Chicago Middle School Students Race To Make Hunger History

Action Against Hunger USA, part of the international humanitarian organization Action Contre la Faim, is pleased to announce its inaugural Race Against Hunger designed to raise awareness about global malnutrition among middle school students in the United States. The Race will take place in spring 2008 with five schools participating in the Chicago metropolitan area: The Ancona School, University of Chicago Laboratory School, Near North Montessori, The Catherine Cook School, and Quest Academy.

Modeled after a highly successful program run by our colleagues in France, the Race Against Hunger helps students learn about the causes and treatment of global hunger while giving them a hands-on opportunity to make a difference. In France, where the Race was first developed 10 years ago, over 400 schools and more than 150,000 students participated in 2007, raising over two million euros for our international programs.

In this pilot year, as many as 700 middle school students around Chicago will participate in the US Race Against Hunger. Peg Pavelec, teacher and advisory coordinator at The Ancona School, touted the Race as "a great opportunity for students to participate in an event that educates them about global hunger while giving them a chance to be part of the solution. Through this opportunity we are helping them to rethink some of our cultural habits that contribute to global hunger, and perhaps make a lasting change in their personal lives as well as lives across the globe."

Sigg USA is generously partnering with Action Against Hunger to launch the new initiative. The maker of aluminum water bottles, Sigg USA believes in the importance of access to clean water. Their high-quality water bottles will be awarded to the top fundraisers at each school.