Blog
 Tens of thousands of people run the New York City Marathon every year. This year, one special volunteer will be running the NYC Marathon in support of the 1 billion people who face hunger every day around the globe. On November 1, Evan Jurkovich will begin his 26.2 mile run through the five boroughs of New York City in support of Friends of the World Food Program (Friends of WFP).
Q: This year is the 40th running of the NYC Marathon, and your first time running a marathon. What makes this race extra special for you?
Evan: Being my first marathon does make this one special. But it’s even a bit more than that. Not only is it my first marathon, but it’s really my first major undertaking in my post-collegiate competitive running career. Training in college was one thing – there was a team, coaching, a more flexible schedule, athletic trainers. It was easier to push myself and stay focused. It’s a new challenge now with a full time job, coaching myself without the same resources, which almost makes it more rewarding.
And running for Friends of WFP certainly helps me get through the grind and stay motivated. It helps answer the question, “what am I running for?” – besides myself – that was so easily answered before.
Q: You have been training hard the last few months for the NYC Marathon. While some of your training must focus on the patience to just keep running, do you ever keep yourself going by thinking about the cause of global hunger you are running to support?
Evan: I do, and it helps to put more meaning behind my running. I’ve spent a lot of time on the trails and roads and you can’t help but think during that time. Sometimes it’s marathon daydreaming, but more often than not I return my thoughts to the cause I’m able to run for.
Over the years of running I’ve spent my time thinking about life and the things I care about and hope to do. It’s rewarding being able to coalesce my passion of running with other passions like world hunger, global poverty and education. So during an hours-long run, it’s energizing to think about my running meaning more.
Q: Through appeals to friends and family, you have already raised over $1,000 for Friends of WFP. How do you make the link between your run and giving for global hunger clear to your friends?
Evan: Yes! And a big thanks to them! Some might say it’s called “me bugging people so much they give in and donate.”
But really I think it’s been more about people recognizing something I’m passionate about – running – and using it to raise awareness about another passion – ending world hunger – and people are supporting me in that quest. And I’m grateful for that support.
Many people know I’m running the marathon and know how hard I’ve been training. I figured, why not use this exposure to help where I can?
My ideal situation would be that for every mile I ran, a dollar would come in. Trust me, I would run for a long time if that was the case. Many people don’t like running and think I’m crazy for doing it as much as I do. So I’ve been telling them, “I’ll do the running, you do the giving.”
It was my goal all along to find a cause to run for, and I’m so happy it worked out with Friends of WFP. My running and marathon training takes up a lot of my time and I’ve come to a point in my life where I want to give back more. During marathon training, I don’t have much time to give back, so being able to run for world hunger really helped fulfill my marathon experience – to make it about more than just me.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Evan: As I’ve prepared for the NYC Marathon I’ve noticed many other people running for causes, too. It’s great, and it’s a side to marathon running I really didn’t know existed until I stepped in. There are fast people, slow people, famous people and average people all using the personal sacrifices they’ve made for something bigger. That’s really what I think the marathon is all about.
This whole experience for me has been quite a journey. And I’m thrilled I’ve made that journey with Friends of WFP.
Upon completing his many months of training and the marathon itself on November 1, Evan will have run about 1,000 miles in support of ending global hunger. Friends of WFP thanks Evan for his time and commitment to support the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). If you would like to support Evan’s cause, he’s asking for a donation of $1 per mile.
To support his campaign, please go here. All proceeds go to Friends of WFP and support WFP programs around the world.
Read Evan’s blog to hear more of his thoughts as he prepares for the NYC Marathon.
-Jessica Alatorre
Outreach Associate
Friends of WFP
Ambassador Michael Klosson of Save the Children recently answered questions about the Roadmap to End Global Hunger. The Roadmap to End Global Hunger, H.R. 2817, is legislation recently introduced into Congress. Read the full interview here. - William Lambers
Volunteer
 Just a few days ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that the number of the world's hungry reached one billion -- an all-time, unprecedented high. The United States must act immediately to ensure that this number does not increase while looking to the future for a permanent hunger solution. Representatives Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) have already set forth a blueprint for the U.S. government to take action. They introduced the Roadmap to End Global Hunger and Promote Food Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2817). This legislation calls for the following: the creation of a White House office on global hunger and appointment of a hunger coordinator, the rebirth of the Congressional Select Committee on Hunger and the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to alleviate world hunger. The Roadmap to End Global Hunger initiative is being led by a broad-based coalition, including Catholic Relief Services. Bruce White, a food aid expert from Catholic Relief Services, was recently interviewed by author Bill Lambers about the importance of the Roadmap to End Global Hunger and what Americans can do to help. Maria Reppas
Media Relations Manager
Friends of WFP
New York Times columnist Nick Kristof has written several pieces on hunger and the impact of international food assistance programs. He has traveled extensively across Africa and seen how hunger and poverty rip through developing countries, destroying livelihoods. Nancy Roman, WFP's Director of Public Policy, Communications and Private Partnerships, recently spoke with Kristof to get his thoughts on the importance of child nutrition, school meals, girls' education, and his firsthand experiences with hunger in Africa.
Read the interview.
Maria Reppas
Media Relations Manager
Friends of WFP
by William Lambers
Imagine being a farmer in Ethiopia trying to grow enough food to support your family. A massive drought hits, ruining your crops. Livestock in your village lie dead in the fields from disease brought on by the excessive heat. After the drought finally ends, it is soon followed by another. Located in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has been hard hit recently by repeated droughts. Many families have lost their livestock and are unable to support themselves. This tragedy has been compounded by the "silent tsunami" of high food prices which struck in 2008.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently reported that drought and high food prices have pushed 12 million people into hunger. For struggling families, knowing that their child is ensured a meal at school is an important safety net in times of crisis. As part of a long-term strategy to eliminate the high poverty rate in the country, school feeding is essential. The World Food Programme is working to help make sure every child in Ethiopia can receive a school lunch. Jakob Mikkelsen, a WFP representative in Ethiopia, talks about the importance of school feeding.
How many children are benefiting from the WFP school feeding programs within the country?
WFP currently supports the Ethiopian Ministry of Health in providing school meals to 414,078 school children in six regions of the country (Afar, Amhara, Oromiya, Southern People’s Region, Somali, and Tigray), encompassing 130 districts and 770 schools. WFP and the Ministry of Education are planning to scale up the program in the Afar region this year.
Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school attendance, performance, and nutrition.
The average number of children enrolled in schools with school feeding programs increased by 7% from 2006 to 2007. The average attendance rate of WFP-assisted schools was 91.5% in 2007, which was above WFP’s goal of 90%. The focus on girls' education has led to an increase in enrollment and attendance rates for girls. The ratio of girls to boys enrolled in school increased by 7% from 2006 to 2007. Furthermore, the drop-out rate is lower in schools that have school feeding programs than the average in schools nationwide. The average drop-out rate nationwide is 11.25% for girls and 12.26% for boys, as compared to rates of 9% for girls and 11% for boys in WFP-assisted schools (2005/2006 Ministry of Education annual statistical abstract).
WFP implemented “Essential Package” activities in 2007 at more than 100 schools supported by school feeding. The “essential package” consists of activities such as training on de-worming, school gardens, and health and nutrition education.
Continue reading "Interview: Jakob Mikkelsen of the UN World Food Programme in Ethiopia " »
by William Lambers
In the Horn of Africa, the country of Djibouti struggles to produce its own food due to successive droughts. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reports that Djibouti’s population of about 632,000 depends entirely on imported food. With high poverty and low education levels within the country, WFP has been implementing school feeding programs. Giorgia Testolin, Country Director of WFP Djibouti, talks about this Food for Education initiative.
How many children are benefiting from the WFP school feeding programs within the country?
For the 2008/2009 school year, we have about 10,000 pupils benefiting from the school feeding program. We also have 3,600 girls who benefit from take-home rations, which encourage girls to attend school. The program covers all 71 rural schools of Djibouti.
Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school attendance, performance, and nutrition.
In rural areas the school feeding program is essential to attract pupils to school. Many families are nomadic pastoralists who frequently move to find fresh pastureland for their livestock. These families have settled near the school to ensure that their children attend classes and are fed a regular meal. The school feeding program and take-home rations have been crucial in increasing school attendance for girls in rural areas.
What plans are there for making school meals available for all children?
School meals are currently available for all rural children, with no plans to change the program in the near future.
Continue reading "Interview: Giorgia Testolin, Country Director of the World Food Programme - Djibouti" »
“Hope is a Red Cup” is a collection of photographs I took in
Northern Nicaragua during July 2008. I was traveling with staff and volunteers
of Friends of the World Food Program at the time, visiting WFP development
programs in that region. Prior to departure, I was told: “This will change your
life.” I had no idea how true those words would be.
We arrived on a hot,
humid Sunday afternoon and headed into the northern-most reaches of the country
to visit small villages that were only accessible by all-terrain vehicles. Our
first stop, a clinic for mothers and children, gave me a glimpse into a world
that I had never before seen up close. Hunger is a worldwide issue. I’m not
talking about the hunger pangs of eating lunch a couple of hours late or
skipping dinner and waking up hungry. This is the hunger that is the No. 1
health risk worldwide that deeply impacts a child's physical and mental
developmental abilities for life.
During the entire trip, I was struck by the hope that I saw
in the faces of the children we met, despite the poverty and hunger battles
they were fighting each day. I wanted to find a way to help the children that I
was meeting and photographing, and I started brainstorming ways to do it. While
in the first round of editing the images after I returned from the trip, the
idea for the book was born. I would tell their story, as well as show their
images. “Hope is a Red Cup” is my unique and personal contribution to
the global community to help end hunger not only in Nicaragua, but around the
world.
This is only the beginning. I will be traveling with Friends
of WFP in 2009 to Peru and Africa to photograph the people whose lives are
changed by WFP programs in those areas. The images I take on upcoming trips
will be added to the “Hope is a Red Cup” collection, in the hope of bringing
more awareness and needed funds to help end world hunger.
More images from Nicaragua can be viewed on my website at
www.rachelhofer.com. Together, the exhibit and the book are available to use as
a fundraiser. If you are interested in hosting a fundraising event with these
images, please contact Friends of WFP at outreach@friendsofwfp.org. -Rachel Hofer
Photographer Purchase the book, "Hope is a Red Cup"
by William Lambers
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with one out of three children under five years old suffering from chronic malnutrition. Natural disasters like drought and flooding have all had a major impact on Honduras in recent years. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is emphasizing school feeding to combat hunger and poverty. Jaime Vallaure, WFP country director for Honduras, recently discussed the importance of school meals for children.
How many children are benefiting from the WFP school feeding programs within the country?
A total of 1.3 million children ages 4 to 12 are benefiting from the program. The program covers about 90 percent of primary schools and pre-school centers.
Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school attendance, performance and nutrition.
Preliminary indicators show that the program has had a significant impact on increasing school enrollment, keeping children in school longer, and reducing drop-out rates. The purpose of the school feeding program is to increase the levels of education among school children. Honduras, a country prone to have at least one emergency per year, relies on school feeding programs to help in reducing the number of badly affected people. School feeding programs are especially helpful when the emergency is a nutritional one, such as increased levels of acute malnutrition.
What plans are there for making school meals available for all children?
In Honduras, the present coverage of primary schools participating in school feeding has reached a maximum. A lot of work must be done at the pre-school level (four to five years of age). The Ministry of Education should work to increase the number of pre-school centers first, as only 55 percent of the demand for these centers is satisfied by the Government. School meals will then follow.
What would be the sources of funding for any expansion of the school feeding program?
The Government of Honduras is funding 90 percent of the budget for school feeding programs. International donors through WFP fund nine percent and Honduran private companies fund one percent. WFP manages all of the funds and implements the program according to WFP standards.
What has been the effect of rising food prices in this funding effort?
In 2008 there was an 18 percent increase in the cost per school meal. Most of the costs are directly linked to the rise in the price of commodities and transport costs. Most of the commodities used in the school feeding program are purchased in Honduras. The Government of Honduras has paid for this increase in commodity and transport prices.
How can someone help the school feeding program?
By going directly to the WFP webpage. There is a picture of a boy with a red cup on the left side. Click there to fill the cup by donating online.
Anything else you'd like to add about why you think school feeding is important for people to support?
There are two things in this world that can change dramatically the entire life of a child: giving him or her the opportunity to be educated, and keeping him or her in good health. School meals may be the only nutritious meal offered to school children and act as a perfect incentive for parents to send their children to school. A rich and nutritious meal served at school serves both objectives: the child is educated and healthy.
by William Lambers
The African nation of Guinea has seen increasing poverty rates in recent years. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reports that "the country's Forest region has long been host to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone," which puts a big strain on Guinea's resources. Guinea is working to provide basic education for all its citizens as a means of combating poverty. The World Food Programme is helping by providing school meals to children. In the following interview with Abdou Dieng, WFP country director in Guinea, we will look at how crucial school feeding is toward breaking the cycle of poverty.
How many children are benefiting from the WFP School Feeding Programs within the country?
WFP Guinea started its school feeding program (SFP) in 2002, initially targeting 54,200 beneficiaries. Since then the program has grown to the level of 213,573 pupils in the 2007/2008 school year. With positive results noted in primary schools assisted through the school feeding program, WFP extended its assistance to additional schools in project areas. The program's popularity has attracted a greater number of children overall and this seems likely to continue. The assistance is provided for 1,253 schools in three regions: Forest Guinea, Upper and Middle Guinea. Primary school students receive one daily hot meal at noon each day school is in session.
Discuss what effect the meals have on the children in terms of school attendance, performance, and nutrition.
Since its inception, WFP Guinea's school feeding program has demonstrated great success in increasing school enrollment and attendance rates, especially among female students. Follow-up surveys to the WFP School Feeding Baseline Survey have indicated that girls' enrollment rates have increased by as much as 12% over the period 2003-2005. Over the same period, enrollment increased from 77,323 to 85,885 for boys and from 57,871 to 67,910 for girls in existing WFP-assisted schools.
Female students in grade 6 with over 80% attendance rates are eligible to receive a take-home ration of vegetable oil each trimester. Take-home rations for girls encourage parents to keep their daughters in school, leading to lower dropout rates. Access to basic education, especially for girls, was promoted in schools targeted by the school feeding program.
By providing school meals at noon, students have an intake of 729 calories, enhancing their ability to retain information. Furthermore, hot meals help to reduce absenteeism. In the course of monitoring visits, parents and teachers reported that pupils no longer leave school in the afternoon and absenteeism due to illness has been drastically reduced.
Continue reading "Interview: Abdou Dieng of the World Food Programme in Guinea" »
by William Lambers
In his inaugural address President Barack Obama pledged to fight global hunger. In countries like the African nation of Kenya, the situation is becoming more desperate. Unrelenting drought has ruined harvests and caused food shortages. Last year violence following a disputed presidential election coupled with the global rise in food prices took its toll on Kenyans, many already living in poverty.
The slums of Nairobi, in the capital of Kenya, are the hardest hit by food shortages and increasing poverty. The Netherlands-based charity ChildsLife International is helping to fight this hunger and poverty, including providing school meals to children. Patricia Kicak, director of ChildsLife International, talks about how crucial school feeding is for children in Kenya, and the difficulty of funding this program.
How many children benefit from ChildsLife's school feeding programs within Kenya at this moment?
Currently, ChildsLife’s school feeding program benefits over 2,000 children in Kenya, from primary schools in the slums of the capital, Nairobi, to pre-primary schools in remote rural areas.
Continue reading "ChildsLife International Provides School Meals in Kenya: Charity Hopes To Gain McGovern-Dole Funding" »
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