Highlights of Caritas food campaign

June 26, 2015Myra

Begun in December 2013 with the support of Pope Francis, the “One Human Family, Food for All” campaign has energised Catholics worldwide and unified the Caritas network as it works to end hunger. Below are campaign highlights.

  • Helping farmers grow more food

    Caritas has always worked with communities to create water sources, improve irrigation, provide seeds and tools, and offer other practical assistance to farmers. As part of Caritas’ ongoing programmes and spurred by connections made during the Food for All campaign, our agricultural experts are using the latest methods to make sure small farmers can maximise the land they have.

    Examples:
    - In Brazil and Nicaragua, Caritas programmes teach villagers to preserve native Creole seeds that reproduce, so that farmers are not dependent on buying seeds.
    - In India, experts train small farmers on how to make their own low-cost, organic pesticides and fertilisers so they do not go into debt. Caritas India also offers them a choice of seeds, explaining which strains grow better in conditions like drought.
    - In Thailand, Sri Lanka, and other countries, Caritas holds farmers’ meetings where growers can share expertise.

  • Helping families feed themselves

    Another ongoing mission of Caritas is to empower people to earn a living. Throughout the world, Caritas gives people starter materials like livestock, sewing machines, fishing nets and more. Caritas trains them to create home-based businesses like tailoring or bakeries. With a steady source of income, parents can feed their children.

    Examples:
    - In Kenya, Caritas distributes goats whose milk families can sell.
    - In Benin, Caritas teaches families how to use low-cost, easily available, healthful foods—like breadfruit flour they can make instead of flour they must buy.
    - In Portugal, Caritas created large gardens where recovering drug addicts can get training and be certified in growing techniques. The produce from the garden will stock Caritas canteens/soup kitchens.
    - In Somalia, Caritas helps widows grow and process moringa, a plant that is in demand. Caritas prepared the farmland, purchased and installed a water pump and grinding machine, helped the women germinate the seeds, and built a processing house for the leaves.
    - In Peru, Caritas rehabilitated a quinoa processing plant so that small farmers could receive a better price for their grain. It also linked pineapple farmers with grocery stores so that the farmers have a reliable market for their fruit.

  • Changing government policies
    that hurt the hungry

    Another focus of Caritas network that has gained strength because of the food campaign,
    our advocacy efforts center around the right to food. Sharing expertise, Caritas staff from many different countries worked to change laws that hurt small farmers or the poor.

    Examples:
    -In Malawi, Kenya, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and other countries, Caritas is putting pressure on government leaders to think of the poor when drafting laws about food and farming.
    -Caritas Europa successfully lobbied members of the European Parliament to acknowledge access to food as a basic human right, receiving commitments from more than 40 members.
    -Caritas Nepal asked its government to support farmers’ access to insurance and markets, as well as to include the Right to Food in Nepal’s upcoming constitution.
    -Women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are becoming landowners thanks to Caritas Goma, which is mobilising to promote their right to land.
    -More than 100 Caritas members worldwide contributed data and recommendations to create a wide-ranging Food Report about challenges and solutions to hunger.

  • Recognising what works
    to stop hunger

    Tied in to the food campaign, two prizes of 10 000 euros each were given to
    women’s groups that have successfully fought hunger. The “Women, Sowers of Development” prizes were awarded in March 2015 as part of the Voices of Faith women’s initiative.

    For example
    - A Caritas Nicaragua programmed funded by Caritas Spain won for its work with women farmers.
    - A women’s embroidery workshop in Lebanon won for helping Syrian refugee women feed their families.

  • Reducing food waste

    In wealthier countries, Caritas encourages supporters
    to think about how they might waste food.

    Examples:
    -Caritas Japan sells plastic containers at churches, urging people to store leftovers. The funds from the containers buy seeds for farmers in east Africa.
    -During the Week of Action, Caritas Korea challenged Catholics to participate in a “no leftovers cafeteria” event. It also gave people tips on smart grocery shopping and organising refrigerators regularly.
    -In Italy, Caritas volunteers taught schoolchildren about avoiding food waste.

  • Feeding the hungry during crises

    While empowering people to feed themselves is Caritas’ primary goal, sometimes natural disasters, conflict and homelessness mean that Caritas must distribute food. The food campaign has raised awareness of the wide reach of Caritas soup kitchens and of its food distribution work. One result is that Caritas soup kitchens/canteens often receive food donations from companies or private individuals.

    Examples:
    -Particularly after floods in Argentina, Serbia, Bolivia and Peru, Caritas distributed food to thousands of people.
    -During the Week of Action and at other times, Caritas Pakistan and Sri Lanka gave food to particularly vulnerable groups, such as the children of brickmakers.
    -Caritas members in Eastern Europe rallied to feed Ukrainians who fled violence.
    -When Ebola struck west Africa and hurt people’s ability to earn a living, Caritas worked with the World Food Program to distribute food to Ebola-affected communities.
    -In France, Portugal, and other European countries, Caritas runs communal gardens that help people suffering from the financial crisis and also provide vegetables for Caritas programmes like soup kitchens.
    -In the USA, Catholic Charities is giving grants
    to churches who will grow vegetables for the poor.

  • Raising awareness and funds
    to fight hunger

    During the campaign’s Week of Action (12-19 October, 2014)—which was supported by a video message from Pope Francis—and at other times, Caritas members used the campaign as a way to encourage Catholics to take action against hunger. The campaign also provided Caritas members worldwide with information, materials and direction so that they can fundraise on behalf of the hungry.

    Examples:
    - In December 2013, the campaign launched with a video message from Pope Francis and a “Wave of Prayer” by Catholics in more than 100 countries.
    - In Taiwan, Italy, and Cyprus, Caritas supporters did walks/runs for hunger.
    - Catholic Charities USA encouraged its supporters to cook simple meals in solidarity with the poor. In Italy, Caritas Milan received TV coverage of its “three-euro challenge”—making a meal for five people for less than 3 euros. In Australia, Caritas encouraged Catholics to make meals from only two items. Caritas Korea provides cooking tips for simple meals.
    - Caritas Peru gave a prize to journalists who focus on ways to end hunger.
    - In Australia and Canada, Caritas produced materials to teach students in Catholic schools about hunger.
    - In September 2014, Caritas Internationalis released a one-minute video
    about sharing, based on the allegory of the long spoons.
    The video went viral on Facebook and YouTube,
    receiving more than 25 million views.

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