Students Can Be Inspired by Truman’s fight against hunger

A good way for students to start the school year is to take a quick trip back in time to 1946. That’s when President Harry Truman called young people into action to deal with the post World War II crisis of hunger.

Speaking before a youth conference on famine relief in July 1946 Truman said "You can make a contribution to this situation with which we are faced … by bringing home to our people the necessity for still contributing to the feeding of the world.”

Although World War II had ended in 1945, the enemy of hunger remained in Europe and Asia. Food shortages always long outlast the fighting.

As World War II was the biggest conflict in history, the biggest threat of famine was the result. Millions were in danger of starving to death in the war-torn countries in 1946.

Truman had to rally the nation and the world to stop the threat of famine.

The Youth Conference was meant to keep the issue of hunger front and center among the American public. This was important for encouraging donations to hunger relief. The famous CARE package, for example, was one way people could donate to overseas hunger relief.

"A lot of people now will be saying to you that they are sick and tired of hearing of starvation and want. Maybe they are, because this great country of ours very seldom comes to the point where any segment of its population is on a starvation basis. We can't appreciate what goes on in those countries that have had their farms and their homes and their property completely destroyed" said Truman to the students.

"I know youth can keep the fires burning that will cause us to be able to see that the world does not starve, after winning the victory for freedom and right" Truman said.

The young people after World War II did help in the victory over hunger and preventing famine. Whether it was preventing food waste or holding a fundraiser at their school, young people took action. They made a contribution to the fight against hunger.

U.S. food aid was essential to winning the postwar peace. The millions of infants saved from malnutrition, and children eating school lunches in Europe and Asia are proof.

Today, young people can also save lives and build peace by speaking out against world hunger. Students can work together to make fighting hunger part of their curriculum and school activities.

Students can host events telling others about the famine in Sudan, Gaza and the drought in Southern Africa. They can talk about the impact of malnutrition in infants and the need for emergency food aid in war and disaster areas. According to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) “As many as 309 million people are facing chronic hunger in 71 countries.”

That concern will be passed on to their representatives in Congress. This is so crucial because fighting hunger has to be a priority for the government when making its foreign policy. The public can play a role in crafting that policy.

During the school year, students may find one of their best and most important lessons is being an advocate for the world’s hungry.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) on the book “Ending World Hunger.”