I like drawing houses”, says Sahra, 10, as she sketches on paper using brightly coloured pencils.
Sahra lives in a camp for people affected by conflict and climate change in Somalia, a country where children are facing a severe threat of hunger and families are unable to afford enough food due to rising global prices.
“When I don’t eat something, I feel tired, and I don’t play so much”, she explains.
Sahra regularly attends the local Child Friendly Space run by Save the Children, a place where children can laugh, play and be themselves. The charity also supports local families with health services, schooling and emergency cash to spend on food.
Sahra’s local health centre, which is supported by Save the Children, provides a special peanut paste for babies and children who are malnourished and need extra nutrients. Provision such as these help prevent infant mortality and the centre can refer children with Severe Acute Malnutrition to the main hospital for more advanced treatment.
“After eating, I get the energy to play with my friends”, says Sahra. The local health workers have inspired her career ambitions. “I want to be a doctor because I like to help people”, she says.
Sahra is one of the stories featured in Story Knits, a unique pre-loved knitwear pop-up store where every jumper tells the story of a child helped by Save the Children. The store, open from 1st-7th December in Covent Garden, celebrates the charity’s annual Christmas Jumper Day campaign.
If you’re looking for a meaningful and fun activity to share and learn with your children, then you’re in the right place.
Sign up to The Mini-Humanitarian Challenge and unlock three FREE weekly activity-packed, informative challenges.
Challenge 1: Food Explorers
The importance of diet and nutrition, and why geography matters.
Challenge 2: Food Waste Superheroes
The consequences of food waste and creative ways to tackle this issue.
Challenge 3: Getting to Grips with Global Hunger
Why do some people not have enough food, and how can we help them?
A fun way for children to understand a complex issue
Each challenge is packed full of activities, from quizzes and puzzles to recipes and arts and crafts. Each will help bring to life the issue of global hunger and why it affects so many children around the world. At the end you can award them with a specially designed certificate, celebrating their status as an official Mini-Humanitarian.
What Save the Children is doing to fight global hunger and why we need your support
Today, 45 million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition. 1 in 5 deaths of children under 5 are attributed to severe malnutrition, the most extreme and visible form of undernourishment. Severe acute malnutrition weakens the immune system and turns childhood illnesses into deadly diseases. But it is preventable and treatable.
Save the Children works in 116 countries. This means with the help of local partners; we can deliver lifesaving nutrition programming and long-term livelihood support on a truly global scale.