The

Hunger Cycle
In t his a c t iv it y, the participants explore why it is
so difficult for successive generations of poor families to
break the cycle of poverty.
t i m e r e q u i r e d : 2 0 to 3 0 m i n u t e s
i n t e n d e d fo r g r a d e s 9 - 1 2

» copies of the resource titled “The Hunger Cycle Game Board,” found on page 3, one for every
Mat er ial s

three or four participants (printed on card stock, if possible)

N eed ed

» copies of the resource titled “Hope Cards,” found on page 4 (printed on card stock, if possible,
and cut apart as scored), enough for each small group of three or four to have one set of cards
» coins (or some other object that can be used as game pieces), one for each participant
» dice, one die for each small group of three or four

Activity Steps
1 B e gin b y noting that several factors keep families locked in the grip of hunger, generation
after generation. There are ways out of this cycle, but not many. Note that the participants will
be participating in a game that will help them explore the cycle of hunger and how it might be

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addressed.

Div id e t he l a r ge gr o up into small groups of three or four. Provide each small group
with a game board from resource 9, a set of “Hope Cards” from resource 10, coins (or other
objects you selected for game pieces), and a die. Then share the following game instructions:
» The goal of this game is to escape the cycle of hunger. But this game is a tough one to win.
The odds are stacked against you.

» Many of the world’s hungry face this situation, not as a game but as a daily reality. People
simply don’t have the resources to break out of the cycle.

»E
 ach player will begin at the starting point, rolling the die during each turn, moving his or her

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 game piece accordingly, and following the instructions on the space where the piece lands.

» If you land on a space marked “Hope,” you will need to draw a card.

» You will have only five chances to go around the board and escape. Once you’ve moved
around the board five times, you must end the game. Either you will have escaped, or you

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will still be stuck.

C h e c k t o s e e if anyone has any questions. Once you have answered any questions, invite the
small groups to begin the game. Remind the participants to keep track of how many times they

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have traveled around the board. Five times is the limit.

W h e n t he gr o up s have completed the game, invite them to gather back as a large group
and discuss the following questions:
» What did you learn from playing the game?

» For those of you who did not escape the cycle, how did you feel? What might have helped
you to succeed?

» For those of you who did break the cycle, how did you feel?

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» Why was breaking the cycle such a challenge?

N o t e t he f o l l o wing:
» The game would have been fairer if the cards had contained more opportunities and fewer
false hopes. In a similar way, as governments, non-governmental organizations, and people’s
movements commit to breaking the hunger cycle through planned efforts to reduce poverty,
the odds for those who are hungry will improve.

» It is well established that poverty is a leading cause of hunger. But the reverse is equally true:
hunger is part of a downward spiral within households that traps families in poverty for
generations. According to Catherine Bertini, executive director of the World Food Program:
“The damage hunger inflicts on children is often irreversible. Lasting mental and physical
damage leaves them incapable of working their way out of poverty as adults. Then today’s
hunger becomes tomorrow’s hunger” [World Food Summit, 1996].

» Countries face an uphill battle in trying to increase prosperity with a population hampered
by hunger. Work-related productivity and education are key factors in a country’s ability to
develop economically and to improve the social conditions of its people.

» The increased rate of illness and infection associated with malnutrition takes a toll on the
economy because of the extra demands on health-care services. Widespread malnutrition
also puts increased demands on the education system. Malnourished children are more likely
to need special education supports and to repeat grades. This increases education costs and

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leads to a less-educated population.

C o n c l ud e b y discussing ways the participants can impact the issue of poverty. One option
would be for them to raise awareness about hunger by holding an “end world hunger” event in the
community. Spend some time talking through this option, and even begin some preliminary planning.

Copyright © 2008 by World Vision Resources, Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716,
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved. PA G E 2 O F 5
Resource: Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2008 by World Vision Resources.

Sorry, false hope.
The harvest looks good, but it is
destroyed by insects.
Lose a turn.
Sorry, false hope.
The government announces a school
for your area, but a coup unseats the
party in power and the promise goes
unkept.
Lose a turn.
Sorry, false hope.
Your village is not included in a new
community health project.
Move back two spaces.
Your village cooperates to dig a well
for fresh clean water. Daily water-
carrying chores are reduced by two
hours. The village’s endless battle with
water-born diseases begins to succeed.
Congratulations!
You’ve broken the hunger cycle! Valid
only if you are in the “adulthood’
section of the board.
Resource: Permission to reproduce is granted. © 2008 by World Vision Resources.
Sorry, false hope.
The government grants you a new
piece of land, but you discover the soil
is too poor to produce good crops.
Move back two spaces.
Sorry, false hope.
Another older brother moves
to the city but is unable to earn
enough to send any extra money.
Move back one space.
Sorry, false hope.
The rains did not come, and your
country has experienced a long
drought. Your surplus food has been
used up.
Lose a turn.
Sorry, false hope.
Government loans are only for farmers
that grow food for export. No loans are
available for small farmers like you.
Lose a turn.
Sorry, false hope.
Your harvest was good, but 30 percent
was lost in storage because of rodents
and insects.
Move back one space.
Sorry, false hope.
You and your family move to the city
in hope of a better life. But with no
skills, you can’t earn enough to buy
nutritious food.
Move back two spaces.
Sorry, false hope.
The harvest looks good, but it is
destroyed by disease.
Local women form a cooperative to sell
crafts and make extra income for food.
Roll the die. If you roll a two, four, or
six, you join.
Congratulations!
You’ve broken the hunger cycle! Valid
only if you are in the “adulthood”
section of the board.
A community health program provides a
well-baby and immunization clinic near
your village. Roll the die. If you roll a 1, 3,
or 5, your mother takes you.
Congratulations!
You’ve broken the hunger cycle! Valid only
if you are in the “birth and infancy” section
of the board.
A school opens near your farm and your
parents send you. Roll the die. If you roll
a 2, 4, or 6, you do well and the future
looks brighter.
Congratulations!
You’ve broken the hunger cycle!
Valid only if you are in the “childhood”
section of the board.
A government program in your area teaches
new techniques for making your land more
productive. Roll the die. If you roll a one, three,
or five, you try them and your harvest increases.
Congratulations!
You’ve broken the hunger cycle!
Valid only if you are in the “adulthood”
section of the board.
Sorry, false hope.
The harvest looks good, but it is
destroyed by disease.
Lose a turn.
 About World Vision
W o rld V i s i o n i s a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to helping
children and their families break free from poverty. Our work is motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ. We
see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can
be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World
Vision is unique: We bring nearly sixty years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and
families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across
many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social,
emotional, and spiritual well-being.

W o rld V i s i o n R es o u r c e s educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to social justice,
and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world. By developing biblically-based
materials for educators and ministry leaders on the causes and consequences of global poverty, World Vision
Resources supports the organizational mandate to move the church in the United States to more fully embrace
its biblical responsibility to serve the poor.

For more information about

our resources, contact:

World Vision Resources

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