Discussion Guide for
Five Days of Hunger After viewing “Five Days of Hunger,” use this guide to research the issue of hunger, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.
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AT T H E M O ST B A SIC LEV EL, the recent food insecurity has been caused by rising
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food prices around the globe. Factors contributing to rising prices include the climbing cost of oil, declining agricultural productivity, low grain reserves, population growth, urbanization, and export restrictions.
T H E C A US ES O F R ISING FO O D PR IC ES and diminishing food supplies are
complex, but the reality for families affected by shortages of staple foods is simple and harsh. As food prices increase, standards of living decrease. Malnutrition and starvation become real possibilities, and families are forced to make difficult choices. With less access to food, already-vulnerable children are in even greater danger because they may be pulled out of school and sent to scavenge or work for food, subjecting them to lost education, early and/or forced marriage, diminished health, sexual and labor abuse, and loss of basic rights.
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NE A R LY 8 ,0 00 C HILDR EN UNDER T HE A GE O F 5 die every day from causes related to malnutrition. That’s one child every 10 seconds. (Source: UNICEF, Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition, 2009) M O R E T H A N 1 B ILLIO N PEO PLE— one in seven worldwide—do not get enough to eat. (Source: FAO, 2009) O NE O UT OF T HR EE PEO PLE in developing countries is affected by vitamin
and mineral deficiencies and is therefore more subject to infection, birth defects, and impaired physical and psycho-intellectual development. (Source: WHO, Nutrition for Health and Development, 2007)
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A M O NG C H ILDR EN UNDER 5 Y EA R S O LD in the developing world, an
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T H E 2 0 0 9 G LO B A L EC O NO MIC C R ISIS, following on the heels of the food crisis
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estimated one-third—195 million children—are stunted, while 129 million are underweight. Stunting, which more accurately reflects nutritional deficiencies during critical periods of growth and development, is a consequence of chronic nutritional deprivation that begins in the period before birth if the mother is undernourished. (Source: UNICEF, Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition, 2009)
in 2006-2008, deprived an additional 100 million people of access to adequate food. (Source: FAO, The State of Food Insecurity in the World, 2009) T H E P O O R EST PEO PLE IN DEV ELO PING C O UNT R IES can spend up to 75 percent of their income on food. (Source: World Bank, Policy Research Working Paper, 2008) T H E R E A R E NO EA SY SO LUT IO NS to the global food insecurity. In the short
term, food aid is needed for the millions of people who are affected by poverty and hunger. In the long term, investment in agriculture and measures to improve food security are needed to ensure that every family and every child has access to the food they need to survive and thrive.
Reflect W HIC H IM A GE O R ST O RY from Kari Costanza’s trip impacted you the most?
H O W HA S Y O UR K NO WLEDGE of or outlook on the global food insecurity changed?
IM A GIN E L IF E W IT HO UT FO O D for even several days. Like the family in the video,
imagine you wake up in the morning to find that today is a “no-food” day. How would your productivity, attitude, and focus change? PA G E 2 O F 6
W O UL D Y O U B E WILLING T O EXPER IENC E hunger for a brief amount of time in
order to better understand how malnourished people feel?
M A R K 1 2 :4 1 -4 3 , the parable of the poor widow who gave everything, shows how highly
God values sacrificial giving. It says, “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” Kari Costanza tells a similar story of the church service in which the hungry people of Kerkorisogol danced around their offering of $3.50. How do these examples impact your thoughts on giving?
Recall W H AT P R E V E N T S CHILDR EN like 8-year-old Ekidor and 3-year-old Kamaret from
attending school? How does this perpetuate the cycle of poverty in which their family is caught?
HO W A R E W O R L D V ISIO N and other organizations working to feed malnourished
children?
W H AT W O UL D FA MILIES like Ekidor’s do without food aid?
K A R I N O T E S T HAT SHE HA S STA RT ED DR EA MING about food, and that she
thinks about it constantly. What other concerns do families like Ekidor’s have that are often overshadowed by their need to search for food?
Respond K A R I IS A M A Z E D AT T HE GENER O SIT Y of her hosts, who have very little. Ekimol’s
family serves its guests first, and the small, local church they visit also feeds them a nice meal. How might you apply these examples of selfless giving to your own life?
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W H O M IS GO D C A LLING Y O U T O SERV E?
HO W C A N S E E M IN GLY SMA LL GIFT S O F C SB (corn and soy blend) and money to
attend school impact a family in need forever? What would you be willing to give up in order to provide these gifts for a family?
Reach Out Consider making a difference in the following ways:
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P R AY F O R HUNGRY C HILDR EN.
S P O N S O R A C HILD LIK E EK IDO R or Kamaret through World Vision for just about
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a dollar a day. You’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics, such as clean water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts can make a world of difference for one child by allowing him or her to focus on more than just whether the next meal will come. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on the “sponsor a child” icon.
GO T O W WW.WO R LDV ISIO NR ESO UR C ES.C O M and make a donation to help
provide food and care for hungry children and families. E DUC AT E YO UR SELF about the global food insecurity. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com
to get started. B E C O M E A N A DV O C AT E FO R T HE HUNGRY. Team up with others at church
or in your community to participate in an opportunity like the 30 Hour Famine, an international youth movement to fight hunger. Participants go without food for 30 hours to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger—and experience, on a small scale, how millions of people around the world physically feel on a daily basis. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events” `to learn more.
Resolve »
NE V E R A GAIN WILL T HEY HUNGER ; never again will they thirst. The sun will
not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. —Revelation 7:16-17
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S UP P O S E A B R O T HER O R SIST ER IS WIT HO UT C LO T HES and daily food.
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A N D IF Y O U SPEND Y O UR SELV ES in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs
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W H E N J E S US LO O K ED UP and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to
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F R O M E V E RY O NE WHO HA S B EEN GIV EN MUC H, much will be demanded; and
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. —James 2:15-17
of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sunscorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. —Isaiah 58:10-11
Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. —John 6:5-11
from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. —Luke 12:48
Rely PRAY THAT:
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GO D W IL L EMPO WER HIS FO LLO WER S to provide for hungry people around
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GO D W IL L AWA K EN PEO PLE WIT H PLENT Y to the reality of hunger, and that
the world, and that He will multiply the efforts of organizations like World Vision seeking to save lives.
those with enough to eat would give sacrificially to those in need. Pray for wisdom for government leaders who are seeking effective means of addressing the food insecurity around the world.
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About World Vision W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.
About World Vision Resources E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world. World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources Mail Stop 321 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Fax: 253-815-3340 wvresources@worldvision.org www.worldvisionresources.com
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