June 7, 2009, Shanghai — Almost 4,000 people in Shanghai and 24 other
locations across China took part in the United Nations World Food Programme
(WFP), its local partner, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) and
its major corporate partners, TNT and DSM, in an annual event “End Hunger:
Walk the World” to call for an end to child hunger and malnutrition.
“End Hunger: Walk the World” was first launched jointly by United Nations
World Food Programme and its largest corporate partner, TNT, in 2003. Through
the past 7 years, the Walk has mobilised about one million people, across 24
time zones, around the globe. This year, the walk saw people walking in 70
countries. It began in Australia with a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and
continued through all 24 time zones finishing on the Pacific island of Samoa.
In Shanghai, Olympic champion Li Xiaopeng and Zuo Xiaoqing joined employees,
families and friends from TNT and DSM to call for an end to child hunger and
malnutrition around the world. They raised funds to deliver nutritious meals
to poor children in Cambodia, and in project in China run by the China
Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and WFP.
Hunger and malnutrition are the biggest threats to global health worldwide,
and WFP is the United Nation’s frontline agency in the fight against hunger.
Nearly one in six people on the planet go to bed hungry at night, and one in
three children in the developing world is suffering from stunted growth due to
micronutrient deficiencies. According to WFP, it will costs just RMB 2 dollars
for WFP to give a child a nutritious meal through its school feeding
programmes.
“Walk the World comes at a time of unprecedented challenges for the hungry and
the poor,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP. “Children are
suffering because food prices are still high in many developing countries, and
the global financial crisis is now hitting family incomes hard.”
“For just a few Yuan, WFP and CFPA can provide a nutritious meal to a child at
school – helping them grow and learn well,” said Anthea Webb, Director of WFP
China. “Every child deserves the best chance we can offer them, wherever they
live.”
‘Walk the World’ exemplifies our commitment to further our cooperation with
WFP. We will publish the usage of fund raised in today’s event via our
official website to ensure the fund will be used to help needy children in
China and Cambodia,” said Mr. Chen Kaizhi, Vice-President of China Foundation
for Poverty Alleviation.
“This is the seventh time that TNT has taken part in this event. We have seen
the positive changes brought by this meaningful program to help children in
hunger and malnutrition,” said Michael Drake, Regional Managing Director, TNT
North Asia. “I am particularly proud that, this year, our Chinese colleagues
outside of Shanghai in other 24 cities also participated in the benefit walk
event at the same time, to fight hunger.”
“As a world leader in supplying nutritional products, DSM works closely with
WFP globally to fight against malnutrition and hunger for people especially
children in those poor countries with our knowledge and expertise.” said
Weiming Jiang, President of DSM China.”Through this “walk”, DSM hopes to
encourage more people especially private and social sector to join their
efforts to resolve the “hidden hunger”, DSM will stay its commitment in
building a healthier life for people.
