South African children call for end to global hunger on the eve of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday
Spectacular aerial portrait urges world leaders to act on the global food crisis
Over 2,000 school children gathered today to form a visually spectacular human portrait of Nelson Mandela with the message ‘Freedom from Hunger.'
The ambitious project, which could only be seen and photographed from the sky, took place in the sprawling township of Alexandra on the outskirts of Johannesburg and marked the latest chapter in ActionAid’s HungerFREE campaign.
Three days before Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, young people sent an important message to world leaders: “Hunger is no longer just an issue of need and circumstance but an issue of justice and responsibility. Take charge!”
“Today is one of the most exciting days of my life because Mandela is the reason we are free today,” said 17 year-old Bongani Zulu of East Bank High School.
“Sometimes I feel as if Alex is a forgotten town, and I’m glad that we have this opportunity on Mandela’s birthday to talk to the world.”
Rising food and commodity prices are adding to the challenges faced by millions of poor people, already struggling to get enough food.
“Things are so tough for us currently, we are struggling more than ever to survive,” said Salamina Gladys Motsoagae, a 23-year-old single parent who lives in an informal settlement in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, with her mother. “
We are down to two meals per day. Our government needs a wake up call because we cannot continue to live like this.”
ActionAid South Africa Country Director Zanele Twala said Mandela is one of the most outspoken leaders on the eradication of global hunger.
“On his 90th birthday, the youth of South Africa are celebrating this great milestone by reminding global leaders that people around the world are experiencing insufferable hunger and we need an urgent resolution to the current food crisis,” said Twala.
The children were choreographed by John Quigley of ‘Circle Up Now’ in collaboration with local artist Mthunzi Ndimande, and are part of a never-to-be-repeated campaign moment, the news and image of which will travel around the world.
As part of its HungerFREE campaign, ActionAid is taking action on
Mandela’s birthday as an opportunity to create hope for a HungerFREE world by reiterating the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – that hunger will be eradicated when all states respect, protect and fulfil the basic human right to food.
© ActionAid/Circle Up