Each year students from across the globe are honored by being selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. The Global Youth Institute was created in the 1970s as a way to recognize students for outstanding papers written on the topic of hunger crises in any country in the world. While the program is open to all students, the exchange students with Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS) found a personal connection to the crises they chose to cover. Many IRIS students decided to address issues that effect their home nations.

Of all 29 IRIS students that applied, four were selected to attend the Institute for their outstanding research papers. Noor from Pakistan wrote about how government corruption in her country creates food security problems. Houssem from Tunisia covered Algeria's water scarcity issue and connected it to their unemployment rates. Akshaj from India selected India's lack of access to clean water sources. Rafi from the Philippines, covered his country's conflict resolution and how it has left many in the southern region trapped in poverty. Rafi reflected on the experience saying,

"The World Food Prize has surely left a mark on me that will not fade easily. The sheer number of participants willing to start making a difference in the world was astonishing, and I was more than proud, and humbly blessed, to be able to represent the IRIS organization, the YES program and of course, my home country, the Philippines."

This institute gave the IRIS students a chance to present their research papers and proposals, meet with other scholars from across the world, package 112 meals for those in need and attend the OxFam Hunger Banquet, a role-play meal that allows students to experience hunger between classes.

"The program was a life changing experience. It made me realize how fortunate and privileged we are," said Akshaj .

For nearly 50 years the Global Youth Institute has given students the chance to solve global food problems. IRIS students have the special vantage of firsthand knowledge about these issues, which has created a unique relationship with the program and the YES participants. Learn more about the World Food Prize and read IRIS' blog to find out more about the students' experiences at the World Food Prize event!