Copy
Yes, I know it's early on Saturday morning, but I'm still jetlagged and there's no bad time to fight hunger!
Experts from around the world will gather in Des Moines this coming week for the 30th World Food Prize Ceremony & Borlaug Dialogue, discussing this year's theme: "Let Food Be Thy Medicine."

It feels like a fitting follow up after returning from Ghana, where we met with university professors, nutritionists, teachers, parents, and practical farmers to learn more about how we can improve the quality of nutrition in the school feeding program to better fight childhood stunting. 
We know the feeding program is effective in getting kids who wouldn't otherwise attend school enrolled in school. We know attendance improves and absences decrease. Teachers tell us the kids focus better. And the added protein does make a difference in fighting stunting due to chronic under-nutrition.

Still, many of the kids are not getting the calories they need. It was particularly noticeable on our visits last week. The most recent harvest was bad and impacts just about every family we serve.
So, faced with limited resources, we're asking ourselves: do we extend this effective and impactful program to more schools and impact more children, or limit the schools and intensively increase the number of calories in the porridge so a few children get a much bigger impact?

There's probably no right answer.  

But I'm cautiously optimistic about a middle-ground approach that emerged in our discussions: incorporating cowpeas (legumes) into the porridge would increase both caloric and protein content to counter stunting. They're already a part of the local diet, so they're culturally appropriate and acceptable. And growing cowpeas fits right in with our sustainable agriculture program: cowpeas make an ideal cover crop to plant in between the rows of the corn that communities are already growing to use in the porridge. So soil health improves, and children's health improves too. 

Let food be thy medicine, indeed. 

Our Waverly office will be closed this week to allow our staff to engage with world leaders and experts in agriculture, nutrition, and economic development. There are several free events throughout the week that are worth attending, some of which are listed below.  If you're planning to participate in any of the World Food Prize activities next week, please stop by our booth - we'd love to talk more.

PS: we're looking for partners to take this pilot project from an idea to a reality. If your family, church, or civic club would like to invest in this program, please contact me for details: nora@selfhelpinternational.org. 
Join the Des Moines Area Hunger Hike
Sunday, October 9
1:30 - 4:30pm

Free will donation

Hike to raise awareness of hunger here in Iowa and around the world. We'll be walking so that those who hunger may have bread, and those who have bread hunger for peace and justice.

This 5K walk is open to all ages. Poke-hunters are welcome, so bring out the kids to "catch 'em all!"
RSVP Here
Iowa Hunger Summit
Monday, October 10
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Join the conversation as Iowans discuss strategies to alleviate hunger at home & abroad. Stop by our booth to say hi!
Register Here
Leading the Fight Against Malnutrition and Hidden Hunger: A Conversation with the 2016 World Food Prize Laureates

Monday, Oct 10 ~ 8:00 PM
Sun Room, Memorial Union
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC / NO RSVP REQUIRED
Copyright © 2016 Self-Help International, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp