Freedom from Hunger has a visionary idea: that the poorest women in the world will put an end to chronic hunger. CAPITALIZING ON THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL AND DEPENDABLE FORCE: A MOTHER’S DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE LIFE FOR HER CHILDREN The obstacles that Fatoumata Monomata has overcome seem overwhelming. Where Fatoumata lives, a rural “Earning more money village in the West African nation of Burkina Faso, chronic helps me to care for my hunger is common, living on $1 per day is normal, and children,” says Fatoumata. malaria routinely kills children. “I’ve saved enough to buy a wagon for my business. But Fatoumata, like millions of mothers around the world, And my children will go was ready to work hard to feed her children, safeguard to school.” But she is quick their health, and send them to school. Freedom from Hunger was ready to help her. to say that she values her training just as much. When Fatoumata joined her local women’s self-help group “The learning sessions sponsored by Freedom from Hunger in partnership with help so much,” she says. a local organization, she was able to take loans to grow “Especially when they focus her business of buying and selling vegetables at the local on keeping my children market. She participated in training sessions on managing healthy.” her business and nourishing her children. And she learned how to prevent and manage malaria—knowledge that will literally save the lives of her children. Insight leads to innovation Freedom from Hunger knows that most of the world’s hungry are not victims of famine or natural disaster. They suffer from a combination of poverty, hunger and ill-health—a devastating legacy that is passed from generation to generation. They also suffer from a lack of services that could help, because they live in rural areas often bypassed by organizations that cannot reach them for the long term. Freedom from Hunger succeeds in making a lasting difference because our self-help solutions recognize that families living in poverty are hardworking and ready to help themselves. The self-help solutions we deliver combine microfinance services to grow As participants in incomes with lifeskills training to improve entrepreneurship and Credit with Education, health knowledge. We also work to improve access to health care women save and bor- row money, using their so that families can safeguard their well-being. To achieve sustain- relationships with each ability and reach more people, Freedom from Hunger trains local other as collateral. They are empowered by organizations to deliver these services to groups of women, who learning to keep their become empowered to create change in their communities. own detailed records. It’s this combined approach— Women use their loans and savings to build their micro businesses while learning how to microfinance and lifeskills safeguard the health of their families. training, better access to health care, and training local organizations to im- plement effective services for the longer term—that makes the difference for hundreds of thousands of families. “Collective Courage” inspires women in self-help groups to take action. They create songs to remember the training they receive on preventing childhood illnesses. Evidence of lasting change At Freedom from Hunger we believe good intentions are a good start, but proof of impact is critically important—especially when lives are on the line. Through regular monitoring and independent research, Freedom from Hunger has shown that: • 98% of women who borrow repay • Affordable credit and secure savings every penny, plus interest immediately improve a family’s ability to become self-reliant • 99% establish savings to help in an emergency or grow their business • Young children become better- nourished and healthier • Women develop better skills to manage their business • More families use health supplies such as mosquito nets to prevent illness • The benefits of each woman’s participation extend to her entire • Women speak out about new health family—an average of 5 more knowledge with friends and neighbors people and take a larger role in household decision-making “Before this program I could feed my children only cassava and a little bit of vegetables. But now I can afford to buy rice and fish and I give this to my children, too.” —Aba, Ghana Recognized for its solid performance and good management, Freedom from Hunger is recognized by the Better Business Bureau and Charity Navigator, which has awarded Freedom from Hunger four stars—its highest rating. Our goal: Reach for three million Freedom from Hunger is in the midst of a major effort to expand its program services to reach three million women and their families by 2010. By delivering self-help services to three million direct participants, the benefits will impact fifteen million family members. With this achievement attained, we believe the world will be convinced that an end to hunger is possible...for good and for all. Our goal for 2010 For each woman participating, an average of five additional people 15,000,000 leaving chronic hunger behind. people served Women walking the path to self-reliance with growing incomes, greater knowledge 3,000,000 and better health care. Self-help groups of women using microfinance, lifeskills training and 150,000 collective courage to create change in their homes and communities. In-country partner organizations sharing our commitment to effective and 300 sustainable self-help for the rural poor. Freedom from Hunger staff working in Davis, California and around the 75 world to innovate, develop, test and deliver self-help solutions to the world’s hungry. Leveraging few to serve many Because Freedom from Hunger’s approach leverages the full participation of the women it serves as well as the partnership of local organizations, it is possible for a relatively small organization to have a major impact on world hunger. FREEDOM FROM HUNGER IS BRINGING SELF-HELP SOLUTIONS TO RURAL AREAS IN SOME OF THE WORLD’S POOREST COUNTRIES ������ ���� ����� ����� ��������������� �������� ������� ������������ ��������� ��������������������� ������� ���� ������ ������� ���������� Mission Statement: Founded in 1946, Freedom from Hunger brings innovative and sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Together with local partners, we equip families with resources they need to build futures of health, hope and dignity. Join us! You can play a direct role in ending chronic hunger through your support of Freedom from Hunger. Act today: learn more about our work at www.freedomfromhunger.org 1644 DaVinci Court Davis CA 95618 (530) 758-6200 [email protected] Photos: © Karl Grobl for Freedom from Hunger.