A group of students are running a fundraising and advocacy campaign this month.  

The campaign is in partnership with Action Against Hunger Canada (AAHC), an International Non-Governmental Organization that works in areas of food security, nutrition, health, and livelihoods in countries across the global south.  

The group of students seek to raise money to aid AAHC’s programming in South Sudan, emphasizing on the components of awareness and advocacy.  

At present, three out of four families in South Sudan face food insecurity. This issue is exacerbated by conflict and climate change.  

AAHC is providing support to the country in areas of health and nutrition, livelihoods and food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and humanitarian relief.  

Nivethitha Chivasothy, one of the students organizing the campaign said, “We are not raising a lot of money, we are not going to stop malnutrition in South Sudan. We are students who know about the problem and just wanted to do something regarding this.” 

“We are planning two [or] three fundraising events, so what we are going to do is first we’re going to start with our surroundings.” 

The driving force behind this initiative is not just financial assistance, but a collective call to action. 

The campaigners emphasize the need for a unified effort to aid 735 million people worldwide who suffer from malnutrition. 

Children suffering from malnutrition are provided with a treatment course of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) such as Plumpy Nuts. One course of treatment costs approximately $65 and spans over a six-week period.  

The plea is simple: donate your daily coffee money and you can be the difference in a child’s life. One coffee equals one nutritious meal for a child in South Sudan.  

Starting with college students, the campaigners plan awareness events that integrate fun activities to engage their peers and help them learn about malnutrition and hunger. 

“Our main motive is not just about raising funds; it’s about creating awareness and advocacy. Everyone should come together to support this cause,” said Chivasothy.  

All funds collected by the group will go directly to AAHC.  

The group’s goal is to raise enough money to provide RUTF for 10 children and raise awareness as far as possible. 

All international students from various countries in the Global South, the group aims to make a difference through this campaign.  

“We are from a diverse community, and we started to study the issues around the world. We are here for a better life, and studying about wellness, nutrition, and food insecurity around the world made us realize that we can change a person’s life, a child’s life,” Chivasothy added. 

Individuals can donate to this cause through https://actionagainsthunger.ca/t-g3-south-sudan/.