food, agriculture, fisheries and forestry systems, and rural development, in high and low potential areas;
• we will implement, monitor, and follow-up this Plan of Action at all levels in cooperation with the international
community.
We pledge our actions and support to implement the World Food Summit Plan of Action.
Rome, 13 November 1996
A World Free From Hunger
Our vision is a world without hunger and malnutrition – a world in which each and every person can be assured of
having the food they need to be well-nourished and healthy. Our vision is a world that provides for and protects the
welfare and human dignity of all of its people. A world in which all children can grow, learn and flourish, developing into
healthy, active, caring members of society.
While many achievements have been made in alleviating hunger and malnutrition worldwide, we still fall very far
short of having a world in which all people can be free from hunger. We see education and information on issues related
to world hunger, food security and nutrition as key factors in making this global vision a reality. Thus, we focus our
efforts on the young and their teachers. If every year, on World Food Day (16 October), children all over the world are
introduced simultaneously to common teaching materials about hunger and malnutrition and what needs to be done,
would they be more likely to grow up understanding the interdependences of our world? If they are taught lessons from
different parts of the world, from different cultures and circumstances, would they be more ready to work together to
solve the problems of hunger and food insecurity? Are there ways in which a generation of young people can be
nurtured to develop responsible global citizenship?
We believe that the answers to all these questions are “YES”. As educators, you are in a special position to instil
in young people a sense of caring and commitment to join in the fight against hunger. The imagination, ideals and
energy of young people represent a vital resource for the continuing development of their communities and nations.
You, their teachers, can help make a difference through informing, sharing knowledge, encouraging participation, and
showing the young that they have an important role to play in achieving a world free from hunger.
We encourage you to join with teachers and students all over the world to participate in Feeding Minds, Fighting
Hunger.
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Statement: Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger
feeding minds
fighting hunger
a world
free from hunger
World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. World Food Day aims to heighten public awareness of the
plight of the world’s hungry and malnourished and to encourage people worldwide to take action against hunger. More
than 150 countries observe this event every year. In the United States, 450 national, private voluntary organizations
sponsor World Food Day, and local groups are active in almost every community. First observed in 1981, each year
World Food Day highlights a particular theme on which to focus activities. The theme for 2000 was “A Millennium Free
From Hunger”. Themes from the previous years are “Youth Against Hunger” (1999) and “Women Feed the World”
(1998).
A related initiative is the TeleFood Campaign, in which television and radio broadcasts, concerts, celebrity
appeals, sporting and other events pass on the message that it is time to do something about the problem of world
hunger. The objective of TeleFood is to raise awareness and mobilize resources for microprojects on food security.
Donations to TeleFood support hundreds of small projects in developing countries that help poor farmers grow more
food or generate income to buy enough food to feed their families. Materials for recent World Food Day/TeleFood
themes are available on the FAO Web site.
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Statement: About World Food Day
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