With so many people in our world going hungry because of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change, World Food Day is a global call to action to ensure everyone can be nourished by affordable, healthy food.
This year’s theme for World Food Day on October 16 is Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.
Together, we’re making that a reality—every day of the year.
Meet some of the people whose lives you’ve helped changed as you work hand in hand with them to put food on the table. Now and for years to come.
Empowering Aje in Ethiopia to Feed Her Family
As a widowed mother of three children, Aja used to struggle to grow enough food to feed her family year-round and fight malnutrition.
“Sometimes we ate only one meal a day, especially during rainy seasons. I felt hopeless about my children’s future,” says Aja. “My older son and I used to work for the rich people on their farm as daily laborers with low pay to feed our family.”
But thanks to generous supporters like you, Aja got the chance to learn new financial skills, sustainable farming techniques, and how to raise sheep, and support to help her get started.
“The trainings changed my future. As a widow, no one trusted to loan me $1, but this project gave me a livelihood grant so I could buy five sheep.
“Also, I got 25kg of improved wheat and chickpea seeds to plant on my farm. I’m so grateful for the coaching to improve my livelihood.
“Now, my family eats three times in a day! My five sheep now have lambs, and I expect a better wheat harvest this year.
“My son and I are no longer working on other people’s farms. We’re working on our own farm and tend our animals. My younger children can go to school, and I’m now able to buy them school stationery and new clothes.
Today, Aja has enough nutritious food year-round and her children are growing strong and healthy. Thank you for helping Aja and other families put hunger behind them!
Food and Water Go Hand-in-Hand for Qabale’s in Kenya
Qabale once battled to feed her family in Kenya, where food and water were scarce:
“Persistent drought affected our livelihood and livestock. Food prices were high. The cost of extracting water with the diesel-powered generator was high. This limited any form of irrigated farming.”
As a result, her children suffered from poor nutrition, and they were often so sick they had to miss school. To survive, Qabale turned to charcoal burning, which damaged the environment while offering barely enough to live on.
But your kind generosity helped bring a wraparound solution—and changed her life in three ways:
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- Clean water:Adding solar power to Qabale’s local borehole reduced pumping costs, and now provides her community with a more reliable water supply. You also helped install pipelines and household taps, so her family and others now have safe water to drink and enough to water their food crops.
Your kindness helped pour out blessings for Qabale who can now water her crops more easily and affordably. - Farming resources and food: Your generosity helped equip families like Qabale’s with fruit, grass, and tree seedlings, plus training in horticulture and child nutrition. With hard work and determination, families have turned once-barren land into lush fields of fruit, vegetables, and fodder for livestock.
Qabale can now grow bigger crops of bananas and more, thanks to you equipping her with water, training and seedlings. - Stable family income: More clean water on tap means families like Qabale’s can harvest more crops to feed their children. And with extra to sell, she can earn more family income and meet her children’s needs.“We now have enough water for growing crops and fodder for the livestock, and I’m able to meet my financial needs,” says Qabale. “My children’s health, hygiene, and education have all improved.”Today, her community is standing strong and ready to grow through every challenge.Qabale is so grateful for caring people like you.“As a community, we’re very glad for this project. It has really solved our water, livelihoods and food challenges. We pray to God to keep blessing you!” she says.
- Clean water:Adding solar power to Qabale’s local borehole reduced pumping costs, and now provides her community with a more reliable water supply. You also helped install pipelines and household taps, so her family and others now have safe water to drink and enough to water their food crops.
Tackling the Root Causes of Food Poverty: More Than a Meal
Together, we’re working hand-in-hand for better food and a better future. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth! (Job 5: 16)
As you know, the goal isn’t just a meal for today, but to create lasting change so every girl, boy, women, and man can build the future God intends for them.
A flourishing future filled with possibilities. No longer limited by poverty and injustice.
Your generosity is helping children and families in need to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good.’ Thank you!
If you’d to make a special donation to help hungry families in Ethiopia this World Food Day, you can do so here. Hunger Emergency
May this World Food Day remind you that by working hand in hand, we can do great things together in Jesus’ name to help more families build a hunger-free future!