Young singers of the World Food Day music video

Italy

Rapping in a mix of eight languages, a diverse group of some 40 young people are spreading the message of this year’s World Food Day to their peers around the world – in song.

“Why is hunger still here, when we’ve been fighting it for years?” a girl asks in Arabic in the music video they recorded for the occasion. “Educate and empower your community,” sings another in Portuguese. “It’s only a matter of time before we lead the way,” assures a third in Chinese. Others sing in English, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

Reflected in the lyrics is this year’s World Food Day theme, “the right to foods”, and its importance for a healthy life and future.

Throughout the video, they encourage their peers to take action by choosing their food wisely, reducing waste and helping others secure a healthy meal.

It’s no secret that one of the most effective ways to implement change across society is by getting new generations on board early. FAO’s Junior World Food Day has been doing just that – involving young people around the world in the annual commemoration that takes place on October 16 with content created for them by their peers. The Junior WFD music video has become an integral part of that.

“Participating in this project has brought us a big smile,” says Jasper M. Paches, age 24, of the Piccolo Orchestra di Tor Pignattara, a multiethnic youth orchestra made up of Italians and immigrants who took part in the video. “Seeing how the new generations are so attuned to issues like hunger, water scarcity, and climate change gives hope for the future.”

“Ensuring that everyone has access to adequate food is not just a matter of charity but a critical aspect of human rights and dignity,” adds Rebecah Cortez Cuasay, another orchestra member.

For a fourth year in a row, Garry McCarthy, from Kabin Studio in Ireland, wrote and produced the song. For the recording, he teamed up with young people from a number of schools, youth organizations and cultural centres in Italy: the Piccolo Orchestra di Tor Pignattara, Centro Russo di Scienza e Cultura a Roma and Scuola Zhong Hua. Locations in Rome that supported the recording of the music video include Cooperativa Cobragor, Mercato Esquilino and Forte! Trionfale Urban Factory.

The music video is available on Youtube and the FAO website.