Materials for Activity

• Computers with internet access
• Optional: Wireless internet connection

Preparation for Activity

• This activity will be easier if your congregation has a wireless Internet connection and you have access to three or more computers in the same space. Recruit volunteers to provide laptops for use. Let them know you will need to download a game from the Internet. Security software should be installed on the computers. Once Food Force is downloaded, you will no longer need Internet access to play. However, there are other games on the World Food Programme site that can only be played on the Internet.
• 11 Myths about Global Hunger from the World Food Programme website has information you can share on hunger and nutrition.

Description of Activity

Choose from the following possible activities for the group.

Ongoing Faith in Action Project: If the group has chosen an ongoing Faith in Action project to do during Riddle and Mystery, continue work on it now.

Food Force: Sponsor a Food and Fun Night at the congregation, a local school, or other community-gathering place. Play Food Force, a game where you are responsible for dispersing resources to a mythical village that has experienced a natural disaster. Let people play the game.

If the meeting space has internet access, you can set up a computer to play Darfur is Dying, which simulates life in a refugee camp.

After playing the games, discuss using the following questions as prompts:

What was your experience in playing the game?

What was surprising? What was disappointing? What gave you hope?

Did you gain any insight into coping with a disaster?

Have you ever participated in anything similar to this experience in real life? If so, how did it compare?

What can we do to help support the United Nations in their relief services? If a group is interested in taking further action, the website includes ideas for action s to take at school and at home. Most of these are adaptable for a congregation.