World Food Day is celebrated annually on the 16th of October to promote global awareness for those who suffer from hunger and the food we consume.

In the run up for this day, MeDirect Bank is organising a food collection week at the offices by its employees. The food items collected throughout the week prior the 16th will be donated to Dar Merħba Bik, a Non-Governmental Organisation which offers shelter to female victims of domestic violence and their children. Dar Merhba Bik is run by the Sisters of The Good Sheperd and YMCA Malta, which specialises in support, assistance and reintegration of the homeless in Malta.

World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. World Food Day is not only about celebrating the mouth-watering food that some of us have the privilege of indulging in, but it is about raising awareness for people who do not have such a privilege.

Did you know that every year the World Food Day carries a theme?

• 2018: “Our Actions Are Our Future, Ending World Hunger by 2030 is Possible”
• 2019: “Our Actions Are Our Future, Healthy Diets for A #ZeroHunger World”
• 2020: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”

This year’s theme is “Our actions are our future – Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life“.

The food we choose and the way we consume it not only affects our health and well-being but also that of our planet. This plays a massive role in the way the agricultural systems work. We all need to be part of the change.

Even though certain countries seem oblivious, in this day and age, there are still people all over the world who suffer from hunger. Famine is prevalent in a number of countries, and more needs to be done in order to raise awareness and tackle this issue. It’s quite startling that we live in a world where a large portion of the population can indulge in lavish dinners at the blink of an eye while others struggle to put food on the table.

So let’s use World Food Day to reflect about the food we choose and consume, the waste we’re generating and about those who suffer from starvation on a daily basis.