The Baptist World Alliance® (BWA) is observing October as World Hunger Emphasis Month, during which the BWA sensitizes Baptists around the world regarding the extent of global hunger and invites Baptists to join the quest to eradicate the scourge.
Rothangliani Chhangte, director of Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the BWA, cited a report issued by the World Bank showing that “efforts to halve poverty and hunger by 2015 are working.”
The United Nations established eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) following its Millennium Summit in 2000. Among the eight goals is the halving of extreme poverty and hunger by 2015.
Despite the progress being made, Chhangte pointed out that “economic recession, rising food and fuel prices, coupled with wars, drought and other weather related disasters in various parts of the world, still keep 990 million [people] in poverty.”
Chhangte regards it as imperative that Baptists join the fight against hunger. She deems the observance of World Food Day (WFD) on October 16 as an opportune time to do so. WFD seeks to raise awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger.
The BWA has adopted several development projects that are aimed at meeting the nutritional needs of those who live in poverty and face daily the reality of hunger, as well as to break the cycle of poverty. These include not only the provision of relief and emergency supplies, but the funding of agricultural, educational, as well as income generating projects that provide employment opportunities for community people.
Chhangte stated that “the majority of the world’s poor are women and children, most of whom live in rural areas.” She emphasized that Baptists who provide assistance and aid will help to “empower the poorest of the poor.”
For Further information on World Hunger Emphasis Month, go the BWA website.
