In 2011, more than 3 million children died of malnutrition, many in countries that are not ravaged by hunger or conflict. Of course, you can always organize a fundraiser and donate some money or cans of food, but there are other ways to fight world hunger in a much more effective and sustainable way.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Fighting Hunger Locally
Step 1. Donate food
There are many local organizations that accept food donations, and then distribute them among the most needy. For you, it's the safest and easiest way to help, and these associations know the best ways to get food to the people who really need it. There are many foods you can donate, but canned ones and, in small portions, fresh (healthier) ones are preferable. Contact an organization in your area to find out their preferences.
- If you have the ability to buy foods in bulk, you can definitely go to a food store to buy them. You will get more products for a lower price. Generally, these foods are easy to store, so you can distribute them among the most needy without too much difficulty.
- Churches, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and even local government organizations accept food donations for distribution to those most in need. Find a place that allows you to help the people you care about most.
Step 2. Support organizations that donate food
You can help churches and homeless shelters by doing other things besides donating food. They need funds to stay open and pay the people who work there; they are also often short of volunteers to help distribute products. When you donate food, ask what other ways you can support them.
For example, contact an organization and ask if you can help with home delivery of goods
Step 3. Bring food directly to those most in need
You don't have to wait for a homeless shelter to distribute products to people notoriously in need. Buy healthy foods that don't need to be cooked and take them to the homeless people you see every day. For example, buy bananas and distribute them among the homeless people you meet downtown.
- Another demographic of people in need is represented by the elderly. Those who live alone often have little money and may not be able to cook that much on their own. If you know an older person who has a hard time making a healthy dinner, offer to bring it yourself and keep them company every now and then.
- Here are some good examples of foods: sliced soft apples (like Gala), whole bananas, a few slices of wholemeal bread, easy-to-open cans of tuna, soy nuts (buy these in bulk; they are quite inexpensive and contain a good dose of nutrients in very small portions) and carrots cut as thinly as possible.
Step 4. Involve your employer
Many companies are willing to make donations on the advice of employees. If your company doesn't do this, talk to your boss to get them involved. This means that organizations you donate money or food to will be supported by your employer, effectively doubling the amount of donations.
Step 5. Fight stereotypes
In some places, there are laws that prohibit feeding homeless people. These rules are based on the following idea: People who are hungry are more likely to put in the effort to get a job, stop taking drugs, and get back on their feet. In any case, the stereotype of the homeless slacker who just wants to have fun and abuse any substance he comes across is precisely a preconception. These individuals live on the streets for many reasons, and most of the reasons are quite complex, often difficult to fight with simple goodwill. Letting them starve won't do anyone any favors, so you need to make sure the people in your community understand this. Do your best to sensitize her and prevent it from happening.
Method 2 of 2: Fighting Hunger Internationally
Step 1. Do some research to better understand where and when you need to help
As with most things, if you approach a situation based only on preconceptions or completely wrong information, you run the risk of causing harm, or otherwise being of little use. This theory also applies to concrete methods of fighting world hunger. Certain types of donations made in some regions fuel conflict with the warmongers. Maybe you want to help a certain population, but sometimes it would be better to channel your support to another country, where it will be much more effective. World hunger is not a simple problem and the solution is not immediate - it is not enough to send cans to Africa. As with most of the more complicated issues, you need accurate information to create real impact.
- Check out sites like the United Nations World Food Program to find out more about the global situation.
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also does a good job in raising awareness of world hunger. Visit the site to find out more.
Step 2. Pay attention to the products you buy
When some goods are bought in large quantities, this can actually harm the areas where they are produced. The reasons are varied. Sometimes devoting massively to a crop is harmful to the soil, but farmers do it anyway because it is the only way to survive. In other cases, this can deplete the food supplies available to the inhabitants of that region, if the crops in the past were used for the locals. Either way, the best choice you can make is to buy mostly zero-kilometer foods and supplement your diet with popular superfoods imported from afar.
Step 3. Make a donation to the right charities
There are many "charities" that claim to help fight hunger in the world, when in reality most of the proceeds end up in the pockets of those who sit on the board of directors. Also, the money you donate should be used for long-term solutions, not for putting on a temporary patch. This is why it is important to donate to organizations that are reputable and that will use the funds in a way that helps communities in the long run. Remember that a man must first be taught to fish.
- A good charity you can donate to is Heifer International. It allows you to donate farm animals to people in need, allowing them to start producing their own food and stop depending on constant donations.
- Another valid organization is Charity: Water. This association provides clean water to communities. This way, not only can they have clean water - the food they produce will also be safer.
- Kiva is a micro-credit organization that allows you to make loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries, so that they can grow their initiatives. You can donate very small amounts of money; when it is returned to you, you can lend it to someone else. These businesses often rely on providing food to families and communities, so they effectively do good in turn.
Step 4. Buy Fair Trade Products
Foods labeled with this wording allow you to help other people feed themselves and, at the same time, you also nourish yourself. How does it work? Fair trade products are bought directly from producers, such as Guatemalan farmers, at a fair price for this region. What does it mean? The business that buys the goods also invests money in these communities to improve their lives, education and access to supplies. As a result, they have more money to buy goods for their families, such as food.
Buying lots of such items also sends a message to businesses. As a consumer, you can use your money to voice your opinions. If enough people buy these types of products, then more will be offered
Step 5. Support tolerant immigration laws
You don't necessarily have to support and welcome anyone who shows up at the borders, but supporting some laws that would change the way immigration works can significantly improve the lives of people residing elsewhere. Immigration reforms, which regulate the work of non-citizens and the amount of money they can earn, ensure that they are paid enough to provide for themselves and their families. There are two reasons why immigration has an impact on world hunger:
- People from poorer countries usually provide labor in richer places before returning home. Now, with the rigidity of border controls and stricter immigration laws, few people can leave a country after they enter. This means that they have fewer opportunities to take the money they earn to their families.
- There is another problem: Strict immigration laws create a situation where unscrupulous employers pay little or nothing to illegal employees, so these people remain poor despite the hardships.
Step 6. Use your skills to volunteer
If you have useful skills, for example you have knowledge of agricultural equipment, horticulture, construction, project management or fundraising, donate your time. Organizations often want to do charitable works, but they don't have people who have the skills to intervene in the communities they want to help. If you are an expert in an area, taking a month off to travel to a remote location and helping to organize a farm can be quite helpful.
Even if you don't have these skills, you can help by paying money. Organize a fundraiser and donate the money to some of the nominated associations. You don't want to travel to the other side of the world to participate in a project that you are not eligible for - this can often make your jobs heavy
Advice
- Stick to your goal, even if it doesn't work out the first time. Persevere. Remember, people who learn about your cause will want to support you.
- Try to set yourself a realistic goal. Do not start with the aim of generically eliminating hunger in the world: that would be 60,000,000 goals enclosed in a single objective - noble but unattainable.
Warnings
- Make sure the people sponsoring you have enough resources. Also, you need to be sure that the associations you participate in or donate to are legally sound. This way you will be sure that you are not funding the tobacco industry, instead of decreasing world hunger.
- Funds should be approved and legal - you certainly don't want to go to jail for trying to end world hunger!
