Social Justice Challenge

Sometimes when we think of hunger, we get these vague sort of ideas about what it feels like when we’re really hungry and then imagining that several times over and then you have someone who is starving to death. We see pictures of those who are starving and it looks awful, but can we know how it feels?

Kwashiorkor is a childhood protein deficiency disease. Basically what that means is that the child is not getting protein and also essential nutrients. When you see pictures of starving children with their tummies sticking out, this is often kwashiorkor, as an extended abdomen is a symptom of the disease.

It lowers the body’s resistance, making children susceptible to disease even if they receive a vaccination because their body is unable to produce antibodies.

I invite you to watch the following video. It is NOT easy to watch, but I think we all joined this challenge to understand more deeply the injustice in the world…which means we need to understand the pain in the world.

ACTION STEP: Educating yourself today on kwashiorkor is an important first action step. Consider taking time this month to fast from a day’s worth of meals you would normally eat and donate the money you would have spent to an important organization fighting hunger in the world.