“It is the first time since 2017 that a famine has been declared anywhere on Earth,” I read earlier this year. The famine in question was in Sudan. Soon after, I read another headline: “Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza.”

As images of emaciated children spread across social media, the question loomed over Western onlookers: What can we do for starving kids halfway around the world?

This story is part of the 2025 Future Perfect 25

Every year, the Future Perfect team curates the undersung activists, organizers, and thinkers who are making the world a better place. This year’s honorees are all keeping progress on global health and development alive. Read more about the project here.

Many tried applying political pressure through advocacy, of course — but that didn’t work fast enough

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