AUR has听a long history of involvement听with WFP.听We regularly welcome guest speakers from the听Organization, our students undertake internships at its headquarters in Rome, and we are proud to听have听seen ten of our graduates go on to assume听roles within听the Organization. We also听count听among听our faculty听a former听Senior Officer of WFP.听
WFP鈥檚 mission has had a direct influence on the development of our听Master of Arts听programs in Food Studies and Peace Studies. Their efforts to address the causes of world hunger and听promote听food sustainability are听precisely the fields in which we prepare our graduates to make meaningful contributions in their future careers.听听
Coincidentally, on the eve of the award announcement,听AUR鈥檚 MA in Food Studies students were welcoming guest speakers Natalie Ching (AUR alumna) and听Katharina听Weltecke听from the World Food听Programme听in Rome. Natalie听and听Katharina presented听some of the new initiatives听currently听undertaken by听the Organization, including听the听app听ShareTheMeal,听which听allows听users听to 鈥榮hare their meal鈥� with children in need for just US$0.80. This struck a chord with our students as they appreciated the way in which it听enables everyone to听get involved in the work of the WFP.听
ShareTheMeal听raises funds to feed people听in need听and听in so doing contributes to the听Organization鈥檚 ultimate goal of听a world with zero hunger. Users can听choose听where their donation will听be directed, and听with a听quick听tap on the app they听give听US$0.80 (or more). The United Nations World Food Programme receives the funds and provides the meals. In the app,听users are shown听how听the money they donate becomes meals, and how those meals听are fighting hunger.听
Currently, over 85 million meals have been shared. You can learn more and download the app at听听
The听2020听Nobel Prize听Committee stated听their wish听听
鈥渢o emphasise that providing assistance to increase food security not only prevents听hunger but听can also help to improve prospects for stability and peace听...听With this year鈥檚 award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to turn the eyes of the world towards the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger. The World Food Programme plays a key role in multilateral cooperation on making food security an instrument of peace, and has made a strong contribution towards mobilising UN Member States to combat the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.鈥澨�
AUR offers its听continued and听wholehearted support听of the WFP鈥檚 efforts and听takes heed of its reminder听that food security听and peace听are intrinsically听linked听and that international solidarity and multilateral cooperation are key to humankind and its coexistence with the earth鈥檚听ecosystems.听听
Congratulations again to the United Nations World Food听Programme.听