EAST LANSING and CHATHAM, Mich. – As millions across the globe deal with food insecurity, the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute (WFP MIYI) offers young people an opportunity to be part of the solution. The fourth annual event, to be held May 10, seeks to inspire and prepare the next generation of global leaders to end world hunger and poverty.
“Nearly one in nine people on this planet do not have access at all times to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food and this problem will only continue to grow if we do not address the critical factors that lead to food insecurity,” said Brian Wibby, leadership and civic engagement educator for Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) and co-coordinator of the WFP MIYI. “We know that there are many interconnected issues that lead to food insecurity and we are providing the World Food Prize Michigan Youth Institute to young people as an opportunity to explore and help solve these vital issues. We know that young people have innovative ideas and a passion for solving problems that can and will make a difference if we provide them with the right tools and opportunities.”
The WFP MIYI is a collaborative effort of MSU Extension, Michigan 4-H, Michigan FFA, the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the World Food Prize. The event provides Michigan youth with the opportunity to share their ideas related to global food security with MSU experts and other Michigan youth while learning how MSU faculty, staff, researchers and students are working to address issue related to food security and hunger. The WFP MIYI partners hope that as a result, program participants will be inspired to pursue education that will allow them to apply their passion for global issues in impactful careers related to global food security.
“I became aware of how ensuring food security is integral to providing access to education, eliminating poverty, and ensuring a more equitable future for millions of people across the world,” said Neha Middela, a participant in the 2017 WFP MIYI. “By being aware of global issues and potential solutions, teens can gain additional perspective on potential career opportunities. Being conscientious of the world around them will allow teens to impact their local, national, and global communities to the fullest extent, both now and in the future.”
The May 10 program will be held simultaneously at two locations for the first time: MSU’s campus in East Lansing and the Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center in Chatham, MI. This new update to the program will allow participants from the Upper and Lower Peninsulas to interact with each other virtually, while making the program more accessible to students across the entire state.
To participate, youth should be in grades 8 -12 and register by the deadline of April 1. As part of the application process, youth prepare a 3 page research paper about a global issue concerning hunger and poverty. Paper writing instructions and resources are available to students on the World Food Prize website. At the event, youth present and discuss the results of their research with other participants and experts. They also participate in interactive activities to explore research and other current work that seeks to address food security and access challenges and engage with area experts to discuss solutions to global hunger and poverty.
The top performing students in the WFP MIYI will be selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, in October. Held in conjunction with the Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium, youth who attend the Global Youth Institute have the opportunity to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize laureates and participate in dialogues with the world’s leading experts and policy makers in the area of global food security.
“I was able to interact with incredible youth from around the country and the world,” said Nathan Laurenz, a participant in the 2016 WFP MIYI. “I met some of the global leaders of agriculture and listened to some of the most knowledgeable and influential people I have ever met. The experience opened my eyes to the problems and solutions of feeding the world.”
For more information on the WFP MIYI, visit http://msue.anr.msu.edu/program/info/wfpmiyi or contact event coordinator Brian Wibby (wibby@anr.msu.edu or 906-315-2662).
— Michigan State University Extension
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