This highlights age appropriate information and activities to engage young people in the social outreach of the Church. Share your ideas, activities and successes at [email protected].
World Food Day is October 16th, 2014. During this week of Caritas Internationalis' global campaign to end world hunger, a nationwide mobilization will take place, which will include a photo contest of Thanksgiving meals made with local foods, the signing of petitions and other activities. For more information check out www.devp.org/en/articles/development-and-peace-launches-photo-contest-show-your-thanks.
On the Road to Sovereignty is a short movie that highlights some of the principles of food sovereignty as they have impacted the Haitian community since the devastating earthquake of 2009. The people are learning how to support themselves and their lives.
Background information and reflection questions to accompany this 20 minute film are available online. This is a particularly helpful resource to engage older students in the issues surrounding food sovereignty.
There are lots of ways to get involved in the campaign long term. By taking small steps you can help create a more just world. To get some ideas visit www.cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Lifestyle-tips and for specific age appropriate ideas and short clips introducing the issue for young students are available at www.cafod.org.uk/Education/Primary-schools/Harvest-Fast-Day and Field to Work - Why Local Food Matters at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS1SKiypHME for students in grades 4 to 8. This clip invites young people to think about local farmers, and where our food actually comes from before it reaches the supermarket.
If your young adult audience hasn't had much exposure to farm life, or even thought about the source of their food, a humourous look at farm life can be introduced by the Pattersen brothers and almost any of their unique parodies. One of my personal favourites is Farmer Style (Gangnam Style Parody) at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX153eYcVrY
On a more serious note Caritas has highlighted a number of issues that are impacting world hunger - Agriculture, Climate Change, Malnutrition and Food Waste. The struggles and impact of each of these areas is explained extensively on their website at www.caritas.org/what-we-do/food/
It may be interesting to use a resource such as Cool Cuisine - Taking the Bite out of Global Warming.
This book examines a variety of issues with Global Warming, looking at actions we can take to support the local environment and opportunities to learn more about the issue. For foodies, even supplies recipes linked to a specific issue are offered.
At church we are repeatedly called to "exercise a responsible stewardship over nature, in order to protect it, to enjoy its fruits and to cultivate it in new ways, ... so that it can worthily accommodate and feed the world's population," (Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 2009). I encourage you to use the materials available to engage your students in this mission of the Church - to support our sisters and brothers, and to be a part of the solution. Get involved, and make a difference.
Campaign Prayer
O God, you entrusted to us the fruits of all creation so that we might care for the earth and be nourished with its bounty.
You sent us your Son to share our very flesh and blood and to teach us your Law of Love.
Through His death and Resurrection, we have been formed into one human family.
Jesus showed great concern for those who had no food-
even transforming five loaves and two fish into a banquet
that served five thousand and many more.
We come before you, O God, conscious of our faults and failures, but full of hope, to share food with all members in this global family.
Through your wisdom, inspire leaders of government and of business, as well as all the world's citizens, to find just, and charitable solutions to end hunger by assuring that all people enjoy the right to food.
Thus we pray, O God, that when we present ourselves for Divine Judgment, we can proclaim ourselves as "One Human Family" with "Food for All". AMEN.
Peace,
Annette Donovan Panchaud
Campus Minister
King's University College
[email protected]
