Moving the World
Walk the World Background Information
What is "Fight Hunger: Walk the World"?
"Fight Hunger: Walk the World" is a global event in which hundreds of thousands of people across every single time zone demonstrate that they care about ending world hunger. The idea was born right here in China, with the first event held at the Great Wall in 2003 thanks to TNT, the global mail and express delivery company.
Last year, more than 800,000 people in 118 countries participated, raising enough money to provide a healthy school meal for 100,000 children. From the Presidents of nations to young school children, they all showed they care about world hunger and are ready to do something to put an end to it.
Why "Fight Hunger: Walk the World"?
Every day, 18,000 children die because they were too hungry to fight off basic diseases like diarrhoea and measles. Worldwide, some 400 million children don't get the nutrition they need to grow and learn well.
Food production is not the problem -- there is more than enough food produced to feed every man, woman and child on the planet.
Indifference is one of the biggest problems. We need to show the world that we care about ending world hunger.
How can we Fight Hunger?
One of the most effective long-term solutions to hunger is by providing children with BOTH a healthy meal and a basic education. The World Food Programme has been providing Food-for-Education for almost 50 years. Some of the countries where WFP used to provide assistance have gone on to become booming economies: these include China, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam. These countries realised the importance of investing in the nutrition, health and education of their children and they are reaping the benefits.
How does participating in Walk the World help?
By showing you care, leaders are encouraged to do more.
By making a small donation during the walk, you can personally help to feed a child. A little more than 1 RMB can provide a meal to a poor and hungry child in school. About RMB 260 can feed that child and keep him coming to school for a whole year.
This year, the fund we raise will help keep poor children in Cambodia in school; enrollment and attendance in the schools where WFP provides meals is higher than the national average, and all of the teachers involved report that children's performance in class has improved since WFP, UNICEF and more than 20 NGO partners started the food for education programme.
Sadly, insufficient funding has forced WFP to cut back the number of children it can feed and the size of the rations in recent months. We hope to help restore this very effective way to ensure children get a basic education and good nutrition: two of the most important Millennium Development Goals.
So, join us in fighting hunger! Let us make the world a better place through Walk the World! Both you and your friends can participate in this WFP-organized event. As WFP's global partner, TNT will do whatever it can to support the activity through employee participation, fundraising and increasing public awareness.