the hunger project “three pillars” & the epicenter strategy

The Hunger Project“THREE PILLARS” & THE

EPICENTER STRATEGY

Where THP Works

Latin America• Mexico• Bolivia• Peru

Sub-Saharan Africa• Benin• Burkina Faso• Ethiopia• Ghana• Malawi• Mozambique• Senegal • Uganda

South Asia• Banglades

h• India

The Approach

• Mobilizing people at the grassroots level to build self-reliance

• Empowering women as key change agents

• Forging partnerships with local government

Mobilization

• VCA Workshop– Create a Vision– Commit to

achieving it– Outline the

actions needed to succeed

• Train local “Animators” to lead VCA for others

In Bangladesh, THP has trained more than 140,000 animators, who have mobilized more than 10 million people to take action.

Empowering Women

• End gender discrimination, empower women

• Empower women, end hunger!

In India, THP’s Women's Leadership Workshop has empowered 80,000 women elected to local councils to be effective change agents in their villages.

Partnering with Local Governments

It Takes a Cluster

• Villages are too small for economic and political clout.

• Need a cluster of villages:– Big enough to manage programs– Small enough so people

• know each other• can reach programs • and hold leaders to account

No Silver Bullet

• There is no ONE SOLUTION to end hunger and poverty

Integrated ApproachBetter Health,

Nutrition

Better Education

Greater Incomes

Social Power,

Inclusion

Women’s Voice

The Approach

Mobilize for Self-Reliant Action

Empower women as key change agents

ForgePartnership with

LocalGov’t

End of Hunger and Poverty

(MDGs) in rural areas

Sustainable,People-Centered

Integrated Development

Epicenters in Africa

The Epicenter Strategy

• Community engaged, THP invited

• Vision, Commitment, Action (VCA) workshops held

• Community selects leadership

• Community secures land for epicenter building

Phase 1: Mobilization (2 years)

Phase 2: Construction (1 year)

Epicenter Building constructed:• Food bank• Health clinic• Meeting hall• Preschool• Rural Bank• Committee office• Functioning water

source • Public Latrines• Garbage and waste

disposal facilities

The Building of an Epicenter:

Integrated Programming:

• Health & Nutrition

• Literacy & Education

• Water & Sanitation

• Food Security

• Community Mobilization

• Monitoring & Evaluation

• Microfinance

• Women Empowerment Program

• Public Awareness, Advocacy & Alliances

• Environment & Sanitation

Phase 3: Programs (3 years)

Phase IV: Transition to Self-Reliance (2 years)

Success Stories

Florence

• Loan $35 = 3 pigs• 2 Years = sold 27 pigs• 15 pigs in corral• Sells the manure• Fertilizer loan• Refurbished house• Paid for children’s

education

Economic Security!

Flora

• Loan $35 = 3 pigs• 3 Years = sold 180

pigs• 80 pigs in corral• Goats and chickens• Refurbished house• Electricity & TV• Supports 34 orphansEconomic Security!

Water• Irrigation reduces

work, increases yields and doubles harvest

• 72% of rural population do not have access to safe drinking water

• THP funds boreholes• Committee operatesSignificantly improves production, health and life expectancy!

Medical Clinic

• Staffed by nurses

• Pharmacy• Immunizations• Health

educationAccess to healthcare previously unattainable!

HIV/AIDS

• Education workshops• Increase awareness• Gender equality• Condoms• TestingBest in class program for combating HIV/AIDS!

Adult Literacy

• 1 year program• State examination• 156 graduates at

Ligowe Epicenter• 164 at Nsondole

Epicenter• 90% are womenRestoring dignity and unleashing the human spirit!

Within Our Grasp!