Monthly Archives: April 2012

In South Sudan, a connection between conflict and hunger

Posted on April 28, 2012 by James Addis in Disaster Relief

With more food on the planet than ever before, it’s difficult to believe that people still go hungry every day. You might assume that natural disasters, drought, or a lack of access to necessary farming equipment are to blame for a lack of food. What may surprise you, though, is that conflict is a leading cause of hunger. Currently, conflict between Sudan and South Sudan is causing food shortages affecting millions, leaving children most vulnerable. While it is easy to see the role that a natural disaster or drought plays in hunger, the connection between conflict and hunger can be complicated. To make this complex issue easier to understand, World Vision’s James Addis outlines some key questions below....

30 Hour Famine: A crash course in global hunger

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Guest blogger in Causes

This weekend, thousands of students across the country will participate in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine — an event where teenagers fast for 30 hours, learn about global hunger, and raise funds to feed and care for hungry children around the world. Nicole, a home-school mom and youth leader, started doing the Famine when she was 16. Nicole offers some incredible insight, having seen the Famine from the perspective of both a student and a leader. We asked her to share why she does the Famine....

Building the best shelter for the displaced

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Betsy Baldwin, WV Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs in Causes, Disaster Relief

Late last week — after months of hard work, design, and planning — students from three different schools gathered at John Brown University to present their solutions to the growing need for shelter of displaced people worldwide. World Vision has been on the front lines, responding to the challenge of providing contextually appropriate shelter that offers privacy, security, and refuge from the elements — all while being resistant to future disasters, like flooding and earthquakes. As a part of the World Vision team that responds to emergency situations, I have firsthand knowledge of the importance of temporary shelters and was called upon to judge the student’s designs....

Malaria: Battling the “plague of the poor”

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Tom Costanza in Causes

Today is World Malaria Day. One of the top killers of children globally, malaria remains a serious threat in African countries like Mozambique — even though it’s completely preventable and treatable, and even though it was eradicated here in the United States more than half a century ago. Tom Costanza, a World Vision videographer, shares reflections from a trip to Mozambique, contrasting the elimination of malaria in the United States and its continued devastating effects, both on children and adults, in developing countries. But simple solutions exist that save lives. And you can help....

When half a camel is enough

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Guest blogger in Partnerships

Today’s guest contributor, bestselling author Debbie Macomber, shares her story of teaching her grandchildren a powerful lesson on charity and compassion. Her publisher, Random House, made a generous donation to support World Vision’s work to improve education here in the United States....