A GROUP of primary school children proved they could walk the walk and talk the talk last month when they took part in a public speaking contest.
Organised by Cafod, children from Reading schools debated the issues relating to the Hungry For Change national initiative, part of the Enough Food IF campaign. Taking place at Reading Borough Council’s chambers on Friday, March 22, the young debaters were judged by local experts including Reading East MP Rob Wilson, Reading West prospective parliamentary candidate Victoria Groulef, the deputy mayor of Reading Cllr Deborah Edwards and Clrr John Ennis, Reading’s lead councillor for education and children’s services. The finalists talked about the causes of food poverty including climate change, tax dodging and land grabbing.Lynda Mussell, CAFOD Manager for the Reading area, said: “They went further by calling on us all to take action by choosing to reduce waste, eating local, sustainable and more Fairtrade foods and by taking part in CAFOD’s current Hungry for Change campaign.”An overall winner was chosen from St Martin’s Primary in Caversham. The school also won a shield for achieving the highest amalgamated scores.Participating schools included English Martyrs, St Martin’s, Christ the King, St Paul’s and St Dominic Savio and St Joseph’s College Prep.Competition organiser and CAFOD Education Volunteer for the Reading area, Linda Heneghan said: “The final is the culmination of many weeks hard work. Hundreds of pupils will have taken part in the competition so all our finalists have done very well to get to this stage.”Victoria Groulef was delighted to be one of the judges. She said: “All of the young people spoke with confidence. Hearing the passion to stop world hunger, from such young voices was very emotive, particularly in the run up to Holy Week.”
For more on the Hungry For Change campaign and how you can get involved, log on to cafod.org.uk/hungry.
