World Food Programme

Hello! We are the World Food Programme. You might also hear us called by our shorter name, the WFP. We are a special part of a large group of countries that work together, called the United Nations. Our main purpose is to help people all over the world get the food they need to live healthy lives. We believe that no one should ever go hungry. We started our important work a long time ago, in 1961, with the goal of fighting hunger wherever we could find it. A big part of our job is to bring food to people during emergencies. When a big flood, a powerful storm, or an earthquake happens, families can lose everything. We make sure they have food to eat while they rebuild their lives.

Our very first big mission was in 1962, just one year after we started. A powerful earthquake struck the country of Iran. Many homes were damaged, and people could not get the food they needed. This was a very serious emergency, and we knew we had to act fast. We gathered supplies and quickly brought food to the families who were affected. We brought them important foods like wheat and sugar to help them get through this difficult time. This mission was very important because it was the first time we showed how we could help in a major disaster. It was the beginning of our journey to help people in emergencies all around the globe.

As we continued our work, we learned a very important lesson. Helping people during big emergencies was necessary, but it wasn't enough to solve the problem of hunger. We saw that many families needed help even when there wasn't a disaster. So, we decided to expand our work and help in new ways. We started programs to give healthy lunches to children in their schools. A good meal helps kids have the energy to learn, play, and grow strong. We also began to help farmers. We work with them to help them learn new ways to grow more food. When farmers can grow more, they can feed their families and their whole communities, creating a better future for everyone.

Today, our work continues and is bigger than ever. Every year, we help millions of people in more than 120 different countries. Getting food to everyone who needs it can be a big challenge. Sometimes people live in places that are very hard to reach, like deep in the mountains or across wide deserts. To make sure the food gets there, we use many kinds of transportation, including big trucks, large ships, and even airplanes. In the year 2020, we were given a very special award for our work. It was called the Nobel Peace Prize. We received it for our efforts to end hunger and help make the world a more peaceful place for everyone.