1. What problem are you trying to solve with Eyeround Food Foundation Incorporated?

Eyeround Food Foundation Inc.’s primary objective is to provide nutritious, high quality food to people from impoverished communities – suffering from hunger. This organization seeks to address extreme malnutrition, starvation, and hunger problems affecting children and individuals from poor communities. Besides focusing on individuals suffering from hunger, Eyeround Food Foundation Incorporated provides food to patients who cannot pay for their meals when they are hospitalized.

2. Why does hunger offend you?

Hunger offends me, considering I am from average family and I have tasted hunger, especially in my teens, after my mother’s death. Individuals affected by the hunger situation lack essential nutrients in their daily meals. These people are susceptible to many illnesses as their immune systems are weak. I also consider the hunger situation quite offensive as these individuals do not contribute to the economy of any given Nation. They consume a large percentage of government resources, yet they are economically unproductive due to their weak nature. From a decision-making perspective, hunger reduces the decision-making ability of an individual. Their brain cannot critically analyze a situation and make an appropriate decision that they can regret in the future, thus impulsive decisions.

3. Why do you think tackling the hunger problem is really a problem you are to solve?

I understand that hunger is one of the greatest problems globally, with each country trying to manage it to the best of its ability. Through the food programs that we operate in different regions in Africa, I believe we are trying to address this problem, although it requires numerous stakeholders’ concerted efforts. I believe the communities affected by hunger receive food but are not offered long-term remedies to this recurring situation. If we receive support from the private sector, civil society organizations, individuals, and Governments, I am confident that we would solve the hunger problem. We will be able to integrate other feeding programs like:

• Food for training (young people)
• Using food vouchers
• Participate in emergency food bank (for those who suddenly lost their livelihood, or those admitted to the hospital who cannot afford nutritious meals or pay for hospital meals).

4. Do you think you can solve the hunger problem?

I believe that we can solve the hunger problem in Africa with the support of the private sector, civil society organizations, individuals, and Governments. We currently receive support from volunteers and generous partners who ensure that our organization can provide food to vulnerable people struggling with hunger. We have just received grant support from Google to use their platform. A big thank you to Google for the opportunity. Through our stakeholders, Eyeround Food Foundation Incorporated identifies impoverished communities struggling with hunger, and we provide our help. I am sure that through the insights we receive from the various stakeholders, we will be able to solve the hunger problem across Africa.

5. What would be happening in Africa when the hunger problem is solved, in your opinion?

Finding the ultimate solution to Africa’s hunger problem will yield substantial benefits to the economy and society. Solving the hunger situation would increase children’s brain development, which increases their analytical skills in school; thus, they can eradicate the high poverty levels prevalent in Africa. The deaths related to hunger and malnourishment would reduce significantly, thereby increasing the continent’s economic productivity. The people will provide labor in the formal and informal sectors, which will be evident in Africa’s overall GDP growth. From a health perspective, solving the hunger problem in Africa will shift the government’s focus from addressing the recurring health issues arising from hunger to providing quality health services to solve other diseases. Hunger leaves people susceptible to numerous illnesses and diseases, an obligation that the government has to include in its budget every year.

Charles Gbala
President of Eyeround Food Foundation Inc.