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Humanitarian, founder and CEO of Music For Mankind® Kelly Moore will be speaking on behalf of his organization at Friends of the World Food Program’s Second Annual Summit on Global Hunger in Washington, D.C. on October 5. Moore recently released a 30-minute documentary titled “Nicaragua -- On The Ground” which documents his 2008 trip to Nicaragua with members of Friends of the World Food Program as a U.N. Delegate for the United Nations World Food Program. For more information, please visit www.musicformankind.net. -Kelly Moore
 Monday, the first day in the field was a bit grueling both in the travel along difficult, ruddy dirt roads and in the destitute of the people we saw.
It was in the morning of the second day that I collected myself, and I began to feel a sense of hope. We arrived at school at around 9:30 a.m.
One of the first to greet us is a 6th grader, Erixson Manual Hernandez. He is president of the student council. His pressed shirt, shiny belt buckle and hairstyle tell me that this today is quite a special for the school and for him. He starts in Spanish, “I am very proud that you have come to visit our school today.”
Erixson is the school’s voice in the community and represents fellow students at the important monthly meetings that are convened by area communities heads. A volunteer eager to help asks him what he needs. Erixson is clear, “I want a scholarship so I can go to high school in Ocotal, a nearby town.”
The school has 118 students, and for most, their only meal each day will be the one served at their school. School meals are made of rice, peas, milk, cereal, lentils, and a tortilla. We ask him about WFP. “We would be without food if WFP weren’t here,” he says.
Those words hit hard. Yet, one begins to see that just one meal in school every school day, for every child, does make a difference, does provide hope. One can see how the school meals serve as a magnet to bring children to school, where they can improve their ability to learn and concentrate.
There is a sense of hope in this school – possibility for a better life. 
We ask Erixson Manual Hernandez what he wants to be when he grows up. He wants to go to college. He wants to be an engineer.
I glance to the wall above the chalk board. Signs on colored paper with fancy edges say in Spanish, “Respect the Opinions of Others”, “Greet with Courtesy”, “Be Honest”.
There is that feeling of hope again.
Derry Deringer
Friends of the World Food Program staff
  
Just a few for now. Is anyone working on putting up a website for us all to upload photos to?
Thanks --Kelly
My sincerest thanks to all who have posted so far. I've just now had the opportunity to read them, and having lived with you through the maelstrom of events and emotions, I so greatly appreciate your putting into words your experiences and helping me sort through all of my emotions by your clarity and understanding and care.
I feel incredibly honored to have to have been invited on this trip, and to have shared such a heartfelt trip with such incredible people.
Thank you!
Kelly
While in Nicaragua we met a young man named Erickson (possibly Erixon) Hernandez, the President of the Student Council. At one point Margot asked him what the children needed, boys and girs. The boys, he said, needed baseball equipment. Being a Little League Baseball coach and manager in Vermont, I could greatly appreciate this, and immediately volunteered to supply the equipment.
On July 29, I sent the following:
I sent the baseball equipment today. It will arrive in Managua Aug. 6. Scarlett has said that it will be delivered within about 3 days to them. Below is the list of equipment. I added several items I felt were important (protection stuff, a full Catcher's set, and a set of bases).
10 Fielder's Gloves
1 Catcher's Glove
1 Catcher's Set (includes Throat Protector, Chest Protector, Shin Guards, Helmet with mask)
4 Batters Helmets
3 Bats
12 Baseballs
12 Mouthguards
10 Boys Athletic Protector Cups with underwear
1 set Bases (includes 3 bases, Home Plate, Pitchers Plate)
The package will arrive August 6, and Scarlett Lanzas, of WFP in Nicaragua, has informed me that it will be delivered to the school within 3-4 days! She will send me photos of them receiving the gift. I'll share with all of you when I get them.
Kelly
Hi All--
I just finished an interview on WCAX (CBS) in Burlington, VT on "Across The Fence" show, about the Nicaragua trip. Showed two video clips I had made when I got home from the trip, and two photos that Rachel (thank you!) sent me. Will keep you posted.
Kelly
Sitting in Miami International Airport for most of Thursday (due to storm delays then plane problems etc.) was an excellent opportunity for me to absorb the living experiences we had in Nicaragua. I sat alone and totally tuned out from the world around me. I didn't feel like smiling to little children or talking to anyone as the people we visited in Nicaragua went through my mind, over and over again.This respite allowed me to eventually greet my family full of smiles and not be pensive around them. In fact the opposite happened. I coundn't stop talking to them about the beneficiaries of WFP. We got home around 10:00pm and had to watch Scarlet's DVD. I then sent an email detailing my trip to my friends and family around the world in Australia, South Africa, Canada, and England. Now, a few days later, things are settling with me and I now feel focused on what needs to be done. I am excited to realise what we can achieve and to have the confidence that the WFP people on the ground will not disappoint us and will make sure that what we have to offer them will reach the beneficiaries! I feel honoured to be a part of such an organization and to know that the smallest communities, in the most remote areas of the world get noticed by WFP and their needs are evaluated and addressed. Promises were made in my heart to these special people and the time is coming for me to deliver! Thank you Nicaragua!
 I've been avidly reading the blog entries coming in from the Nicaragua Trip attendees. It's been helpful to hear reports from our on the ground correspondents. We might be able to read about the food crisis in the NY Times or the Washington Post every day, but somehow it's different when it comes from people who are just like us. Community advocates who want to learn more, in order to do more.
What are the ways in which we teach those around us about the big issues? How do we make the issue of hunger that little bit more accessible and less daunting? On the surface, hunger makes sense-- everyone needs food, if you don't have enough food you suffer the consequences of malnourishment which affects your standard of living in the long run. You can't concentrate in school, you're too tired to work, and you just can't function the same as you would on a full well-rounded meal. Yet, hunger and access to food has many other complexities that sometimes make it too complicated to talk about. There are politics, money and resources involved which seem to make the issue about more than just getting food into the mouths of the hungry.
So, what little forms of awareness and education can each of us take so that the person we see for coffee knows that the issue of hunger is on our mind? If we have a position that lets us stand before a crowd in a given scenario, is there a way to tell someone about what we've read? What does it mean to be a community advocate that wants to raise awareness? There are so many issues one could care about, what makes world hunger your issue?
Jessica Alatorre
Outreach Associate
Friends of the World Food Program
 After the heartbreak of the home visit on our first day, I have to say I was absolutely DREADING the school visits. I was prepared to sit in the car during the visit if I became too emotional. We arrived at the first school, and just looking at the rough structures made my heart beat a little faster. We were met by the student council, including the class president, a charismatic young man named Erikson. I was instantly impressed by his grace and eloquence. They took us into the second grade classroom. I grabbed Aleks’ hand for strength as I looked into the eyes of these darling little kids. They ranged in age from 6 to 12 years old, but it was difficult to tell their ages; some of them were very small because of chronic malnutrition. They watched us carefully with a mixture of excitement and shyness as they told us about favorite classes (mostly math) and sang us a song. A little boy and girl on one side flirted with me a bit with coy smiles and hidden giggles. In spite of, or maybe because of, all the obstacles they face and hardships they endure, these kids were a joyous bunch. After a few minutes, I slipped outside to regain my composure.
We moved on to the older classroom. It was a mixed class of 4th, 5th and 6th graders, and my first thought was that this was the last year of school for some of them. Not only did that mean they no longer had the opportunity to learn, but they would also lose out on the meal they received every school day. The teacher told us about the great attendance rate, which was particularly impressive when you consider that many of them had to slog through a mile or so of muddy mountain roads to get to class, rain or shine. My head was stuffed with memories of faking a stomach ache to stay home from school, being angry with my mom because she couldn’t drive me to school (I hated taking the bus), feeling disappointed because I didn’t have money to buy ice cream at lunch, even dreading the end of summer and the return of school. My experience was so vastly different from what these kids faced, and I did not appreciate it at all.
 The class was a little quiet until Margot asked who the fastest runner was. One boy put up his hand, and several others quickly followed suit. Most of the girls needed a little more encouragement to join in, but one feisty little girl claimed the title. She also claimed to be the best dancer, and roped a friend into helping her demonstrate. Two young men showed us their skill with marbles. It was wonderful to see the pleasure they took in these simple games.
Our next classroom was third graders. These kids were also a bit shy as the teacher and Jeanine (one of our WFP guides) introduced us. Several of us started taking a few photos and showing the digital results to the kids… It almost started a riot. The kids loved posing and then seeing themselves. Their smiles and giggles were breathtaking. I could have stayed there taking pictures for days just to see their reactions. As we wrapped up, the kids started to leave to wash their hands and receive lunch.
 The preschool room was possibly the hardest. These little ones were a couple of years older than my daughter, but just about the same size. They seemed to really enjoy lunch, and they smiled without restraint. I looked at these babies eating what could be their only meal of the day, and I thought of the variety of snacks I bring along on even the shortest walk with my daughter. How can there be such a disparity? I don’t want to take anything from my little one, or from any other child, but there has to be a way to change the circumstances for these children. I looked around the preschool room and thought… I could feed all of them with the change in my pocket. A $20 bill is the difference between them eating this week and going hungry. We could feed them for the whole school year with the spending money two or three of us had brought on the trip. If it takes so little to do so much, why isn’t it being done?
This school visit was in some ways as difficult as I expected, but it may have also been one of the most inspiring experiences of my life.
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