Ending Hunger Now by Josette Sheeran

Ted Talk

In the Ted Talk “Ending Hunger Now,” Josette Sheeran believes that hunger is not a rare disease that we do not have a solution to deal with however every day there is one billion people who don’t have food to consume on earth. Having enough food to deal with hunger is the first step of civilization because without a full stomach and the nutrient needed, human’s body cannot function properly. Therefore they do not have the energy to work or study. Also, adequate nutrition is essential for a child’s brain and body development. Children diagnosed with malnutrition have 40 percent less brain volume, and their earning potential are 50% less compared to a healthy child which impacted the economies, and the children are much more likely end up in poverty.

Sheeran shared a solution to overcome malnutrition by using the technologies used in the food industry and use them for traditional crops. They invented a small package of nutrients that are “made with chickpeas, dried milk and a host of vitamins, matched to exactly what the brain needs.” The advantage of this product is it only cost them 17 cents to produce one package, and it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and it doesn’t need water to mix. As a result, 99% of the children who consume this package once a day overcame their malnutrition; therefore she called this package “food for humanity.” In the United States, 17 cents cannot purchase anything, but in third world countries, one dollar is enough for a daily family expense. The downside of this solution is no one can guarantee they could provide life-long supply for the people in poverty. They could not afford the package of nutrients every day if organizations stop providing supports.

Another solution Sheeran suggested is school feeding because when many children can’t go to school because they need to find or beg a meal. For 25 cents a day, children can go to school to get an education and have a meal at school which transform a child’s life. In countries where girls typically don’t go to school to get an education, there is a 50% increase in enrollment when you offer a meal to girls in school. When a female gets a higher education and a healthier body, they are much more likely to have a healthier child and get rid of poverty. I believed in this Ted Talk, Sheeran’s