October 12, 2000

Feeding Minds
Fighting Hunger

World Hunger Curriculum Launched

Lessons on hunger available to school children around the world

"The curriculum we are releasing today is the first in a series to introduce children all over the world to the problem of hunger and what needs to be done," said Klaus von Grebmer, director of the communications division of the International Food Policy Research Institute.

The curriculum includes lessons on three levels: elementary school (ages 7 - 10), middle school (ages 11 -14), and high school (ages 15 - 18). In the future, lessons will be developed and translated into at least four languages and taught to students around the globe. All levels cover the topics:

• What is hunger and malnutrition and who are the hungry?
• Why are people hungry and malnourished?
• What can we do to help end hunger?

"We're very excited to be part of this important project," said Gloria Henderson, principal of Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School. "Our school has a proud history of involvement in hunger issues, and this gives us an opportunity to deepen that commitment. By educating our children about these issues at an early age, we will prepare the next generation to tackle the problems of world hunger."

"Around the world, nearly 800 million people are malnourished, including 200 million children," said Robert Patterson, deputy representative to North America for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "But this problem can be solved. We believe that Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger will sensitize children to the needs of poor and hungry people and motivate them to get involved."

Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger is available online at www.feedingminds.org. Photos of school children participating in the lesson are available here or by request from the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger founding members:

American Federation of Teachers; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; International Education and Resource Network; International Food Policy Research Institute; National Peace Corps Association; Newsweek Magazine Education Program; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; U.S. National Committee for World Food Day; and the World Bank.

For more information, contact:

Michael Hage, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (202)653-0011, Michael.hage@fao.org
Michael Rubinstein, International Food Policy Research Institute, (202) 862-5670, m.rubinstein@cgiar.org
Kristyn Ebro, World Bank, (202)458-2736, kebro@worldbank.org

IFPRI identifies and analyzes policies for sustainably meeting the food needs of the developing world. IFPRI is one of 15 Future Harvest centers and receives its principal funding from 58 governments, private foundations, and international and regional organizations known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).