Hungry for change at Greenbelt festival
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Volunteer Catherine collecting signatures for Hungry for change
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Volunteers Catherine and Nathan at Greenbelt
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Douglas Alexander, Suzanne Matale and Giles Fraser speaking at Greenbelt panel discussion
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Festival-goers join the Hungry for change campaign
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Campaigning for Hungry for change at Greenbelt
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Volunteer Sizwe collecting signatures for Hungry for change
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Rain clouds gather over Greenbelt
A hardy team of CAFOD volunteers braved the torrential rain and mud at Greenbelt Christian arts festival over the August bank holiday weekend to collect over 1,600 signatures for our new Hungry for change campaign.
We’re campaigning because nearly a billion people go hungry, despite the fact that the world produces enough food for everyone.
Act now for a fairer food system >
Volunteer Nathan Nye from north London said: “It’s very exciting to be here at the start of the campaign. Hunger is increasing and is most prevalent in countries with big divides between rich and poor. In the modern world it just shouldn’t be this way. This is an important campaign with the potential for a massive impact.”
It is time to act
Siziwe Moyo, from Leicester, explained why she was volunteering at Greenbelt for the first time: “I am hungry for change because I have seen suffering and injustice since I was a child, growing up in rural Zimbabwe. Food is not being equally distributed. I have seen both sides and I believe this is the time to act. I really hope that this year there will be a change.”
CAFOD volunteers staffed a stall, took part in a Mass and roamed the site to talk with Greenbelters about global hunger and to collect signatures in support of a fairer food system. Festival-goers also wrote their prayers and messages on cut-out loaves and fishes, a reference to the Biblical account of Jesus feeding of the five thousand.
Incredible response
Rachel McCarthy from CAFOD’s campaign team said: “Campaigning is an integral part of our long-term development work. Over the last two decades, the Catholic community has embraced and acted on campaigns about worker’s rights, climate change and water and sanitation – to name but a few – and we have high hopes for Hungry for change.
“The response to Hungry for change at Greenbelt was incredible, and thanks to the determination and commitment of the volunteers, we collected a total of 1,611 signatures, which is a brilliant start to the campaign.”
The Greenbelt festival, held annually at Cheltenham Racecourse includes music, visual arts, talks, children’s activities, campaigning, worship and much more.
Find out about opportunities to volunteer with CAFOD all year round >
