MANILA, Philippines -- Young celebrity Kristina Cassandra “KC” Concepcion has been named the Philippines' ambassador against hunger, the United Nations World Food Programme announced.
In an e-mailed statement to media Thursday, the WFP said Concepcion's special mission was to highlight the need for effective solutions to hunger and to address humanitarian needs in Mindanao.
Concepcion has gone to Pikit town, North Cotabato province with WFP where they provided food assistance and hot meals to children to boost school enrolment and attendance in Mindanao.
“It was so uplifting to see first-hand how something as basic as food can make such a difference in the lives of children,” Concepcion said after that visit.
Hunger is more than an empty stomach. It's an obstacle that stops children from achieving their full potential, said Concepcion, daughter of popular television and movie star Sharon Cuneta and ex-husband and actor Gabby Concepcion.
The young Concepcion, who will travel within and outside the Philippines to raise awareness about WFP operations, joins other WFP celebrity endorsers like Indonesian television and film actor Luna Maya and American movie star Drew Barrymore.
WFP's Food for Education program, which is being implemented with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local authorities, has raised enrollment by 40 percent and cut dropouts by providing monthly food support to more than 180,000 children in 800 schools over the past year.
In addition to its school feeding programme, WFP supports nearly one million people in Mindanao, including internally displaced, pregnant and nursing mothers and others affected by the conflict.
Valerie Guarnieri, WFP country director and representative in the Philippines, said the organization was “thrilled” to have Concepcion on board. She said the young celebrity would be able “to help get the word out that, together, we can make real progress in helping to end hunger in our lifetime through small steps, such as this one, that makes sure no child goes to school hungry.”
-inquirer.net