WFP Charity Essay Contest 2026: A 200-Word Essay Provides School Meals for Two Children in Developing Countries

The certified NPO Japan Association for the World Food Programme (UNWFP Association, based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; Chairman: Hiroki Ando) is holding the 'WFP Charity Essay Contest 2026'. Due to prolonged conflicts, natural disasters, and climate change, many children worldwide lack adequate nutrition. To address this, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) provides school meal support to children in developing countries. The UNWFP Association organizes this essay contest as a fundraising event for this activity. Last year, 21,854 essays were submitted by both children and adults, resulting in school meals being delivered to 43,708 children in developing countries. This year, a new initiative will include an exhibition of winning entries. The contest has three key points: Support through essays (one submission provides school meals for two children in developing countries for 60 yen), Learning (educational materials are provided to help participants learn about the current state of hunger and WFP's countermeasures, think about it, and express it in an essay; requests for school lectures are accepted; parent-child workshops are planned during the application period), and Awards (winners' school names and works will be published, certificates and prizes will be awarded, and they will be invited to the awards ceremony; an exhibition of winning works will be held from Sunday, November 29 to Thursday, December 3 at the Nihonbashi Galleria Community Space). Event Overview: Event Name: WFP Charity Essay Contest 2026; Theme: 'What if today's meal were not a given'; Categories: Elementary School Division (Grades 4-6), Junior High School Division, High School Division, 18+ Division (excluding high school students); Application Period: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 to Friday, September 25, 2026 (until Wednesday, September 30 for online submissions); Essay: 200 to 800 characters in Japanese (20 characters x 20 lines per page), one unpublished work per person; all rights of winning works belong to the organizer; submitted works will not be returned; Application Methods: 1. Via website, 2. By mail: attach the specified entry form to the work and send to the WFP Essay Contest Office; Prizes: 1. Grand Prize (1 winner), 2. Elementary School Division Prize (1), 3. Junior High School Division Prize (1), 4. High School Division Prize (1), 5. 18+ Division Prize (1), 6. Special Jury Prize (1 per division), 7. Honorable Mention (5 per division), 8. WFP Prize (1), 9. WFP School Meal Prize (1 for the school/group with the most entries); Announcement: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 on the official website; Awards Ceremony: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 (at Courtyard Marriott Ginza Tobu Hotel); Prizes: Certificates and prizes will be presented at the ceremony for Grand Prize, Division Prize, Special Jury Prize, WFP Prize winners, and WFP School Meal Prize recipients; Honorable Mention recipients will receive certificates by mail; Donation Destination: UNWFP School Meals Support; Organizer: Certified NPO Japan Association for the World Food Programme; Supporters: World Food Programme (WFP) Japan Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, National Association of Prefectural Boards of Education, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Japan Association of Junior High School Principals, The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, Nikkei Inc., The Mainichi Newspapers, NHK; Donation Cooperation: Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation; Special Sponsorship: Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd., MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Sponsors: TOPPAN Holdings Inc., Nissin Foods Chilled Co., Ltd., ITOCHU Corporation, ITOCHU Retail Link Co., Ltd., Imuraya Group Co., Ltd., Cargill Japan LLC, Kaneka Corporation, KOIKEYA Co., Ltd., KOKUYO Co., Ltd., Showa Sangyo Co., Ltd., Shinsei Co., Ltd., Shinnyoen, The Japan Food Journal Co., Ltd., Hanyu Foods Co., Ltd., Prima Meat Packers, Ltd., Bonchi Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd., MIYOSHI Co., Ltd., Murauchi Furniture Access Co., Ltd., Yamato Juken Co., Ltd. About UNWFP School Meals Support: The WFP provides school meals to approximately 20 million children annually in schools in developing countries. Nutritious school meals encourage parents to send their children to school, and children can study without hunger. It also promotes school attendance for girls, who are often less likely to have educational opportunities, contributing to women's empowerment. A donation of about 30 yen provides a meal for one child. About the UN World Food Programme (WFP): The WFP is the UN's only food assistance agency working towards a world without hunger. In 2024, it delivered food to 124 million people in over 120 countries and regions. It provides emergency assistance during conflicts and natural disasters, as well as development support to sustain people over the long term. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. About the Certified NPO Japan Association for the World Food Programme: This certified NPO supports the WFP and serves as the official private support window for the WFP in Japan. It conducts fundraising, corporate partnerships, and public relations activities. It received the Foreign Minister's Commendation in 2024.