Acute hunger advances beyond Covid-19 and first and foremost affects children, those who most need healthy, safe and nutritious food in developmentally appropriate quantities. ShareTheMeal, the app developed by WFP(World Food Program), offers micro-donations of 0.70 euros, 20 cents more than in the past, to help address this planetary crisis.
ShareTheMeal, 70 cents for the comfort of a hungry child
Starting in July 2020, the World Food Program app-which we have already written about-invites people to donate €0.70 (instead of €0.50) to provide a hungry child with the comfort of a day’s worth of regular, nutritious meals. Away from the junk food that does not spare even the most desperate populations.
A tap on the screen of the smartphone activates a micro-donation in an amount less than the price of a coffee at the bar. And it is the contagion of Good that makes an extraordinary impact. ‘In just five years, thanks to your help we have shared over 75 million meals (over 78 million as of 5.8.20, ed.) With families in need‘, recalls the community united around this formidable app.
Where the 70 cents go
World Food Program activities target children in every community in emergency. The 1,100 young Syrian refugees in Lebanon, now devastated by the Beirut apocalypse. And those forced to endure violence and starvation in Yemen. Also, the small refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Rohingya refugees in Burma and Syrian refugees in Iraq, not forgetting the Palestinian children.
In the next five years, the app aims to reach 800 million shared meals. To succeed in the goal, however, it is necessary to communicate and engage new donors. Also through activities that in turn affect program costs, albeit in line with those of other large-scale fundraising activities. The sums collected are used as follows:
– the bulk of it, 62%, goes directly to food assistance for people in need,
– 28% is devoted to fundraising and marketing, to expand the donor community,
– 6% goes to the management of the organization (office rent, payment of salaries, etc.),
– The remaining 4 percent covers fees charged by payment processors.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
