A group of passionate students from the Interpersonal Dynamics and Character Building (IDCB) course at Tishk International University (TIU) took a bold step toward addressing food insecurity through their project titled “Zero Hunger Initiative.”
Conducted on May 28, 2025, and inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, this student-led project focused on providing fresh meals and essential food items to vulnerable individuals and laborers in Erbil who often go unnoticed.
The project began with careful planning and research. The student team identified daily wage workers, street cleaners, and displaced individuals near the city center who frequently skip meals due to financial hardship.
In response, the students organized a food donation campaign on campus. They collected staple foods including rice, lentils, bread, and canned goods, in addition to preparing freshly packed meals. Each food package was distributed directly to recipients by the students themselves.
“We didn’t want to just drop off bags and leave,” explained student volunteer Diyar. “We wanted to hand the meals personally, to make them feel seen and respected.”
Some even used their own pocket money to buy fresh fruits and juices to include in the meal bags, insisting that quality, not leftovers, should define the aid they give.
Keywords: Charity, Community, Volunteers, Students, Social Responsibility, Food Insecurity, Zero Hunger
