DJ BOBO, the internationally renowned Swiss artist and winner of around ten « World Music Awards », today takes up his appointment as National Ambassador Against Hunger for WFP.

DJ BOBO is the first Swiss celebrity to take up this role with WFP.

However, several stars of other nationalities are already supporting WFP activities.

Among them are the Brazilian footballer Ronaldhino, the Cape-Verdian singer Cesaria Evora and the world record breaking marathon runner, Paul Tergat.

The singer from the Swiss Canton of Aargau will use his fame by seeking to increase public awareness of the problem of hunger and child hunger, in particular.

Privilege

“Travelling around the world has made me sensitive to human suffering. It is a privilege to be able to help. The advantage of fame is that I can be heard and I have to seize this opportunity,” said DJ BOBO.

As WFP Ambassador, DJ BOBO will focus on school feeding programmes.

Last May, during his participation in the “Walk the World” event, held in Geneva, the Swiss artist declared: “I was captivated by the school feeding programmes. The idea behind them is very clever."

"In order to eat, these kids must go to school. Later on in life, these same children in turn send their kids to school because they have understood how important it is,” he said.

Shocking statistics

Every five seconds a child dies of hunger somewhere in the world. Some 400 million children know what it is like to go to bed at night on an empty stomach.

For forty years, WFP has been running school feeding programmes which increase school attendance and enrolment.

By providing free meals at school, WFP encourages parents to send their children to learn.

Education remains the best way of escaping the vicious circle of poverty, illiteracy and hunger. In 2005, WFP enabled 21.7 million children in 72 countries to go to school.

Voice

“We are thrilled that a singer as talented and as credible as DJ BOBO has decided to lend his talent to reduce the spectre of hunger in the world,” declared Daly Belgasmi, Director of the WFP Geneva Office.

“He will help us to give a voice to some 400 million children who do not have the means to speak for themselves and who do not have enough to eat.”

As WFP’s new National Ambassador against Hunger, DJ BOBO will embark on his first field visit to Ethiopia in January 2007, where he will become familiar with food aid operations in favour of malnourished Ethiopians.

This particular country has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world and one of the poorest rates of primary school attendance.

School feeding

WFP is currently feeding six million people in Ethiopia, including 670,000 children thanks to its school feeding programmes.

DJ BOBO made it onto the international scene in 1992/93 with “Somebody Dance With Me”.

In the summer of 2003, his song “Chihuahua” became the global hit of the summer receiving “Gold “, “Platinum” and “Diamond” awards in many countries.

Simon Pluess
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178581
Cell. +41-797743821
simon.pluess@wfp.org

Brenda Barton
Deputy Director
Communications
WFP/Rome
Tel. +39-06-65132602
Cell. +39-3472582217
(ISDN line available
brenda.barton@wfp.org

Gregory Barrow
WFP/London
Tel. +44-20-72409001
Cell. +44-7968-008474
gregory.barrow@wfp.org

Cécile Sportis
WFP/Paris
Tel. +33-1-70385330
Cell. +33-6161-68266

Jennifer Parmelee
WFP/Washington
Tel. +1-202-6530010
ext. 1149
Mob. +1-202-4223383
jennifer.parmelee
@wfp.org

Bettina Luescher
WFP/New York
Tel. +1-212-9635196
Cell. +1-646-8241112
luescher@un.org