The Dorcas Food Campaign: Fighting hunger and poverty

Food is a fundamental human right, yet millions of people around the world still struggle to access sufficient and nutritious food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), an estimated 645 million people experienced hunger in 2025. Meanwhile, 2.1 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity, and 2.69 billion people could not afford a healthy diet. Conflict, extreme weather, economic shocks and inequality all contribute to food insecurity.

In response, Dorcas organises the annual Dorcas Food Campaign in the Netherlands. Through this campaign, we raise awareness, mobilise resources and support sustainable solutions that enable communities to build resilient livelihoods. Thousands of dedicated volunteers contribute to the campaign by raising funds and supporting initiatives that address food insecurity.

Dorcas takes a holistic approach to food security, addressing immediate needs while building the foundations for long-term resilience. Alongside emergency food distributions, we support households in marginalised circumstances with training in sustainable farming techniques and the materials they need to put these into practice. We also provide skills training and support people in starting their own businesses, helping them build more secure livelihoods and improve their access to food.

1. Food distributions during emergencies

These distributions are meant to provide food to people in immediate need. For example, people who have lost access to food and water due to a natural disaster or conflict. They receive food or money to support them through this first difficult period.

Barkitha from South Sudan. Barkitha left South Sudan for Sudan many years ago, but after her husband passed away and conflict erupted, she returned home with her children, facing hunger and uncertainty. ‘We had nothing, and my children cried from hunger.’ Then, through Dorcas, she began to receive monthly food parcels and a small cash grant containing flour, oil, beans and salt.

‘With this support, we had enough to get through the first few months. This support gave me the strength and space to make plans for the future.’ Dorcas also provided her with tools for growing grain and nuts. ‘Now I can produce food myself and no longer have to worry whether my children have enough to eat.’

Barkitha’s story highlights the critical role these parcels play as a first step in supporting people to rebuild their lives after emergencies. Dorcas brings this type of support to countless households facing displacement and hunger in the thirteen countries where we work.

2. Growing food

As well as providing immediate emergency assistance, Dorcas also addresses the underlying causes of food insecurity through sustainable agriculture initiatives. We provide households living in poverty with seeds, tools and training to cultivate crops and do this in a climate-smart way. For example, through the Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) we support farmers to collaborate in decision-making and resource management, enhancing their ability to adapt to climate changes. This ensures they have healthy food all year round.

Vasyl and Renate from Ukraine: Due to ongoing conflict, Vasyl lost his job, leaving his family struggling to make ends meet. Dorcas provided them with materials to expand their greenhouse and training in growing and marketing. Now, they have enough food and income to support their family.

3. Earning food through a new occupation

Dorcas provides (skills) training and support for people in vulnerable situations to start their own businesses. This will put food on the table – now and in the future.

Mahalled from Ethiopia: In Ethiopia, Mahalled took any short-term work she could find, but it wasn’t enough to sustain her family. With her husband’s limited income, she turned to Dorcas and enrolled in a woodworking course. Once she completes the course, she plans to open a workshop named after her daughters: Sosena & Bitanika Furniture Making Workshop.

Mahalled’s experience highlights the importance of skills training in changing personal situations, empowering people to improve their lives and support their families.

Building resilience through food security

Food security has a profound impact on the well-being of people and communities around the world. It affects not only personal health and development, but also broader societal stability and growth. When communities lack access to sufficient food, the consequences go beyond hunger, affecting education, economic productivity and social cohesion. The stories of Barkitha, Vasyl, Renate and Mahalled illustrate how access to nutritious food can transform lives, build resilience and empower people and communities to build a sustainable future.

Through the Dorcas Food Campaign, we want to contribute to a future where food security is accessible to all. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the fight against hunger.