The G8 Summit and Hunger – News from around the world

posted by World Vision Youth June 17th, 2013

Government leaders from the eight largest economies are meeting this week in the UK for the annual G8 Summit. Here are some reactions from leaders within World Vision about what is – and is not – on the agenda.

Child Writer Letters to G8 Leaders
World Vision International
World Vision asked children to write letters to the G8 leaders, explaining how hunger and malnutrition affect them and their families, and how their future depends on the G8 taking leadership and honouring their pledges.  Here are excerpts from their letters… Read more at World Vision International’s website.

G8: It’s Time to Be Accountable for Ending Child Deaths
Marwin Meier, World Vision in Germany
As we approach this year’s G8 Summit, the news on children and nutrition is not good. A recently published study series by the British medical journal The Lancet shows that we have underestimated the effects of undernutrition on child mortality, and approximately 45 percent of child deaths before their fifth birthday are now attributed to lack of enough or nutritious food as underlying cause, leading to a staggering 3.1 million children losing their young lives in 2012 alone to a cause we know very well how to prevent and treat. Read more at the Huffington Post.

G8 stunted agenda on nutrition
Andrew Griffiths, World Vision UK
I am pretty disappointed with the marginalisation of nutrition in the G8 – a week after the UK, Brazil and CIFF “Nutrition for Growth” event, the world seems to have stopped talking about the horrific injustice of 3.1 million children dying because of poor nutrition and 165 million stunted children. The focus is on critical issues like transparency and tax, but these issues are only important if they make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest. Read more at World Vision’s Child Health Now global campaign website.

World Vision pledges $1.2 billion to tackle malnutrition
Holly Frew, World Vision US
World Vision is today announcing a US$1.2 billion package of measures to combat childhood undernutrition, challenging governments – especially those from G8 countries – to match this commitment as they meet in London today. “An investment in nutrition is a wise investment in our children’s future that not only saves lives but drives economic growth. Without the right nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life, children’s futures are permanently affected…” Read more at the World Vision US Press Center

TAKE ACTION

• Sign World Vision’s Child Health Now pledge to advocate global leaders on child health.
• (USA) Ask President Obama  to support policies that prioritize nutrition for children.
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3.5 Milliarden Wege die Welt zu verändern – G(irls) 20 Summit

posted by World Vision Youth June 14th, 2013

Für den G(irls) 20 Summit kommen junge Frauen aus den G20 Ländern zusammen, um an die Regierungen der G20 Gemeinschaft zu appellieren. Das diesjährige Thema lautet „3.5 Milliarden Wege die Welt zu verändern“, damit wird die Anzahl der Möglichkeiten diese Welt zu verbessern, indem wir Mädchen und Frauen stärken, verdeutlicht. Eine der Delegierten in diesem Jahr ist Luka Döring, sie engagiert sich bei der Jugendarbeit von World Vision Deutschland. Hier könnt ihr ihre Gedanken im Bezug auf den bevorstehenden Gipfel lesen.

Am 15. Juni werden sich 21 Mädchen aus 21 unterschiedlichen Ländern in Moskau treffen, um zu diskutieren und die Welt zu verändern und ich werde eine von ihnen sein. Der G(irls)20 Summit ist die wahrscheinlich beste Chance, die ich in meinem Leben je hatte und ich bin aufgeregt  freue mich unheimlich an diesem Gipfel mitwirken zu können. Aber im selben Augenblick habe ich Angst davor etwas falsch zu machen. (more…)

3.5 Billion Ways to Change the World – G(irls)20 Summit 2013

posted by World Vision Youth June 13th, 2013

The G(irls) 20 Summit brings together youth delegates from the G20 nations to advocate global leaders. This year’s theme is “3.5 Billion Ways to Change the World,” embodying the potential we have to change the world by empowering women and girls. One of this year’s representatives is our own Luka Döring, a youth leader involved in World Vision Germany. Here’s her thoughts ahead of five exciting days at the summit in Moscow.

On June 15, 21 girls from 21 different countries are meeting in Moscow to discuss and change the world and I will be one of them. The G(irls)20 summit is the greatest chance I ever had in my life and I am excited and overwhelmed that I can be a part of it. But at the same time I am scared not to do a good job.

But what exactly is that summit I am talking about?

“The G(irls)20 Summit brings together one delegate from each G20 country, plus a representative from the European Union and African Union.  The delegates debate, discuss and design innovative ideas necessary to improve the growth of communities, countries and companies by empowering girls and women globally and present these ideas to G20 Leaders.” (www.girls20summit.com)

Doesn’t that sound great? I have been selected to represent my country Germany! Just thinking of the fact that the G20 leaders actually read what I have to say gives me the creeds. I always wanted to change something in this world for the good and now I get an opportunity. (more…)

No Child For Sale

posted by World Vision Youth June 12th, 2013

115,000,000 children are working in the worst forms of child labour.
Today is the World Day Against Child Labour!

Learn more by checking out World Vision Canada’s new campaign No Child For Sale. (more…)

Attention urgently needed to save lives of Syrian children

posted by Paul Newnham June 7th, 2013

I got this in my email today as I was going about my day and wanted to share it immediately. What struck me is that this is a crisis I have known about for a long time. I visited Lebanon last year and was less than one kilometre from the boarder and saw some of the refugees that had sought refuge in Lebanon. At this time, they had just started to come over the border and World Vision had just begun responding alongside other agencies with supplies.

Despite us knowing about it for a long time, it has been a slow build in our news media and this means it is very hard to get the support and attention needed to break through so people will respond. The numbers are significant and kids are being impacted – young kids the same age as mine. Kids who now have lived in war for over a year. (more…)