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THE HUNGER PROJECT. A strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of chronic hunger. When you think about “world hunger”. what are the first images that come to mind?. When you see those images. what thoughts arise?.
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THEHUNGERPROJECT A strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of chronic hunger
When you think about “world hunger” what are the first images that come to mind?
When you see those images what thoughts arise?
When you see those images and have those thoughts what feelings follow?
What you’ve just described is a type of hunger called “famine” - defined as “a severe interruption in an already vulnerable area caused by natural and or/man-made disaster – for example, drought, earthquake, war…”
Famine is “an emergency” That’s how it gets into the TV news, onto the headlines, and into our minds as the main kind of severe hunger we know
Famine accounts for less than 10% of world hunger
The other 90% Chronic, persistent hunger Doesn’t look anything like “famine”
Chronic hunger Can be defined as “not enough of the right kind of food over a long period of time” Unlike famine, chronic hunger is invisible and silent – even when you are looking right at it.
How many? 854 million people - roughly 1 in 7 people in our world Today and everyday, 20,000 will die as a consequence of chronic hunger – ¾ under 5 years old. Not from starvation, but from diarrhea, flu, and other basic illnesses that we’ve all had and survived because we were not chronically hungry.
Progress? Is world hunger better, worse or the same today as it was in the 1970’s? 1977 estimate = 41,000 deaths per day Every headline today could read: Humanity cuts hunger by half in 30 years!
Where is most chronic hunger? 29% in sub-Saharan Africa The rest in Latin America, mostly amongst indigenous people, and in other parts of Asia 35% in South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal)
Hunger in the U.S.? Yes – and many great organizations are addressing it – it’s the severity and prevalence in South Asia, Africa and Latin America that are so much higher The Hunger Project is focused where chronic hunger is most widespread and severe
Famine is… Fundamentally an issue of food – food shipments delivered quickly end famine
Chronic hunger is fundamentally NOT an issue of food
Consider India A net exporter of food for decades since the Green Revolution improved their agriculture in the 1950s and 1960s. • Today has more than 40 million tons of grain in storage • AND today - 47% of all children in India are malnourished – worse than Africa
If food is not the answer? Chronic hunger is best understood as an issue of opportunity It occurs when people lack the opportunity to translate a full day’s work into enough: • Food • Money • Education • Health care • Voice in decisions affecting their lives
Question becomes: Why is this opportunity so diminished where chronic hunger persists?
1996 study commissioned by UNICEF Asked why rates of malnutrition in South Asia were so much higher than most African countries, even though all other indicators such as economic growth, agricultural production, infrastructure – all suggested the opposite should be true?
Conclusion: “The exceptionally high rates of malnutrition in South Asia are rooted deep in the soil of inequality between men and women” Study revealed that severe discrimination against women and girls gives rise to “a cycle of malnutrition”
In India, since 2000 More than 50,000 elected women representatives in 14 states have completed the 3-day, residential Women’s Leadership Workshop.
In India, since 2000 More than 100 local Indiannon-governmental organizations are now partnering with The Hunger Project to provide ongoing trainings and support to these women as they work to transform the quality of life in their villages.
In India, since 2001 • The Hunger Project’s Sarojini Naidu Prize for Journalists Reporting on Women in the Panchayats • In 2001, 166 articles were submitted • In 2006, 1517 articles were submitted • Awards ceremony on Gandhi’s birthday, October 2 • 2006 was hosted by the Ministry of the Panchayati Raj at the Minister’s residence
Ending Hunger In Africa • Leadership • Marginalization of Women Farmers • Infrastructure • HIV/AIDS
Principles • Local leadership • Self-reliance • Gender Equality • Partnership with local government • Integrated strategy vs. sectoral, i.e. food production, income, education, health, nutrition, literacy et al…..all together • Minimal external inputs • Affordable, replicable, sustainable
Essence of the Epicenter strategy • …to transform a culture of dependency, resignation, despair and discrimination against women and girls… • … to one of responsibility, self-reliance, and gender equality.
Four phases - overview • Mobilization (1 year) • “Tipping Point” (1 year) • Progress on all fronts (3 years) • Self-reliance • Demand-driven – people move when they are ready
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders • Vision, Commitment, & Action workshop (VCA)
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders • VCA workshop • Train volunteer leaders called “Animators”
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders • VCA workshop • Train Animators • Animator Initiated Projects
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders • VCA workshop • Train Animators • Animator Initiated Projects
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders • VCA workshop • Train Animators • Animator Initiated Projects
Phase 1: Mobilization • Support of local leaders • VCA workshop • Train Animators • Animator Initiated Projects • Elect Epicenter Committee
Phase 2: Tipping Point • Chief donates land
Phase 2: Tipping Point • Chief donates land • Learn to make concrete blocks
Phase 2: Tipping Point • Chief donates land • Learn to make concrete blocks • Build the epicenter building
Phase 2: Tipping Point • Chief donates land • Learn to make concrete blocks • Build the epicenter building • Subcommittees for health, education…
Phase 2: Tipping Point • Chief donates land • Learn to make concrete blocks • Build the epicenter building • Subcommittees for health, education, etc. • HIV/AIDS Gender Inequality workshop
Phase 2: Tipping Point • Chief donates land • Learn to make concrete blocks • Build the epicenter building • Subcommittees for health, education, etc. • HIV/AIDS Gender Inequality workshop • Inauguration!
Phase 3: Progress on All Fronts • Community Farm
Phase 3: Progress on All Fronts • Community Farm • Food bank