BMC's Dedication to Achieving Zero Hunger

BMC continues its commitment to achieving this goal through many aspects including education, community outreach, partnerships, and research. In 2024, BMC further strengthened its efforts by expanding existing initiatives and introducing new ones to tackle hunger and food insecurity.

BMC's Proactive Initiatives Toward Zero Hunger

Educational Modules

Understanding that tackling hunger begins with awareness, BMC continues to integrate educational modules into its curriculum that emphasize the importance of nutrition, food safety, and food security. By educating future healthcare professionals on these topics, BMC ensures that its students are equipped to address and advocate for nutrition and food security issues in their professional careers. In 2024, BMC expanded its nutrition education by incorporating new case studies on community-based food programs and hosting expert guest lectures focused on public health nutrition and sustainable food systems.

Partnerships and Collaborations

BMC recognizes that collaboration amplifies impact, and thus, it has actively built partnerships with local NGOs, government bodies, and national and international organizations. These collaborations aim to pool resources, share expertise, and effectively address the complex challenges related to hunger.

One of the notable collaborations BMC has been a part of is its strategic partnership with the Savola World Foundation. BMC’s involvement in the flagship program "Negaderha" demonstrates its commitment to reducing food wastage. In 2024, BMC worked closely with Savola and its international partners, such as the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and The Food Waste Resources Action Program (WRAP), to conduct in-depth studies on food wastage trends. This collaboration also included training workshops for students on best practices in food waste management, thereby increasing community awareness and fostering more responsible food consumption practices.

Additionally, BMC facilitated more visits to industry leaders like the Al Baik food factory, providing students with a practical understanding of food safety standards and the role industries play in ensuring that communities have access to safe and nutritious food.

Community Outreach Programs

BMC has continued its extensive community outreach programs, engaging both students and faculty in providing essential healthcare and nutrition education to underserved communities. During these visits, BMC emphasizes the importance of balanced diets and provides practical tips on maximizing the nutritional value of available resources.

In 2024, the "Food Baskets" and "Ramadan Boxes" initiatives remained central to BMC’s community efforts. Collaborating with multiple non-profit organizations, BMC distributed over 1,200 food baskets and 1,500 Ramadan boxes, both filled with essential food supplies. These efforts primarily targeted vulnerable families during Ramadan and other festive periods, ensuring that no family faced food shortages during these crucial times.

A significant addition to BMC’s outreach efforts this year was the Food & Medication Waste Campaign. Conducted on campus in December 2023, this campaign aimed to educate the BMC community on effective ways to reduce food and medication waste. Students were encouraged to donate unused medications for charitable causes, while also learning innovative recipes for utilizing leftover food. By linking food waste reduction to the broader goal of Zero Hunger, this campaign highlighted the importance of minimizing wastage to ensure more resources are available for those in need​.

Charitable Bazaars for Hunger Relief

In 2024, BMC hosted two major charitable bazaars, the Food Day Bazaar and the Founding Day Charitable Bazaar. These bazaars were organized by the Social Responsibility Unit to raise funds for students facing financial challenges and to promote community engagement. Students and faculty worked together to bring and sell food products, with the proceeds going to support underprivileged students. These events not only provided financial support but also promoted the values of community involvement and solidarity, directly contributing to efforts aimed at reducing food insecurity.

Research and Addressing the Wider Implications of Hunger

BMC remains dedicated to researching food security and nutrition. This year, the college encouraged more student-led research projects that examined local food systems, hunger-related challenges, and sustainable interventions. The goal of these research projects is to develop evidence-based approaches to improve food security at a community level.

In addition, BMC focused on understanding the broader implications of hunger, such as its effects on health, education, and overall well-being. Hunger and malnutrition lead to health complications like stunted growth in children and increased vulnerability to illnesses. Addressing these broader implications, BMC’s outreach programs included health screenings during community visits, providing not just food but also preventive healthcare services to those in need.

Student-led Initiatives

Student involvement is a core part of BMC’s dedication to achieving Zero Hunger. In 2024, BMC's students continued to play an active role in promoting food security through initiatives like food drives, awareness campaigns, and fundraising events. The International Volunteer Day - Walkathon held in December 2023 also highlighted student participation in community-focused initiatives, where students worked alongside local organizations to promote health, wellness, and food security for underserved populations​.

The Social Responsibility Faculty Workshop conducted in November 2023 also played a role in reinforcing student-led initiatives. During this workshop, faculty members were trained on incorporating social responsibility into the curriculum, including ways to encourage students to take an active role in addressing community challenges like hunger. By incorporating these lessons into their teaching, faculty members are preparing students to be proactive advocates for Zero Hunger and other SDGs.