The New Middle East International School, Riyadh, held a World Food Day campaign here recently to highlight food security and the nutritional needs of the poor around the world.

A series of educative and interactive events were structured for the student community during the Food and Fun Fair organized on the day. This included lessons on how students should not waste food.

The school’s annual campaign, that began after World Food Day on Oct. 16, was spread over two months across different compounds.

More than 300 students, parents and teachers participated in the events organized by the school's girls section.

Tabassum Farooqi, the school principal, said: “While we come together for the cause, we must not forget the millions of poor people who do not get enough food to survive. Let us all strive to avoid wasting food, eat nutritious meals and lead a healthier life for a better future.”

“This campaign has been an opportunity to assist our children and parents to practice lessons on health and nutrition and evaluate benefits through play and other methods.”

Several young leaders participated by writing essays on how to avoid food wastage.

There were also jumping pads, games to build concentration and make decisions, henna, face painting and hair coloring activities. A media corner was set up where children were shown a selection of humorous clippings to encourage them to laugh and be happy.

Parents lingered around the delectable Indian Food Corner offered as a celebration of healthy food including Hyderabad’s Nawabi cuisine, dishes from south and north India and continental delicacies.

“Children learn actively through practical play processes. Such events help students develop specific skills as they learn to interact, socialize and experience new things, all while having fun," said Sophia Siddiqui, a supervisor for grades three to five girls.

The event was designed to provide important information to parents and students about the environment needed for a child’s physical and mental functional development, she said.

The school was established in 1998 in the Saudi capital and has 4,000 students.