The following bit of news is not Latin America-related per se, but still worth mentioning. Does anyone remember The Hunger Site- a website created in 1999 where one could click on a tab every day and help donate a cup of food to people in undeveloped countries? The brain behind that website has come up with a novel approach to provide food to the needy.
Dubbed FreeRice.com, the site allows users to play an English-language vocabulary game in order to help donate rice.
The rice is distributed via the U.N.’s World Food Program and paid for by advertisers to the site:
When you play the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of your screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, you generate the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.
The website is addictive to play, and a worthy charitable effort. Click here to check it out.
(Hat tip: Snopes.com)
Sources- The Hunger Site, FreeRice.com, Snopes.com, CTV.ca
Image- BBC News
I became aware of Freerice,com last week and have alerted family and friends, several in other countries. And they are all passing it on!
ReplyDeleteFeedback is that people love it - some descriptors include "happy making" and "addictively involving". But I think the real payoff is it feels good to be helping fight extreme hunger.
It is a great game for anyone trying to improve their vocabulary - ESL students, those preparing for the SAT/GRE etc. And as I said, playing it has the amazing benefit of helping others and knowing you are actually part of a solution.
I have been playing it everyday and have put out a suggestion for a "Rice Bowl" Competition to see who can donate the most grains of rice. Would love to see it go viral.