WFP and Fida International, a Finnish international development agency today launched the Finnish version of “Food Force”, the world’s first video game about hunger which has been downloaded in various languages at least five million times.

Food Force is an educational computer game created by WFP to teach children aged 8 to 13 about the problem of hunger and the importance of humanitarian aid work. Fida, an NGO partner of WFP, sponsored the Finnish translation of the game, which is available as a free download

Proud

“We are very proud to have Food Force available in Finnish,” says Josette Sheeran, WFP’s Executive Director, who presented the game in Helsinki.

“With every translation, more children around the world can learn about hunger and what they can do to help. We are creating a generation of young, committed global citizens.”

The game consists of six missions in which players join Food Force’s crack team of emergency aid workers on the fictitious island of Sheylan.

Children are faced with a number of realistic challenges: piloting helicopters on reconnaissance missions, assembling nutritious ration packs on a tight budget, air-dropping food to remote villages, sourcing and purchasing food supplies, delivering truckloads of food through minefields and rebel-held territories, and using food to help people as they rebuild their lives.

Language versions

The Finnish version of Food Force joins the French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Hungarian translations, as well as the original English.

Since Food Force was first released in April 2005, it has become the most successful game of its kind. All language versions have been made possible through donations from private companies and international organisations.

Children in Finland will find the voices of the Food Force characters familiar – some of the country’s best-known actors took on the dubbing work pro bono. Jasper Pääkkönen, Minna Haapkylä, Kati Outinen, Mikko Leppilampi, Hannu-Pekka Björkman and Santeri Kinnunen all lent their voices to the Food Force team.

Fida

Fida will now take the lead in the distribution of Food Force in Finland.

“Fida is pleased to cooperate with WFP to promote food security issues in Finland through launching Food Force. We recognize WFP’s global mandate as a leading agency in the fight against hunger. Food Force is an innovative, effective and motivating medium to communicate these challenges to young people. This matches our aim to enhance Fida’s role as a global actor,” says Eero Horstia, Fida’s Head of Development Cooperation.

Founded in 1927, Fida is one of the largest and most experienced non-governmental development organizations in Finland. The organisation carries out over 70 development programmes in almost 30 countries, humanitarian assistance in 10 countries, and child sponsorship programmes in 10 countries.

Cooperates

WFP and Fida work together in the field in Uganda and Niger, supporting efforts to encourage children into school. In Eastern and Northern Uganda Fida International cooperates with WFP in projects which provide housing for primary school teachers and classroom rehabilitation.

Fida International also provides non-food items, such as cooking pots, ladles and plates, to 12 rural primary schools in the Amuria district in Eastern Uganda, where WFP provides school meals.

Download the Finnish version of Food Force

Mikael Bjerrum
WFP/Copenhagen
Tel. +45-354-67130
Cell. +45+4011-3883
mikael.bjerrum@wfp.org

Eero Horstia
Head of Development Cooperation
Fida International
eero.horstia@fida.info
Tel. +358 9 5660 0446

Brenda Barton
WFP/Rome
Tel. +39-06-6513-2602
Mob. +39-3472582217
brenda.barton@wfp.org

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

Christiane Berthiaume
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178564
Mob. +41-792857304
christiane.berthiaume
@wfp.org

Cécile Sportis
WFP/Paris
Tel. +33-1-70385330
Mob. +33-6161-68266
cecile.sportis@wfp.org

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
Mob. +1-646-8241112
luescher@un.org