From Survival to significance

In many parts of the world, emergency food is necessary. But it should never be the end goal.

At Feed The Hungry UK, we believe that it is possible to eradicate food poverty. But that doesn’t happen by simply moving surplus food around. Instead, something bigger needs to be done: communities need to be transformed.

That’s why our work aims to move people from survival to significance.

From survival…

Starvation is a reality in too many places around the world. So we deliver food, simply to help people survive.

They are surviving many things: drought, war, environmental disasters, extreme poverty, global financial crises. By providing nutritious food, we give them a chance to begin again, to rebuild their lives and work towards a better future.

For example, families displaced by the war in Ukraine are struggling to find adequate food and shelter. The dynamic nature of war means they are often displaced more than once, and face constant threat from bombing. Feeding these families provides for their immediate needs in the midst of a crisis.

To stability…

The next step is stability. More than preventing starvation, communities can begin planning for the future, turning their minds from the need to eat to things like generating income or accessing education.

So when we provide meals through schools in Zimbabwe, we’re providing stability for children. They know that a meal will be provided when they come to school – possibly the only meal they’ll eat that day. That food provides the incentive to come and the energy to learn – which results in a chance of building a future free from poverty.

To sustainability…

Sustainability is a vital goal for any community. They want to be self-sufficient, able to generate enough food and income for themselves.

We work with communities to develop long-term projects that build towards resilient sustainability: able to withstand things like climate change and global financial crises.

Our project in Zambia provided training for 20 widows through Foundations for Farming. They learnt about sustainable, climate-resilient farming, and were able to apply their learning to their own farming practices. This initial group of women then train others in sustainable farming practices – building a community more equipped in the face of climate change.

To significance.

So often, people who have suffered in crises of all types have lost their sense of value and worth – they feel they haven’t got a place in the world or in their nation.

We know a thriving community isn’t simply economically sustainable. It’s also a community where individuals feel valued and heard. It’s a community that can take its place in the wider world.

When the Feed The Hungry team in Uganda first met Alex, he was a feral child living in woods nearby. The team gave him food, a safe place to live and access to school. This simple intervention taught Alex that he mattered. Now, he is a thriving young man with dreams for the future.

Significance matters. That’s why our work seeks to help communities regain confidence in their voice, advocating for their place in the world.

Our work & the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals are internationally agreed goals that aim to transform the world b 2030. The 17 interconnected goals address poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation and social justice.

Our focus on moving communities from survival to significance contributes to many of the 17 goals:

You can read more about the Sustainable Development Goals on the UN website.

global goals, local transformation

With these global goals in mind, we know it is vital to work with local communities to see change. Our partnerships are always with local people who are embedded in the community. They know the biggest barriers to development and the best ways to bring transformation.