Is the act of sharing nature or nurture? A film by Action Against Hunger answers this question in its latest global campaign to help fight malnutrition throughout the world.
Action Against Hunger, known as ACF International outside of the UK, conducted a filmed experiment with 20 children in Madrid, Spain using hidden cameras. It filmed the children in pairs, each with a covered plate in front of them. After telling the children that they would be left alone and they could have the snacks in front of them while they wait, the adult left the room and the film captured the children's reaction upon unveiling their plates - one empty, one with a solitary sandwich.
After just three days the film has been viewed by an additional 35,000 people, Christine Kahmann, communications manager at Action Against Hunger told civilsociety.co.uk.
She said the film has already been a success in Europe: “The Sharing Experiment was initially launched by the Spanish branch of Action Against Hunger where it was a huge success and viewed by more than 750,000 people. We believe that the messages of the campaign can be appreciated by audiences all over the world, and so this week it has been launched across the UK, USA, Canada and France - all countries where Action Against Hunger headquarters are based.
Explaining the motivations behind the project, which includes a dedicated website with interactive 'share' options for people to spread the message via social media sites, Kahmann said: "The message at the heart of the Sharing Experiment is a simple but effective one. We happily share as children and now have the power to do so as adults. The world produces enough food for everyone, yet 3.5 million children die of malnutrition related causes every year.
"Although we have the means and knowledge to prevent, diagnose and treat malnutrition, less than 9 per cent of malnourished children around the world receive access to treatment. We believe that a lot could be achieved if we all shared a little more. The Sharing Experiment is primarily an awareness raising campaign, and we are encouraging people to take the message to heart and start sharing.”
