Battling hunger in the world benefits all

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/02/2023 (971 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What do a group of farmers gathered along Highway 2 harvesting soybeans in mid-October have in common with people overseas experiencing hunger?

At first glance, maybe not a lot. But these farmers are among the 450 or so Manitobans coming together to grow a crop, and then at harvest time, sell it on the Canadian market and donate the proceeds to Canadian Foodgrains Bank, where it’s used in hunger-response projects around the world.

Their contribution of time and resources is a remarkable one — and their efforts make a tremendous difference to people around the world experiencing hunger.

This week is International Development Week, a time set aside to recognize and celebrate the contribution of Canadians to international aid and development. It’s an effort they’re joined in by their government, with Canada giving about 0.3 per cent of its gross domestic product to aid.

It’s tempting to think of people being helped via Canadian aid as nameless, faceless people a world away.

But for Manitobans like me, international aid is more than that. Those we help are families, friends and neighbours.

I’m a Manitoban who is originally from Haiti. I first came here to study, and ended up staying and building a life here, where I’m now employed at Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

For me, hearing news about the humanitarian crisis in Haiti is more than just listening to a newscast. The lives of my dear parents, brother and many relatives are impacted. It weighs on me heavily to hear about lack of food, gang violence and natural disasters all upending life for those I care about.

When the 2010 earthquake happened in Haiti, I was so distraught and caught up trying to find ways to help those back home — including my wife — I wasn’t able to work for a week, though I was here in Manitoba.

And I know it’s not just me. For anyone who has friends and family living through dangerous circumstances in other countries while we’re here safe in Canada, our well-being is tied to their well-being. When Manitobans help others facing hard times in other countries, somehow, we feel supported, too.

Each year, about 1,500 to 2,200 people come to Manitoba as refugees, many of them leaving behind friends and family in dire circumstances. However, those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Not everyone, myself included, who comes to Canada from a country requiring humanitarian aid is a refugee. The bulk of Canadian immigration is economic, not humanitarian. And while there are some countries that require aid for longer periods of time, a country’s need for help might come out of the blue, such as the case in Ukraine.

I’m also very aware that no matter where one lives, no person in any country is ever safe from the possibility of needing emergency help their own country can’t provide. I particularly recall watching television footage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. I found it shocking to see Americans scrounging in garbage cans for food.

I understand that for security reasons, no government can afford to let all migrants, at all times, into a country. On the one hand, it makes sense to have proper procedures in place for how people actually enter a country. On the other hand, when you have a number of migrants showing up at the border seeking protection, turning them away creates a humanitarian issue that doesn’t align with our Canadian values of compassion and generosity.

There are many reasons to support Canada’s involvement in overseas international-development efforts. Many of the volunteers who take part in a growing project would tie their reasons for doing so to their Christian faith. Others would say they’ve been so richly blessed in their lives here in Canada, it feels right that they should share with others in need.

It’s up to all of us to reflect on how to build resilient, inclusive and sustainable societies that benefit all people, while protecting our planet.

It’s something those 450 or so Manitoba farmers who support the Foodgrains Bank via growing projects are ready to do, and many other Manitobans, too — both those who were born here and those who have made Manitoba their home by choice.

Arisnel Mesidor manages public engagement at Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end hunger.

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