food reflection cards - cafod · pdf filehave enough money to buy food so it was the right...

FOOD cardsReflection

LITERACY l Ask the children to talk about the photos in groups: what can they see? What are the children doing

and saying to one another? Discuss similarities and differences to their lives. Describe the landscape and detail they can see. Imagine they are describing the picture to someone who is blind. What would they like to ask the children and people in the pictures if they met them?

l Write a story about the picture before they read the story on the card.

l Take some of the quotes from the stories: rewrite in their own words and/or explain what the person speaking means by them. Use a quote as a stimulus for creative writing.

l Ask the children to imagine they visit Emily, Makuu, Dorcas or Rose and write an account/a journal/blog of their visit.

PEl Make a football from plastic bags

(see Makuu’s story).

l Play unfair/fair game (instructions for making football with the game)cafod.org.uk/primary/sport

CAF2510

WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES During staff meetings take the scripture/CST quote or one of the CST principles and discuss. Use the reflections on the cards to help you. Discuss the questions as a professional group: this will enrich your understanding and discussions with the children.

HISTORYl Using Dorcas’s story about

defending the village, think about different defence strategies throughout the ages.

REl Use aspects of the cards for class worship. Ask the

children to write their own liturgies using the prayer, story and reflection on a card. Make a class display.

l Discuss the (CST) principles eg solidarity, stewardship, family and community etc. How can you as a class/school community/individuals put these in to action. Write prayers for each principle.

l Through discussion put together a class charter on how to live out the CST principles.

l Visit picturemyworld.cafod.org.uk – our children’s website for 7-11 year olds to read more stories about CAFOD’s work.

l Mime/dramatise/create a dance for a story.

l “Sharing is part of my faith”. Discuss this quote from Emily. What does it mean for each of the children? How can they, in their daily lives, put this into action?

l Ask children to be Pope for a day and write their own letter to ‘all people of good will’ highlighting the important issues for people living in poverty.

GEOGRAPHYl Find out about Kenya as a country and make

a fact file. Visually present some of the facts, e.g. in a poster or in a graph.

l Compare facts about size, population, food, culture etc with the UK.

l Research climate change and its impact particularly drought at cafod.org.uk/primary/environment

l Find out about water dams (see Emily’s story). Why build them? Where else in the world are dams used?

SCIENCE & PSHEl Living things – what conditions do plants need to

be able to grow?

l Vegetable gardens (see Makuu’s story) – if you have a school garden try growing maize and other vegetables.

l Find out what maize is and how it can be eaten.

l Explore what a nutritious healthy diet should be. What does malnutrition mean? Look up Unimix and other corn soya based foods used to treat malnutrition. (See Rose and Tabita’s story.)

l Discuss the importance of education for young people especially in developing countries. Use the quote by the teacher in Makuu’s story and Rose in her story. Play the game Poverty and goingto school at cafod.org.uk/primary/school

FOODReflection cards

FOR TEACHERSFOR CHILDREN

Registered charity no. 285776 Photography: Annie Bungeroth Illustration: Daniela Guglielmetti Printed on 100% recycled card

Dorcas’s storyDorcas lives with her seven children and one grandson in a village in northern Kenya. Dorcas and her family have faced many difficulties. A few years ago, men from another tribe stole their cows and goats. Sadly Dorcas’ husband died in the attack.

After the attack, Dorcas and her family moved away with the rest of her village, because they were frightened that they would be attacked again. Life was hard for them: “We were made poor because all our livestock were stolen.” After a few years, they moved back home to start a new community. They put their houses much closer together to defend against attacks from other tribes.

For many years Dorcas and her family relied on food aid, but this was not enough. She says: “Sometimes we would go a whole day without eating. When you’re hungry you can’t sleep. You lie awake thinking about how to feed the children the next day.” Dorcas worked as a labourer, to earn money to buy food, but there were still many times she did not have enough food to feed the family.

With the help of CAFOD, Dorcas started growing her own food. She says: “we did not have enough money to buy food so it was the right time to do our farming.” CAFOD gave Dorcas seeds and training in how to plant crops. CAFOD also helped Dorcas to plough her field with a tractor because the land was very hard. When the harvest is good, there is enough food to feed the family and the extra crops can be sold to pay fees for Dorcas’ children to go to school.

Dorcas has a strong faith. She says: “My faith makes me want to share because God says you must be the keeper of your brother. Even if I say I am poor, there are people who are poorer than us… I want to own my own property so that I can help others.”

PrayerLoving God, you have created us, you love us, and you have made us all sisters and brothers of Jesus, your Son. Help us to show respect for your presence in everyone we meet, by working together and learning from each other. May justice and generosity guide the lives of your people. Amen.

“ For I was hungry and you gave me to eat… in so far as you did this to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:35

Points to emphasise: Jesus tells us, ‘Whenever you help anyone in need, you are seeing my face in that person. Recognise your responsibility, therefore, and show respect to your sisters and brothers throughout the world.’

ReflectionIn the quote from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that he is present in every human being. The Vatican 2 document, Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 1965), states that true development is based on accepting the dignity of every human person. Dorcas is a woman of dignity, rightly concerned about supporting and caring for her family. She is also a woman of deep faith, who even in her own poverty, recognises that she has a duty to those who are poorer than she is.

Key questionsWhat kind of woman is Dorcas? What can we learn from her? Do we have a respectful attitude towards those we help? How did Jesus talk to people?

Link to Catholic Social Teaching: SolidarityThe world’s peoples are interdependent. That means we need each other if we are to live and we must work together. When we walk alongside our sisters and brothers around the world and learn from each other, we call this solidarity. In the story we read how important solidarity is to Dorcas.

Think about: How can we live in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world?



“ The environment must be seen as God’s gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations.”

Benedict XVI, World Day of Peace 2010

Points to emphasise: The environment is God’s gift to all people. We must be careful not to use it selfishly, because it belongs to everyone. We should all act responsibly in the way we use and look after our world.

ReflectionIn the book of Genesis, we hear that God created the world and all the good things in it. We hear that God gave the world to human beings and told them they had to take care of it (Genesis 1:3-31). Pope Benedict’s words remind us of this, and in Makuu’s story, we see how he is learning to use and care for the gifts of the earth. This will benefit not just Makuu and his family, but also those who will come after him, and the soil will become rich and fertile.

Key questionsDo we ever think about how our food is produced? Are there any ways we can help those who do not have their fair share? Are we wasteful?

Link to Catholic Social Teaching: We are called to stewardshipThe earth and all life on it is God’s creation. We are called to take care of it because it is a holy gift from God and the only place we can live. When we make thoughtless use of the world’s resources, people suffer. Making wise choices about the care of God’s creation is called good stewardship. Makuu and his community are showing good stewardship.

Think about: How can we act as stewards of God’s creation?

Makuu’s storyMakuu is 13 years old and lives with his family in eastern Kenya. He loves football. He can name all the Real Madrid players and the positions in which they play. In his spare time, Makuu likes to play football with his friend, Murambo. They use a ball made of plastic bags and string.

During the drought in 2011, Makuu didn’t have much energy for playing football. He says: “People did not have enough food to eat. At times, we skipped lunch and we’d go without eating. When I was hungry I felt bad, I didn’t feel satisfied. Missing lunch made me feel sick and tired. Sometimes I couldn’t concentrate.”

Since 1979, many people in this area have relied on food aid. Important skills, like how to grow vegetables, have been lost. It is difficult for families to survive a drought if they have little to support them and if they can’t grow food. CAFOD has supplied water tanks, seeds and training for schools in the area. Now Makuu helps to run a school vegetable garden, which provides food for children in the school.

Makuu’s teacher, John Matua, says: “Aid is not enough; it will not solve a problem. We have to educate people and develop our country.”

Learning skills for the future is important to Makuu. He is looking forward to eating the crops he is growing: “Sometimes maize flour is all we have for dinner and it is enough; but, of course, I’m looking forward to eating the vegetables!”

PrayerLoving Father, you have blessed us with the good things of creation and we thank you. Help us to remember that you love all your children and your gifts are for the benefit of all. Help us to be thoughtful and not selfish, generous and not greedy. May we learn to respect the earth and be willing to share its gifts with all our sisters and brothers. Amen.



Emily’s storyEmily lives with her husband and their children in a village in Eastern Kenya. During the drought in 2011, life was very difficult for Emily and her family. The crops that they were growing failed. Emily says: “We didn’t have enough… I would get dizzy when I didn’t eat…I would make sure the little ones had some (food) to eat… The older ones, my husband and I had to skip meals... It upset me to see the older ones hungry.”

During the drought, Emily worked to build two dams in the surrounding areas. The community wanted to build the dams because watering crops was a major problem. Emily says: “It was hard. Sometimes I couldn’t do it. I was too weak… Working with an empty stomach is difficult.”

Emily talks about how the work helped them: “The vouchers we got as pay for our work helped to buy food… And working in a group encouraged me. Working together we would help each other.”

Emily and her family have worked hard to build a better life for themselves and their family since the drought, but they know there’s more to do. CAFOD has provided them with seeds and training to help grow crops. She says: “I hope that when the vegetables grow, my family will eat well and they won’t have to skip meals. It will also mean that the children don’t have to miss school because we can’t pay school fees.”

Emily talks about how her faith helps her: “My faith gives me hope. Even if times are difficult and I have nothing and I have to borrow from a neighbour, if I tell them from my heart that I have nothing, then they provide… Sharing is part of my faith. Sharing takes us through hard times.”

PrayerLord Jesus, in the way you lived your life, and in your death on the Cross, you give us the example of generous love, which includes everyone. Give us a sense of respect and justice as we willingly share all your gifts. Amen.

“ Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they invite you back and so repay you. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you.”

Luke 14: 12-24

Points to emphasise: It is important that we try to be more generous with what we have. If we only socialise with, and bother about people who have as much as us, we’re not really giving from our hearts. Think about those people who won’t be able to return your hospitality – they are your sisters and brothers, so share with them.

ReflectionSt Luke always shows particular concern for sick and poor people and those on the edges of society. This passage reminds us that real generosity is open-handed to everyone and expects nothing in return. Jesus helps us to understand this by talking about something very familiar – a party or a get together, or even just tea and biscuits! He reminds us that as sisters and brothers, we should welcome and support everyone. In the story, we hear how Emily and her husband have struggled to raise their family, but with the support of their neighbours and CAFOD, they are not alone. And in their poverty, they remember others in their prayers: “Lord, we give thanks…for the food in front of us…Help those who have none. Amen.”

Key questionsAre we generous in our sharing? Do we ever leave anyone ‘out’?If we ever ‘look down’ on anyone, what does that say about us?

Link to Catholic Social Teaching: We are called to live as family and communityWe all need our families, friends and neighbours. These important people can help us and Jesus says we must help them too. Doing this, we create a loving community where everyone can live life to the full. We read how Emily and her friends work together, helping each other to build dams. We also read how important sharing with neighbours is to Emily.

Think about: How can we live as family and community with our neighbours, locally and globally?



Rose and Tabita’s storyRose and her family live in a village in Kenya. Three years ago there was a terrible drought. All of their animals died apart from two cows and a goat. Rose describes how hard this time was: “Sometimes, I’d go without food for three days. My children would cry because they didn’t have enough to eat”.

Rose’s youngest child, Tabita, suffered from malnutrition during the drought. The family were very worried about her. Rose explains how she looked after Tabita: “To survive, I gave her a small amount of goat’s milk mixed with water and she was also given Unimix.” Unimix is a supplement for malnutrition and the goat’s milk provided nutrients and nourishment that cow’s milk can’t supply. The goat was given to Rose’s family by CAFOD. Rose says: “I value the goat… It brings us food and nutrition”.

During the drought the family did not have enough food to eat and it was difficult to raise money for school fees. Rose works hard to find ways to earn money, working as a labourer, or finding firewood to sell. This is important to her: “I do this every year because providing an education is the responsibility of the parents… we have to give children the best opportunities in life.”

Sharing is also very important to Rose. She says: “It makes me happy: sharing with those who don’t have anything. God will bless you for doing this. It’s important to share.”

PrayerGod of love, we are all your children. As followers of your beloved Son, we will work hard to develop our world, so that it becomes a place where all your people are valued and all have dignity. Amen.

“ The hungry nations of the world cry out to the peoples blessed with abundance. And the Church, cut to the quick by this cry, asks each and every man to hear his brother’s plea and answer it lovingly.”

Paul VI, Populorum Progressio #3 1967

Points to emphasise: In our world, many people live in reasonable comfort, with no shortage of food and water; others struggle, for example with drought or famine. The Church, which proclaims the God-given dignity of every human person, asks each of us to respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers with generosity and respect.

ReflectionPope Paul VI wrote Populorum Progressio, to ‘all people of good will’. He tells us that we have a serious responsibility to support those in particular need, because the good things of creation belong to all of God’s people. Pope Paul VI also reminds us that all people should have the opportunity to improve their lives. Rose’s story tells us that with the practical support of CAFOD, she and her husband have learned to make the best use of their dairy goat. They take very seriously, the responsibility for their children’s education, because this gives them and their family a future. They also take responsibility for sharing with their neighbours.

Key questionsDo we, like Rose, always work hard to make the best use of our gifts, talents and possessions? Do we take for granted the good things in our lives?What can we do as a class/school to show respect for others?

Link to Catholic Social Teaching: DignityGod made each one of us. This makes us incredibly special. It doesn’t matter who we are, who our friends are, what we own, or what we look like. What matters is that we are special because we are God’s children. This means that we must treat others with respect and fairness, in the way that Rose does, because God made us all.

Think about: How can we treat others with dignity and respect?



KenyaThe images and stories in this photo pack come from families in Kenya. Kenya is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator. It has a population of 41.6 million (UN, 2011) and the main languages spoken are Swahili and English. There are many mountains and deserts, beaches and coral reefs in Kenya, as well as lots of wildlife. As shown in the stories, Kenya is at risk of drought. In June-September 2011, the worst drought in 60 years hit countries in East Africa, including Kenya.

Food factsl One in eight people in the world go hungry, even though we produce enough

food for everyone.

l In England and Wales, we throw away 3.6 million tons of food a year – that’s the same as 200,000 full London buses.

l Women grow 80 per cent of food in Africa, but own only one per cent of land.

PrayerLoving Father, all your children are precious to you. Help us, your daughters and sons, to recognise Jesus in the Eucharist, and in the faces of our sisters and brothers. May we work together in shared respect, so that all may come to the fullness of life you have promised. Amen.

“ The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in Truth, the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest, his brethren.”

Catechism para 1397

Points to emphasise: In St John’s Gospel, Jesus makes it very clear that he is giving himself as food to everyone – “I am the bread of life…the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn6: 48, 51). This means that when we gather together to share his Body, we are united with all of our sisters and brothers throughout the world. Each and every one of us is made in the image of God and loved by God. As his followers, Jesus challenges us to recognise, respect and love everyone. We cannot exclude anyone.

ReflectionListen carefully to the passage in Matthew’s Gospel (25:31-46). Jesus tells us that if we do not recognise him in others – the hungry and thirsty, the sick, the naked, prisoners and strangers – then we have neglected him. In other words, we show our commitment to him by our commitment to our fellow sisters and brothers – this commitment is a sign of being a Christian. And that’s why the quote from the Catechism says that we only receive the Eucharist, the bread of life, ‘in Truth’, if we recognise Jesus in everyone, including those who are poor.

Key questionsHow do Jesus’ words challenge us? Will we remember Jesus’ words the next time we receive Communion? How will Jesus’ words make a difference to the way we live?

Link to Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and responsibilitiesAll God’s people have the right to food, work, clothes, a home, school and medical care. These ‘rights’ are things that every person on earth needs in order to live a full life. But many people do not have them. Jesus wants people who enjoy these rights to help their sisters and brothers obtain their rights. Jesus says it is our responsibility to see that everyone receives his or her rights.

Think about: What action can we take so that everyone has their right to food, work, clothes, a home, school and medical care?

food reflection cards - cafod · pdf filehave enough money to buy food so it was the right...

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