How to help hungry children globally

Hunger is affecting millions of people across the globe. In addition to the 45 million people facing starvation due to the triple threat of climate change, conflict and Covid, there are millions of people around the world regularly going to bed hungry.

Unfortunately, hunger around the globe is on the rise and more and more families and children are struggling to eat, particularly in East Africa. An estimated 45 million children under the age of five are suffering from wasting, a severe form of malnutrition, which increases children’s risk of death by up to 12 times.

Every day children are dying but it could be different. With your support, World Vision is empowering families and communities to live happy, health and nourished lives.

READ MORE: Pray for the hunger crisis

How is World Vision helping hungry children?

Providing nutritional support in the Somalia drought

Somalia is facing its worst drought in 40 years causing extreme hunger and malnutrition among families. Seven-month-old Hamdi was brought to a World Vision nutrition clinic in Somalia and found to be severely malnourished, weighing only four kilograms at the time.

Now, Hamdi’s health has significantly improved. In her follow-up visit, she weighed just over five kilograms, and her severe cough has completely cleared. World Vision registered Hamdi’s mother as one of the unconditional cash beneficiaries to ensure Hamdi and her siblings don’t relapse back to full malnutrition. She will receive $150 for up to six months.

Hamdi’s mother feels optimistic about the future and thanked World Vision for the lifesaving malnutrition programme and cash interventions.

Kenyan family holding their crops and smiling

Training families on climate-smart farming techniques

Jennifer and Josphat, with their three children, live in Eastern Kenya. They know all too well the agony and suffering that comes with prolonged droughts. Families have been driven into poverty by the loss of livestock and crop failures.

“Putting the children to bed on an empty stomach was the hardest and most painful thing to do. You wonder what your worth as a parent is, if you cannot provide for your children,” says Jennifer.

For years, Josphat and Jennifer prayed for God’s intervention. Their prayers were answered when World Vision invited them to train on climate-smart agriculture techniques, which help families grow food during droughts. The training encouraged Josphat to establish a farm pond so he could collect water during rainy seasons.

The family are making money from the farm produce, which they use to buy new school uniforms and books for their children. Their nine-year-old son, Joshua, a sponsored child, likes helping his parents water crops, weed and harvest vegetables.

Ways you can help fight child hunger

Here at World Vision, we believe that no child should have to go hungry. For over 70 years World Vision has been working to help children and families have enough to live on and there are plenty of ways you can support us.

Sponsor a child with World Vision

By sponsoring a child with World Vision, you can help improve their life forever. Over the last five years 89% of the severely malnourished children we treated have made a full recovery. Your donation offers your chosen child good nutrition, protection from infection and disease, and access to essential health services, so not only are they eating well, but their bodies are also being looked after too. They – and their community – also gain many other benefits, such as education, child protection, relevant crop training, and joint savings schemes.

Cambodian girl holding a rabbit and smiling — Thanks to Child Sponsorship, Rosangel is able to access food, education and a potable water system

Run a fundraiser

Thinking of organising a fundraiser to raise some funds for Word Vision? Why not plan a bake off, charity run or an online fundraiser to help raise some funds so you can say you have done your bit and have helped as much as you can? You don’t need to raise thousands of pounds for your fundraising event to be a success - every penny counts.

Fundraising ideas:

bake sale
sponsored run or walk
online fundraising event
live streaming challenge
sports event

READ MORE: Best fundraising challenges

Young girl wearing an orange t-shirt, glasses and waving orange flags

Volunteering

Don’t have a lot of money to spare but still want to help hungry children? Why not volunteer your time instead? Volunteering is a great way to help World Vision help the most hungry children.

Make a one-off donation

The global hunger crisis threatens the lives of millions of children. Your donations are providing life-saving assistance, providing clean water, treating malnutrition, protecting children from harm and building the resilience of displaced communities.

Donating even a small amount could make a big difference.

Donate to help hungry children

Sponsor a child