World Food Day celebrations in Egypt

1- Cairo University. In cooperation with FAO-Egypt, Cairo University launched a campaign in October 2010 and collected 4460 signatures for the 1billion hungry campaign from the students in all the faculties affiliated to the university. Thirty-nine volunteers from the university were assigned to organize and support this campaign. The volunteers were members in the famous three models of Cairo University; FDMC (Future Decision Makers Conference), COMET (Conference on Marketing, Economics and Training) and CAPS (Career Advising and Placement Services). As part of the campaign, the University hosted a football match at 13:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 27th of October, between a team from the staff of Cairo University against the staff of FAO. This was followed by a press conference, which was attended by 30 journalists representing domestic newspapers, magazines, including the Middle East News agency and the Specialized Sports media, two radio channels, in addition to14 TV channels. Samples of the press cuttings, flyer and the English and Arabic press releases on the event are attached to this report in a separate file. 4 banners, 139 T-Shirts and 4000 flyers were specially made for Cairo University’s event and campaign. Also, a Face book group, under the title of “I am mad to hell and I cannot stand it anymore”. The campaign was through the whole month of October. The match took place at 13:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 27th of October. The press conference followed the match. (Events organized by FAO-Egypt in cooperation with Cairo University)

2- The General Federation of the Egyptian Scouts at Alexandria Governorate (Thursday the 14th of October). In collaboration with the General Federation of the Egyptian Scouts, FAO/Egypt managed to publicize for the 1 Billion Hungry Campaign during a celebration held at the Centre of Naval Scouts Activities at the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria, under the theme of "The cleanliness of the Shore and Bottom of the Sea"., five banners were put in different places, the campaign's brochures were distributed and 5026 signatures were collected from the attendees. The Governor of Alexandria, General Adel Labib signed FAO's petition and stood beside the campaign's banner and a picture was taken for him there.

3- Alexandria University (Thursday the 14th of October). In cooperation with FAO-Egypt, Alexandria University launched a one-day campaign on the 14th of October 2010 and collected 750 signatures for the 1billion hungry campaign from the students in all the faculties affiliated to the university.

4- Sphinx (Friday 17 September from 4 – 8 p.m.). FAO-Egypt attended UNIC’s “Stand Up against Hunger” ceremony, which took place in front of the Sphinx. The celebration was attended by religious leaders from Muslim and Christian communities, Dr. Hawas the Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Institution, the Egyptian Scouts, Rotaract, Al Jazeera Youth Club and Friends of the Museums, movie stars and domestic, regional and foreign media. The religious leaders and the movie stars signed the 1billionhungry petition. 1052 signatures were collected from all the attendees with the help of five volunteers from different universities.

5- Rotaract Club Heliopolis (September and October 2010). Rotaract Club Heliopolis launched a campaign for the “1billionhungry project” at Rotaract’s 30 clubs in Egypt. It uploaded the 1billionhungry link on the club’s website and shared it with all Rotaract members, contacts and friends and invited them to sign the petition. Rotaract members made an online appeal on their personal face books to invite all the Egyptian youth to sign online. 600 signatures were collected from Rotaract members.

6- September & October 2010 - UN in Egypt English and Arabic articles were published in the October issue of the UN Egypt newsletter on the 1billionhungry project and the World Food Day 2010. A copy is attached to this report in a separate file. The 1billionhungry campaign was also posted on Egypt’s UN Face book group. www.facebook.com

FAO-Egypt asked for the assistance of all the United Nations Communication Group and the United Nations Country Team in Egypt to sign the 1billion hungry petition and circulate it amongst their agencies, families and contacts. Positive feedback came from them.

7- September & October 2010. Social Sports Clubs in Egypt. FAO-Egypt promoted for the campaign in the evenings at the famous social sports clubs in Egypt, including Al-Ahly, El-Seid, Al-Jezira, Cairo, Maadi, Zamalek and the 6th of October. 925 signatures were collected from the clubs.

8- September & October 2010. Information Technology and Language Teaching Centers. FAO-Egypt visited in the evenings a number of Information Technology and Language Teaching Centers and talked to the students about the campaign and collected 675 signatures.

9- October 2010 - The Journalists Syndicate. FAO-Egypt launched a one-day campaign at the Journalists Syndicate and collected 300 signatures.

10- September & October 2010 - French University, the American University in Cairo, German University, Maadi Modern Academy, MSU, Ein Shams University and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. FAO-Egypt launched campaigns at the French University, the American University in Cairo, German University, Maadi Modern Academy, MSU, Ein Shams University and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport. The campaign invited the students to sign the 1billion hungry online petition and circulate it amongst their friends, families, contacts, as well as promoting for the Face book group “I am mad to hell and I cannot stand it anymore” through their personal Face book accounts. Posters, brochures and flyers were distributed. Direct online signatures were made and 2650 signatures were collected.

11- September & October 2010. Egyptian Governorates of Menoufia, Helwan, Cairo and Giza. FAO-Egypt launched campaigns at the Governorates of Menoufia, Helwan, Cairo and Giza. Brochures and posters were sent to the Governor’s Office and 750 signatures were collected.

7th of November - Conference Hall of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR). FAO exhibition was displayed in the lobby and the WFD 2010 film was played on two wall screens in the conference hall and on an LCD in the lobby. The WFD 2010 posters, as well as eight banners on the 1 Billion Hungry Campaign were put in the lobby and conference hall.

English and Arabic press releases were widely distributed one week before the event to all the English/Arabic domestic, regional and international press, TV, radio and news agencies.

On the main table on the stage sat the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Amin Abaza, Counsellor of the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Saad Nassar, Head of the Foreign Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Fadia Nosseir and FAO/Representative in Egypt Mr. OuldAhmed, Assistant Director-General and FAO Representative for the Near East Dr. Saad Al-Otaibi, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. James Rawley. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Abaza delivered a speech on the WFD and Mr. Abdessalam OuldAhmed delivered a speech on FAO’s activities in fighting hunger and Dr Al-Otaibi read out the Director-General’s WFD 2010 speech.

The Minister of Agriculture, RNE-ADG and FAO-Representative to Egypt presented twenty WFD medals to Agricultural officials and farmers in Egypt. The DG’s World Food Day 2010 speech, English and Arabic press releases and the WFD brochures were distributed amongst all the attendees. 200 signatures were collected from all of them on the 1 Billion Hungry Petition sheets.

The total number of signatures collected from Egypt for the 1billionhungry project has reached 42,049.

Written press: The Agricultural Magazine - promotion and coverage of the WFD & the 1billionhungry Campaign; The UN Egypt newsletter -English and Arabic articles to promote for and cover the WFD & the 1billionhungry Campaign.

TV and Radio programmes: 20 national, independent and regional TV channels, including: Egyptian Channel One, Nile News Channel, CNBC, Al-Hayat, Mehwar, Dream I, Egyptian Satellite Channel, Nile TV, Egyptian Channel One, News Sector, Channel Two, Channel Three, Dream Two, Modern Sports, MBC, Nile Sports Channel, Al-Kora Al-Yom Channel, OTV, Al-Ahly Channel and Nile Sports Channel covered all the WFD and 1billion hungry events.News Bulletins and full coverage of the events were broadcasted in the famous programs of these channels. News Bulletins at 09:00, 12, 15:00, 16:00, 20:00 21:00 and 24:00

-All Sports programs in all the TV and radio domestic and independent channels.

-National Channels One, Two, Three, the nine Thematic Channels, Nile TV and Nile News Channel covered all FAO-Egypt’s events on the WFD and1billion hungry campaign.

Material prepared: 4000 Flyers - On the WFD and 1billionhungry petition. A copy is attached in a separate file; 139 T-Shirts-On the WFD and 1billionhungry petition; 4 Banners - On the WFD and 1billionhungry petition.