6th C1 writing - Composition: "Are we doing enough to help hungry people near us?

Most of us are aware that there are hungry people in the world. There is periodically some news on TV about really hard situations in faraway countries, sometimes as a consequence of war or natural disasters. However, are we aware of our nearest situation? Hunger is now very close to us. Actually, poverty can make it impossible for families, even whole communities to get enough food. 

Here are a few useful facts (from The Hunger site) that illustrate just how severe the problem is:

More than 1 billion people suffer from acute hunger or malnutrition. Additionally, almost 200 million children below the age of five suffer from malnutrition. Furthermore, seven out of ten of the world’s hungry are women and girls.

People who are hungry now range from those who do not quite get enough good nutrition to be healthy, to those who are so profoundly deprived of specific nutrients or sufficient calories that they will die without intervention. In addition to this, almost all of us feel sad when we hear about people going hungry, especially children. They are often the hardest hit when famine comes. In fact, when the hard times come, they are the ones most likely to die. And of course we want to do something to help, but we are not always sure how. Furthermore, sometimes we just feel that we do not have enough money to contribute to really make a difference. 

For this reason, it is important to know that money is not the only thing we have to offer. We can also donate our time. Likewise, take a little time each week to learn more about the problem and what others are doing to help. There is surely a group in your community where you could volunteer your time. In fact, even a couple hours of your time a couple of times a year can make a big difference to a local organization working on the problems of hunger and poverty. But whether you help out by packing "care packages" for the needy, or by collecting canned food from neighbours to deliver to a local food bank, another big way to make a difference is by talking to people about what you do. 

In conclusion, if you want to do more to help hungry people, some groups are trying to make a real difference in the world. Check out their websites and find out what they are doing to help and what they would like from you. In conclusion, your time will really make a difference.