The community of Rio Claro was once again featured in the global spotlight representing T&T and the wider Caribbean in the event, End Hunger, Walk the World, on May 29. It is one of the largest humanitarian efforts by the UN World Food Programme and three of its private sector partner Unilever, TNT & DSM. This is in support of the Millennium Development Goals to end world hunger by 2015, through this global effort of raising funds and awareness of hunger to assist the UN School Feeding programme. Presently, more than one billion people go to bed hungry, of which 400 million are children and 18,000 die daily. The walk was featured in all 24 hour time zones of the world in more than 70 countries and more than 200 locations on the planet.
There were several thousand participants from preschools, primary and secondary schools, NGOs, and other social groups and sponsors that showed their passion towards this event. Participants walked to the sweet sound of music played by the MiLatMypat drum band, University of the Southern Caribbean band, Pathfinder band, and St Patrick East voluntary brigade. Guest speakers included the Minister of Art and Multiculturism and MP for Mayaro/Rio Claro, Winston Peters; chair of MRCRC Hazzari Ramdeen; representative of the Supermarket Association Sunita Persad; and, Pastor Clive Dottin. Guest artiste was Abby Blackman, and the emcee was Gailann Perot of Power102. Follow the End Hunger Committee on Facebook or visit the Web site www.wfp.org.