Fluctuations in Food prices occurring during the first decade of the 21^st Century were the reason behind the 2011 WFD (World Food Day) theme “Food prices - from crisis to stability”. Price swings, upswings in particular, represent a major threat to food security in countries like Mozambique. The WFD was celebrated in attempt to alert stakeholders of the problem.

The FAO Staff Coop launched an International Essay Competition to challenge children around the world to speak up about their beliefs on hunger and Food Security.

Children from schools in Mozambique, private and public, from North to South, were invited to participate and were given the opportunity to write in English or in Portuguese. Primary and Secondary school students shared their view on the situation of food security in Mozambique.

The FAO representation in Mozambique is happy to announce that  Nicole Váz, a 14 year old student of Trichardt School for Christian Education in Maputo, won the Sixth place in the  Category A (11-14 years). Her essay competed with another 809 valid essays sent to FAO in Rome, from all over the world.

Nicole wrote an informing and appealing essay and she proved she is very aware of the Mozambican context. She has also shown evidence of research activity by revealing her thrust in sustainable agriculture.

Nicole was awarded with a WFD Medal, and the School was awarded with books to its Library kindly donated by the Food for Thought Bookshop in Rome.

The global theme for the 2012 WFD will be ‘Agriculturalcooperatives- key to feeding the world’.