Questions answered by Dale Nelson Divinagracia, Fundraising and Resource Development Manager of Action Against Hunger
What is Restaurants Against Hunger?
Restaurants Against Hunger is an international initiative of the restaurant industry. The campaign unites chefs, restaurant owners, and foodies all over the world to channel their passion for food into life-saving impact against hunger and child malnutrition.
Who is behind Restaurants Against Hunger?
Restaurants Against Hunger is being promoted by Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization that takes action against the causes and effects of malnutrition. We are on the frontline in nearly 50 countries, helping to reach more children than ever with lifesaving treatment while developing long-term solutions to stop them from becoming malnourished in the first place.
Why is it important to address malnutrition in the Philippines?
Based on the latest survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, more than 3.8 million or 33.4% of Filipino children are stunted. This number is up from 30.1% in 2015. Stunting, also called Chronic Malnutrition refers to a child who is too short for his or her age. It is the result of poor nutrition during early childhood. Children suffering from stunting may never attain their full possible height and their brains may never develop to their full cognitive potential. The effects are irreversible and can last a lifetime. These children face learning difficulties in school, get sick more often, and earn less as adults. The same survey also identified 800,000 or 7.1 percent of Filipino children to be suffering from wasting. Wasting, also called Acute Malnutrition refers to a child who is too thin for his or her height. It is the result of rapid weight loss or the failure to gain weight due to poor nutrient intake or disease. Children suffering from wasting have weakened immunity, are vulnerable to long term developmental delays, and face an increased risk of death.
Based on the latest survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, more than 3.8 million or 33.4% of Filipino children are stunted. This number is up from 30.1% in 2015. Stunting, also called Chronic Malnutrition refers to a child who is too short for his or her age. It is the result of poor nutrition during early childhood. Children suffering from stunting may never attain their full possible height and their brains may never develop to their full cognitive potential. The effects are irreversible and can last a lifetime. These children face learning difficulties in school, get sick more often, and earn less as adults. The same survey also identified 800,000 or 7.1 percent of Filipino children to be suffering from wasting. Wasting, also called Acute Malnutrition refers to a child who is too thin for his or her height. It is the result of rapid weight loss or the failure to gain weight due to poor nutrient intake or disease. Children suffering from wasting have weakened immunity, are vulnerable to long term developmental delays, and face an increased risk of death.
Action Against Hunger and the Institut de Relations Internationales et Strategiques (IRIS), an international think tank that focuses on geopolitical and strategic issues, released a study titled "Socio-economy of Chronic Malnutrition in the Philippines: A preliminary key trends analysis by 2030” in 2016 to support strategic action in fighting malnutrition in the Philippines. According to the study, the Philippines ranked 9th among countries with the highest number of stunted children.
When and where did Restaurants Against Hunger start?
The campaign started on World Food Day in France in 1998. In the Philippines, Restaurants Against Hunger started in 2016 and a total of 103 restaurants have participated in the fight against hunger.
The campaign started on World Food Day in France in 1998. In the Philippines, Restaurants Against Hunger started in 2016 and a total of 103 restaurants have participated in the fight against hunger.
What other countries are implementing Restaurants Against Hunger?
Restaurants Against Hunger has been implemented in Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom, and the USA .
Restaurants Against Hunger has been implemented in Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom, and the USA .
How does Restaurants Against Hunger work?
The mechanics of the campaign is simple: Restaurants choose 1 or more special dishes from their menu and for every order of these dishes from October 1 to December 1, 2018, a portion of the profit goes to our projects combating hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines. These dishes are labelled “Dishes That Feed More.” The donation per dish is dependent on the restaurant.
The mechanics of the campaign is simple: Restaurants choose 1 or more special dishes from their menu and for every order of these dishes from October 1 to December 1, 2018, a portion of the profit goes to our projects combating hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines. These dishes are labelled “Dishes That Feed More.” The donation per dish is dependent on the restaurant.
Since Action Against Hunger is an international organization, does the donation go to other countries?
All donations raised during the campaign in the Philippines will only be used for projects in the Philippines.
All donations raised during the campaign in the Philippines will only be used for projects in the Philippines.
What restaurants are participating in Restaurants Against Hunger 2018?
So far, participants this year are Alba Restaurante Español, Aracama, Azuthai, Café Mediterranean, Calderon, Chef Laudico OK Café, Chelsea Kitchen, Chotto Matte / Izakaya Sensu, Corner Tree Café, Cyma, Friends & Family / Coconut Club, Green Pastures, Grilla, Ikomai, Ilustrado, Kabila, Museum Café, Providore, Saboten, Sangkap, Simple Lang, Sobremesa, Terraz Bistro & Meetings, Terry’s Bistro, The Old Spaghetti House, The Shrimp Shack, Wild Ginger, and The Bistro Group. We hope to sign up more before the program kicks off on October 1.
So far, participants this year are Alba Restaurante Español, Aracama, Azuthai, Café Mediterranean, Calderon, Chef Laudico OK Café, Chelsea Kitchen, Chotto Matte / Izakaya Sensu, Corner Tree Café, Cyma, Friends & Family / Coconut Club, Green Pastures, Grilla, Ikomai, Ilustrado, Kabila, Museum Café, Providore, Saboten, Sangkap, Simple Lang, Sobremesa, Terraz Bistro & Meetings, Terry’s Bistro, The Old Spaghetti House, The Shrimp Shack, Wild Ginger, and The Bistro Group. We hope to sign up more before the program kicks off on October 1.
How can restaurants join Restaurants Against Hunger?
All they have to do is go to www.restaurantsagainsthungerphilippines.org, click “register” and sign up. This program is very easy to implement, it doesn’t entail much cost, and it unites the restaurant staff and customers for a life-saving cause. We will support the restaurants by providing all marketing materials needed for the campaign: Posters, table-tops, “dishes that feed more” stickers for the menu and information notes for staff.
All they have to do is go to www.restaurantsagainsthungerphilippines.org, click “register” and sign up. This program is very easy to implement, it doesn’t entail much cost, and it unites the restaurant staff and customers for a life-saving cause. We will support the restaurants by providing all marketing materials needed for the campaign: Posters, table-tops, “dishes that feed more” stickers for the menu and information notes for staff.
How can diners support Restaurants Against Hunger?
Diners can be a part of the movement to help provide food to the most disadvantaged children and their families in the country by patronizing the participating restaurants and ordering the featured dish/es which we call “dishes that feed more”. Look for menu items highlighted with a sticker that says “dishes that feed more” or ask your servers about them. Also, you can spread the word and help us promote the campaign.
Diners can be a part of the movement to help provide food to the most disadvantaged children and their families in the country by patronizing the participating restaurants and ordering the featured dish/es which we call “dishes that feed more”. Look for menu items highlighted with a sticker that says “dishes that feed more” or ask your servers about them. Also, you can spread the word and help us promote the campaign.
What programs has Restaurants Against Hunger made possible in the Philippines?
The most recent is our response to the Marawi conflict where we were able to reach a total of 206,613 individuals. We implemented nutrition screening and distributed emergency food aid and hygiene kits as well as provided access to safe water and sanitation facilities in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. Through our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in the areas of Masbate, North Cotabato and Maguindanao we have provided rural barangays access to clean water, created tap stands and toilets, and conducted hygiene promotion sessions to combat the spread of diseases that will lead to malnutrition. A total of 180 Barangays were declared as Zero Open Defecation Communities, positively affecting 738,566 individuals. To maintain the culture of cleanliness, we trained 730 Barangay Health Workers to continue the work we started.
The most recent is our response to the Marawi conflict where we were able to reach a total of 206,613 individuals. We implemented nutrition screening and distributed emergency food aid and hygiene kits as well as provided access to safe water and sanitation facilities in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. Through our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene projects in the areas of Masbate, North Cotabato and Maguindanao we have provided rural barangays access to clean water, created tap stands and toilets, and conducted hygiene promotion sessions to combat the spread of diseases that will lead to malnutrition. A total of 180 Barangays were declared as Zero Open Defecation Communities, positively affecting 738,566 individuals. To maintain the culture of cleanliness, we trained 730 Barangay Health Workers to continue the work we started.
The campaign has also supported our Nutrition and Food Security and Livelihood projects in Zamboanga City for the internally displaced people that were forced to evacuate their homes during the 2013 siege.
Can you share with us what Action Against Hunger has seen while working around the Philippines?
Malnutrition is prevalent in the areas Action Against Hunger is working in. In North Cotabato, there was a 5-year-old child who was practically skin and bones, he was pale and his hair was not growing. He was suffering from wasting because he was not eating enough food and not having a varied diet. For months he was only eating boiled cassava, banana, and sweet potato. As mentioned above, the Philippines is at a critical point with regards to stunting. The numbers have increased to 33.4% from 30.1% in 2015 and the Philippines ranked 9th among countries with the highest number of stunted children. Stunting is something that we see every day. It is quite common to see children who we thought were only in Elementary only to find out that they’re already in High School. These kids are underdeveloped – not only physically, but cognitively as well. If not treated in the first 1,000 days of a person’s life (from 0 to 2 years old), the effects of stunting is irreversible and will last that person’s whole life. Nutrition during pregnancy and in the first years of a child’s life provides the essential building blocks for brain development, healthy growth, and a strong immune system. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the foundation of a person’s lifelong health are largely set during this 1,000-day window.
Malnutrition is prevalent in the areas Action Against Hunger is working in. In North Cotabato, there was a 5-year-old child who was practically skin and bones, he was pale and his hair was not growing. He was suffering from wasting because he was not eating enough food and not having a varied diet. For months he was only eating boiled cassava, banana, and sweet potato. As mentioned above, the Philippines is at a critical point with regards to stunting. The numbers have increased to 33.4% from 30.1% in 2015 and the Philippines ranked 9th among countries with the highest number of stunted children. Stunting is something that we see every day. It is quite common to see children who we thought were only in Elementary only to find out that they’re already in High School. These kids are underdeveloped – not only physically, but cognitively as well. If not treated in the first 1,000 days of a person’s life (from 0 to 2 years old), the effects of stunting is irreversible and will last that person’s whole life. Nutrition during pregnancy and in the first years of a child’s life provides the essential building blocks for brain development, healthy growth, and a strong immune system. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the foundation of a person’s lifelong health are largely set during this 1,000-day window.
Who else is supporting Restaurants Against Hunger?
Restaurants Against Hunger is co-presented by McCormick Culinary. Sponsors are Foodpanda, Marca Leon, and Mida Food. Supporting the campaign are the LTB Chefs Association Philippines and The Spanish Chamber of Commerce. Collaborators are Acceler8, Digital Out-of-Home Philippines, Nyxsys Philippines, Pitchworks Incorporated, and Summit Outdoor Media.
Where can they get more details about Restaurants Against Hunger?
Website: www.restaurantsagainsthungerphilippines.org
Facebook: @RestaurantsAgainstHungerPH and @ActionAgainstHungerPH
Instagram: @RestaurantsAgainstHungerPH
Twitter: #EndHungerPH
Hashtag: #restaurantsagainsthungerPH
No comments:
Post a Comment