From October 19 to 23, Foodgrains Bank hosted a Hunger on the Hill event in Ottawa with 17 participants from across Canada, to advocate for increased funding for international development assistance.
Nova Scotia nutritionist and advocate Rebecca Skerry shares her experience below:
I work as a registered dietitian in Nova Scotia, so I really believe in the role that food and nutrition play in health, healing, justice, and fellowship.
My most recent experience with Hunger on the Hill was incredibly encouraging. I learned about Canada’s foreign aid and how the Canadian government supports Foodgrains Bank, how to engage with policy makers and political matters with a faith-based lens, and the interconnectivity between global food security, climate change, gender issues, global peace, and global security.
Meeting other participants from across Canada and with MPs who are also passionate about a world with zero hunger provided me with inspiration and hope for the future of our world. It is easy to be crushed by the brokenness in our world. Yet, it is also easy to see God’s sovereign and restorative hand at work.
It can feel weird to associate faith with politics, but the reality is that MPs are people too, and Hunger on the Hill is a unique way to incorporate them in the kingdom work we’re called to as Christians and provide a witness to our faith.
What stood out to me during this experience is how compelling personal stories are as we advocate for international development with politicians and leaders, and as we share what motivates us to do this work. In the world of advocacy, when we put names to numbers and hear their stories, we humanize people and are compelled to change and be champions for them.
In a world with enough food to feed everyone, it is not fair that anyone goes hungry. In a world riddled with injustices, Canada can be a leader in peace and international partnership. Global hunger is something that voters care about, and how international aid is spent is something that voters care about.
Click here to find out how you can be a voice for ending global hunger.
This story was originally published in the 2025 Winter edition of Breaking Bread.
