response

RESPONSE

�CASH-BASED�INTERVENTIONS�Innovative Cash Transfers Restore Hope and Dignity in Kenya

PROVIDINg�ClEAN,�SAfE�WATER�ACF’s Vital WASH Programs in Myanmar, Uganda, and D.R. Congo

POlITICAl�VIOlENCE��IN�KENYA�Glenn Hughson on Field Work and the Importance of Good Coffee

Action Against Hunger’s Quarterly Newsletter | SUMMER�2009

PlumPy’doz: READY-TO-USE-�fOODS�SHOW��PROMISE�IN��PREVENTINg�MAlNUTRITION��

IN�KENYA�

Page 2

THERE�ARE�A�lOT�Of�SERIOUS�PROB-lEMS�IN�THE�WORlD�THAT�ClAIM�OUR�ATTENTION,�BUT�ONE�IN�PARTICUlAR�STANDS�OUT�fOR�ITS�MORAl�ClAR-ITY:�the fact that an accident of birth condemns as many as 5 million children a year to die horrible deaths from hunger-related causes. This is all the more tragic because it’s predictable and preventable. If we chose to do so, we could come together

as global citizens and end this deadly shameful scourge. We know how to save starving children if we can reach them. Unfortunately, less than 10% of the 19 million children threatened by severe acute malnutrition have access to treatment, and in just the past two years, the total number of undernourished has grown by more than 100 million. Yet these grim statistics don’t tell the whole story: We’ve also seen significant progress in the fight against hunger. For example, new community-based models of treatment and prevention are capable of reaching children on a far greater scale than ever before, thanks in part to a range of new micronutrient-dense Ready-to-Use-Foods (RUFs) that allow us to scale up the impact and coverage of our programs. With the help of these highly effective nutritional products—products such as Plumpy’doz (see p. 2)—we’re able to deploy new preventive strategies that could keep millions of kids safe from the dangers of acute malnutrition. Regional progress has also been made in the effective delivery of assistance. As detailed in our lead article (see p. 8), Action Against Hunger successfully introduced an innovative cash-based assistance program in Kenya after last year’s post-electoral violence destroyed homes and displaced thousands. In a pioneering collaboration with a Kenyan bank, our teams crafted a carefully targeted assistance program that restored livelihoods, economic independence, and a sense of local empowerment. Of course, our success depends in large part on the skill and devotion of our field staff, and this issue profiles Glenn Hughson, who opened our emergency base in Nakuru just days after ethnic violence displaced thousands in Kenya. Thanks to the commitment of humanitarian workers such as Glenn—staff who serve under very difficult and dangerous conditions—Action Against Hunger is able to help entire communities overcome hunger, restoring self-suffi-ciency, independence, and dignity in the process. Enjoy this edition of Response, share it with friends, and thanks for your support!

NAN�DAlE�Executive Director

resPonse // SUMMER 2009 www.actionagainsthunger.org

THE TRUTH IS WE KNOW HOW TO SAVE STARVING CHIlDREN IF WE CAN REACH THEM.

2 NEWS�&�UPDATES Breaking news, field updates, and highlights from ACF’s life-

saving programs

4 PROgRAM�fEATURE� Cash-BasedInterventions:Innovative Cash Transfers

Restore Hope and Dignity in Kenya

6 SUCCESSSTORIES ProvidingClean,SafeWater:ACF’s Vital WASH Programs

in Myanmar, Uganda, and D.R. Congo

8 fIElDSTAffPROfIlE: PoliticalViolenceInKenya:Glenn Hughson on Field Work

and the Importance of Good Coffee

10 PARTNERSHIPS: GatoradeGoestheDistance:Enlisting Athletes to

Help Save Lives

12 ANNOUNCEMENTS�� A roundup of ACF’s outreach activities, donor profiles,

and innovative partnerships

ACTION�AgAINST�HUNgER�|�ACf-USA��is a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger. Recognized as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster, and chronic food insecurity, ACF’s life-saving programs benefit some 5 million people in more than 40 countries each year.

2 6 12

Email: [email protected] 247 West 37th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY, U.S.A. 10018

Web: www.actionagainsthunger.org RSS: www.actionagainsthunger.org/rss

contents

Cover: ACF-Nepal, courtesy S. Remael This page: ACF-Kenya; ACF-Palestine, courtesy J. Pomerantz; ACF-USA, courtesy B. McKinnon

BOARD�Of�DIRECTORS

chairman Raymond Debbane The Invus Group, LLC

executive director Nan Dale Action Against Hunger

chairman emeritus Burton K. Haimes Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Joseph G. Audi InterAudi Bank

Alexis Azria Writer

Cristina Enriquez- Bocobo Enriquez-Bocobo Constructs

Pierre N. Fay Luxottica Group

Yves-André Istel Rothschild, Inc.

Ketty Maisonrouge Columbia University Business School

Daniel Py Medical-Instill Technologies

Thilo Semmelbauer

Wendy C. Weiler Argosy Partners

Kara Young

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER 1

Promising initiative Pilots Prevention in Kenyanew project distributes Plumpy’doz to help at-risk children weather the hungry season

THIS�fEBRUARY,�THANKS�IN�PART�TO�gENER-OUS�gRANTS�fROM�THE�RICHARD�&�RHODA�gOlDMAN�fUND�AND�THE�STARR�INTERNA-TIONAl�fOUNDATION, Action Against Hunger launched a new initiative to prevent severe acute malnutrition in the Mandera District of northeastern Kenya. This remote, arid region struggles with a seasonal and often devastating “hunger gap” that begins in May and causes mal-nutrition rates to spike well beyond crisis levels. As a result, the lives of thousands of young children are jeopardized every year. And this remains true even for those children whose diet may provide sufficient caloric intake but fails to supply the es-sential nutrients necessary for growth and healthy development. To reduce the need for treatment and protect these young children when their

rapidly developing bodies are most fragile, we are distributing Plumpy’doz to approxi-mately 5,000 children between the ages of 6 months and two years. Distributions will take place over a period of six months, ensuring that children have the necessary nutrients during the “hunger gap,” when the poor quality and limited diversity of food might otherwise result in severe acute malnourishment.

Throughout the project, a research team will gather and analyze data from the communities participating in the program, along with comparable data from a careful-ly selected control group. The implementa-tion protocols have been developed with help from Tufts University, the Kenyan Medical Research Institute, and Kenya’s Ministry of Health.

NEWS & UPDATES

STRATEGIC USE OF READY-TO-USE-FOODS

(RUFs) CAN PREVENT CHIlDREN WITH MODER-ATE ACUTE MAlNUTRITION FROM bECOMING SEVERE ACUTE CASES.”

c

MARIE-SOPHIE�SIMONSenior Nutrition AdvisorAction Against Hunger

PlumPy’doz: a ready-to-use-Food with great Promise For Preventiona range of ready-to-use-Foods (ruFs) are now avail-able for tackling seasonal hunger

OVER�THE�PAST�DECADE, micronu-trient-dense Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs) have become indispensable in the treatment of acute malnutri-tion. RUFs contain a full comple-ment of essential nutrients, require

no refrigeration, and are easy to store. In Mandera, northeast Kenya, we’re using a product called Plumpy’doz. Similar to the treatment-strength Plumpy’nut but with a lower dosage and fewer calories, Plumpy’doz is primarily composed of vegetable fat and peanut paste fortified with 20 vitamins and minerals.

Plumpy’doz provides at-risk children with a micro-nutrient boost during the hunger season.

resPonse // SUMMER 2009 www.actionagainsthunger.org2

$60�BIllION:GlobalBottledWaterSales

$46�BIllION:�GlobalSalesofSaltySnacks

$72�BIllION:U.S.SoftDrinkSales

$49�BIllION:�GlobalPetFoodSales

Source: Seasons of Hunger: Fighting Cycles of Quiet Starvation Among the World’s Rural Poor, a Hunger Watch publication, Action Against Hunger, 2008

Source: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Energy Information Administration

ACTION�AgAINST�HUNgER’S�lAT-EST�PUBlICATION, Feeding Hunger & Insecurity: Field Analysis of Volatile Global Commod-ity Food Prices, Food Security, & Child-hood Malnutrition,

offers an assessment of the global food crisis and its impact on vulnerable communities. The report is based on a series of in-depth surveys that ACF carried out in the wake of the global food crisis, targeting households in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Central African Republic. While the inflated food prices did not have an immediate impact on malnutrition rates, the findings suggest a significant, persistent impact on livelihoods and dietary diversity, which are key determinants of malnutrition. Produced by ACF’s policy research and advocacy department, Hunger Watch, this publication was undertaken after the rapid price increases of early 2008. These spiking food prices led to riots in over 30 countries, sparking international calls for action and repositioning world hunger and local agri-culture as global priorities. Drawing on over thirty years of experience in combating food insecurity and malnutrition, Feeding Hunger & Insecurity outlines key recommendations for responding to this global food crisis. The report not only offers proven solutions for addressing the underlying causes of the crisis, but also provides estimates on how much these interventions might cost.

WHAT WOUlD IT COST TO PREVENT ACUTE MAlNUTRITION?in addition to broader investments in local agriculture, a minimum package of life-saving programs could prevent acute malnutrition

fEEDINg�HUNgER�&�INSECURITY:�new Publication oFFers bluePrint For graPPling with global Food crisisacF’s latest publication assesses the impact of the global food crisis and offers concrete solutions

Feeding Hunger & Insecurity: View the Full Reportwww.actionagainsthunger.org/report

COMMUNITY-BASED�MANAgEMENT�Of�MAlNUTRITION�AND�CHIlD�gROWTH�PROMOTION�programs protect children from acute malnutrition, while a number of tested arrangements could guarantee access to food and income during the hunger season. This minimum package costs between $40 and $70 billion—which is the cost of ending childhood deaths from hunger. Sound like a lot? Let’s compare:

Preventing Acute Malnutrition

$55�BIllIon

MAIzE�(index based on US Gulf

price, baseline Jan 2007)

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0Jan07 Mar07 May07 July07 Sept07 nov07 Jan08 Mar08 May08 Jul08 Sep08 nov08

RICE��(FAO index)

fAO�fOOD�PRICE�INDEx

WHEAT�(index based on US Gulf price, baseline Jan 2007)

CRUDE�OIl(nominal price)


the global Food crisis: comParing Food & oil Prices

MOST�Of�US�IN�THE�U.S.�ExPERIENCED�THE�glOBAl�fOOD�CRISIS in terms of skyrocket-ing oil prices: we spent 2008 wincing at exorbitant prices at the pump. Imagine how the crisis appeared to poor families around the world who suddenly couldn’t buy basic foodstuffs, let alone gas? Here’s how this crisis affected different markets:

h Program FeaTure

INNOVATIVE�CASH�TRANSfERS RESTORE HOPE & DIGNITY IN KENYAPioneeringcashtransferprogramtapsATMstorestorelivelihoodsandempowercommunitiesdisplacedbypost-electoralconflictinnakuru,Kenya.

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There�is�no�“one�size�fits�all”�strategy for helping families and communities rebuild after a devastating crisis. Action Against Hunger’s Food Security & livelihoods Programs uphold this principle when working to restore self-sufficiency by respecting a community’s economic and cultural character.


Each�community�has�its�own�unique�assets,�and�it’s�our�job�to�work�with�lo-cal�leaders�to�identify�these�assets�and�integrate�them�into�a�project’s�overall�de-sign.�While this painstaking commitment to community participation is essential, contexts are different, requiring new models and novel approaches. The political instability that unfolded in Kenya in January of 2008 presented Action Against Hunger with one such set of unique challenges. Nakuru, the regional capital of Kenya’s Rift Valley Province, had been particularly affected by the post-election violence that tore through Kenya last year. With populations displaced along ethnic lines, livelihoods disrupted, and homes destroyed, communities were left adrift to fend for themselves in makeshift camps. While most humanitarian assistance centered on the needs in the camps, a sig-nificant number of the displaced had gone undetected, having sought shelter with friends and relatives in Nakuru instead of the camps. After establishing a presence in the camps, Action Against Hunger discov-ered that there were unmet needs in town, where residents struggled to rebuild their homes and support their families without any access to income. Action Against Hun-ger saw a clear opportunity to introduce a cash-based program to meet these over-looked needs.

A�NEED�fOR�INNOVATIONSome type of cash-based intervention often makes sense in such situations, but the usual mechanisms didn’t seem to fit Nakuru’s diverse, urban environment. A standard cash-for-work program didn’t seem appropriate; most of the destroyed proper-ties had been privately owned, leaving little opportunity for such community-wide projects. Cash voucher programs were an-other possibility, but vouchers are restricted to specific food and non-food items, which wouldn’t have helped the displaced in Na-kuru. Cash grants were another option that might have worked in Nakuru’s urban set-ting, but distributing large sums of money might encourage theft, not to mention make it difficult to monitor how the grants were used or measure their effectiveness. What was needed was some sort of livelihood revitalization program to foster

a range of income-generating activities for those displaced individuals who lost what little capital they had possessed. “Cash-based interventions make sense for jumpstarting income opportunities,” explains ACF’s Food Security & Livelihoods Adviser, Silke Pietsch. “These people are adults and can decide for themselves what they need to start a micro-enterprise or get a business off the ground.” Given Nakuru’s urban setting, with financial institutions and an active econ-omy, Action Against Hunger developed a novel solution: Why not enlist a local bank to secure beneficiaries’ grants in formal

accounts? Equity Bank, a local institution with two Nakuru branches and multiple ATM machines, agreed to open accounts for Action Against Hunger’s program beneficiaries. As customary bank fees would have depleted some of the grant money, ACF assumed responsibility for any ATM card purchases, transfer costs, and with-drawal fees. And another innovative cash transfer program was born.

REACHINg�THOSE�MOST�IN�NEEDAccording to the program’s comprehensive eligibility criteria, the project targeted heads of households who were single parents, elderly, disabled, chronically ill, or who had at least one member in an emergency nutri-tion program. Eligibility also depended on economic factors such as asset losses, work opportunities, external support (family or otherwise), and number of dependents. Eventually, 1,000 households received cash grants of $130 dollars each (roughly 10,000 Kenyan shillings), distributed over 2 to 4 week intervals depending on invest-ment needs. Over 80% of the participants represented households headed by women, and all beneficiaries were required to attend financial management training sessions. Project designers expected that benefi-ciaries would use the first disbursement for immediate needs—such as food, clothing, health care, and construction materials to re-build their homes—and the second disburse-

ment for longer-term livelihood support. But surprisingly, only a quarter of the beneficia-ries followed this strategy. Another quarter re-served the first disbursement for longer-term needs, such as small business investments or the purchase of farming implements, and the remainder divided the first disbursement for both short- and long-term needs.

DIVERSE�STRATEgIESThere were some adjustments along the way—replacements were found for 114 households disqualified after the first round of disbursements—but the overwhelming majority successfully combined the grants with their own creativity and regained their economic independence. One elderly woman, disabled by polio, used the entire grant to buy a corn pop-ping machine and sell bags of popcorn at the roadside. On her first day, she reported that she sold 200 bags of popcorn at 10 shillings each, earning 2,000 shillings for a morning’s work. She now hopes to expand her business by convincing other disabled friends to join her. Another group of women used the grants to rebuild their social and economic lives. Pooling their money, they bought motorized spinning wheels and raw wool (which was cheaper in bulk) and formed a spinners’ cooperative. As they had all lost their husbands in the recent violence and were afraid to stay alone, they used a portion of the grant money to rent a house where they could live and work together. The success of the program and the value of the cash grants cannot be overstated: With a very modest outlay, some 1,000 families were back on the road to self-sufficiency. In an interesting twist, however, Equity Bank’s involvement added an entirely new dimension to the project, providing participants with a level of financial security they had never experienced before. Having a formal bank account empowered more than half the participants to save an average $32 from the original grant for future emergen-cies; they were no longer fearful of losing whatever they didn’t immediately spend. It is quite possible that this new distri-bution mechanism (i.e., bank ATMs)—beyond the cash grants themselves—has helped some of Nakuru’s most vulnerable residents achieve self-sufficiency.

View the Technical Publication www.actionagainsthunger.org/technical

acF’s cash-based interventions


A suCCess sTorIes

WATER,�SANITATION,�&�HYgIENE:� lIFE-SUSTAINING SERVICESEnsuringaccesstowater,sanitation,&hygieneinMyanmar,Uganda,&theD.R.Congo

In Action Against Hunger’s integrated approach to

eradicating malnutrition, the extension of water,

sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is crucial for communities faced with scarce,

unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation,

and poor hygiene. but each context presents unique challenges and requires a customized approach, as these examples from Myanmar, Uganda, and the D.R. Congo suggest.

Community-based��

solutions�for�water�poor�populations

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It’s a bitter irony that the torrential rains of a tropical cyclonecan leave millions of people without a drop of clean water. When Cyclone Nar-gis ravaged coastal Myanmar—claiming over 80,000 lives—survivors found that their wells and rice paddies were badly contaminated by brackish floodwaters. Safe drinking water was difficult to ob-tain; agriculture was nearly impossible.

ClEAN�WATER�IN��POST-NARgIS�MYANMARWith half of its citizens already living below the poverty line, Myanmar would have had little chance of recovering from such sweeping destruction on its own. Fortunately, the world was watching. A generous outpouring of donations enabled Action Against Hunger to join with other organizations in stopping the spread of hunger, dehydration, and disease that often follow a disaster of this magnitude. Soon after the skies cleared, Action Against Hunger began airlifts into affected areas, bringing water puri-fication kits, pumps—and seasoned field staff with the expertise needed to begin the recovery. Action Against Hunger’s water, sani-tation, and hygiene (WASH) programs played a crucial role in averting a second humanitarian catastrophe in post-cyclone Myanmar. But the beneficiaries of our programs are not always the victims of headline-grabbing tragedies. Our teams travel to remote communities all over the world, assessing conditions and provid-ing assistance to people whose urgent needs might otherwise go unnoticed.

SUPPORTINg�RETURNEES�IN�UgANDAMrs. Otto Rose, a mother of five from the Ugandan village of Pakiya, spent years in a displacement camp with her children. When the family was finally allowed to return home, they found that Pakiya’s only source of water was nearly dry. The community did what it could by digging new wells, but still the water would not flow.

An Action Against Hunger Water and Sanitation team visited Pakiya to assess the situation. Soon, a new water point was under construction. Meanwhile, Action Against Hunger distributed sani-tation kits, and began holding education sessions aimed at improving local water and sanitation practices. The team gave the people of Pakiya a sustainable source of water, as well as the knowledge needed to care for this precious resource. The significance was not lost on Mrs. Otto, who was eager to join the newly-formed water committee. “All I want is to maintain the new water point like one of my children,” she said.

CONgOlESE�REfUgEES�IN�UgANDAAlthough in Pakiya the Action Against Hunger team knew what they were fac-ing, the mission is not always so clear-cut. In late 2008, Congolese refugees fleeing violence began crossing into western Uganda. Action Against Hunger sent a Water and Sanitation team to prepare for the influx expected at the Matanda camp. Within just a few weeks time, there were 11,000 refugees living in the camp. Matanda was intended as a transit center, meaning that people were sup-posed to stay for no more than one week before they were resettled. However, problems with the proposed resettlement areas meant that many refugees stayed at Matanda for months on end. Working against challenging sanita-tion conditions and difficulties in the provision of water, Action Against Hun-ger was able to adapt to the changing mission at Matanda. “We were lucky that we had skilled and dedicated staff,” said Naruth Phadungchai, Action Against Hunger’s Head of Base in the region. Conditions at the camp steadily im-proved as the refugees began to resettle at Nakivale in mid-January. For many of us, clean water and sanitary living conditions are the norm. But to 1 to 2.6 billion people around the world, they are only ambitious dreams. Whether responding to emergencies, improving conditions in isolated villages, or providing for thousands of refugees, Action Against Hunger’s Water and Sanitation programs improve the odds for people in peril. A

THe sPHere HandBooK:

ENSURING MINIMUM RElIEF STANDARDS

In recognition of our decades of experience responding to disas-ters around the world, Action Against Hunger has been invited to help revise the latest edition of the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response—more commonly referred to as the Sphere Handbook.

Used by hundreds of relief orga-nizations, the Sphere Handbook provides a comprehensive set of standards to ensure that benefi-ciaries receive the proper amount of clean water, adequate nutrition, safe shelter, and other necessities.

The latest revision of the Sphere Handbook will take into account the issues of climate change, risk reduction, and the “cluster approach”—a method of respond-ing to an emergency that employs agencies based on their strengths and abilities.

Action Against Hunger is honored to help improve the Sphere Handbook. Together with respected organiza-tions around the world, we are committed to the principle that ev-eryone deserves a life with dignity.

Sphere Standards in Practice: Addressing Cholera in Zimbabwe:

www.actionagainsthunger.org/audio


D FIeld sTaFF ProFIle

POlITICAl�VIOlENCE�IN�KENYA:��GlENN HUGHSON ON FIElD WORK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD COFFEEAconversationwithActionAgainstHunger’sprojectcoordinatorinKenya

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WHAT�lED�TO�KENYA’S�POST-ElECTION�VIOlENCE?Kenya held elections on December 27th, 2007 and the skewed results led to accusations of ballot fixing. The aftermath of the results led to ethnic violence between a number of different communities that had supported the leading parties. Homes and businesses were burned and looted, water points poisoned, families separated, women were raped, and over 1,200 people were killed. All in all there were approximate-ly 250,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kenya this past year, many of whom were pushed from the rural areas towards the main urban centers of Nakuru and Molo. In Nakuru there were two main camps, separated along ethnic lines. The camp in Afraha Football Stadium grew to a population of just under 10,000, while on the other side of town the Nakuru Showground swelled to nearly 17,000. The number of IDPs within Na-kuru and elsewhere continued to grow as dotted incidents of violence plagued the countryside.

WHAT�NEEDS�DID�ACf�ADDRESS?ACF was on the ground in Nakuru by the first week of January 2008, helping displaced populations with immediate short term needs: essential items like blankets, pots, cooking utensils, plastic sheeting, soap, wash basins, feminine napkins, buckets, and jerry cans were distributed. As the population of the two large camps in Nakuru swelled, ACF began nutritional surveillance and thera-peutic nutrition programs for children under 5 years of age. We also initiated the construction of latrines, shower blocks and water point facilities in the camps as well as ‘soak away’ drainage and refuse pits. More IDPs continued to ar-rive and the need for hygiene and health education programming grew critical. This ‘soft’ style of program complement-ed the ‘hardware’ construction phases of our water and sanitation activities. When the IDP populations began re-turning back to their locations of origin, ACF initiated early recovery program-ming in the form of cash-based inter-

ventions. Two distinct programs were launched: (1) an urban, low-income housing cash distribution that aimed to provide IDPs and host families who had taken in IDPs with direct capital to restart livelihood activities; and (2) a rural cash voucher program aimed at providing non-food items and assisting returnees in their transition home.

WERE�THE�PROgRAMS�SUCCESSfUl?ACF successfully responded to the immediate needs of the population when the need was the greatest and the population the most destitute—right after the violence took place. This timely intervention allowed ACF to establish a relationship with the beneficiaries, which led to a greater level of success in programs going forward. ACF also successfully implemented a very effective exit strategy—key to any emergency response program. All of the program initiatives we implemented were subsequently handed off to the appropri-ate ministry or phased out in a timely manner. Throughout, ACF successfully coordinated with and provided assis-tance to the government administration. Thanks to our collaborative efforts, ACF’s nutritional surveillance and outpatient care services were effectively taken over by the regional Ministry of Health.

WHY�DO�YOU�DO�fIElD�WORK?I have to admit that the traveling is quite an attractive draw! But to tell you honestly, I enjoy connecting with people from different cultures. I enjoy learning from them and sharing ideas through constructive dialogue that leads to an improvement in their circumstances.

AND�WHY�WORK�WITH�ACf?The direct action that Action Against Hunger takes in its interventions, paired with the transition towards creating longer term solutions to chronic prob-lems is the main reason I am with the organization. I appreciate and respect this approach. The thrill of establishing a new team and getting them to work together with the local community is what continually brings me back. n

glenn at a glance

Abroad,�what�can’t�you�live�without?It is impossible to live without music while working abroad. Music that is familiar and connects one with home is always nice.

What�music�cures�homesickness?All kinds, though mostly music from Canada. I listen to music depending on my mood and depending on what I am doing. House or trance if I am working (no lyrics to distract), rock or metal for waking up, showering, etc. Folk, old country, or reggae while driving.

guilty�pleasure�while�in�the�field?Packets of powdered Kraft dinner cheese; mix with pasta and voila, Kraft dinner. Not entirely healthy but if you’re from North America, then for sure you’ve grown up with the stuff.

Strangest�food�you’ve�ever�eaten?Hard boiled chicken fetuses. Doesn’t even taste like an egg!

Most�bizarre�cultural�practice?Drinking a bottle of vodka before having a meeting in Mongolia.

Best�survival�tip�for�the�field?Communication. Got a problem? Talk it out. Got a story or information to share? Tell it. Communication is the backbone of every culture and will take you a long way.

Item�you�can’t�leave�home�without?My camera. Aside from work, I love pho-tography. Every now and then I somehow believe I am quite good.

first�thing�you�do�when�home?I have a Tim Horton’s coffee. (There is one on the road right outside the airport in Toronto.)

Glenn Hughson: The Full Interview: www.actionagainsthunger.org/profile


a ParTnersHIPs

gATORADE�gOES�THE�DISTANCE��IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGERGMovement:newpartnershipwithActionAgainstHungerenlistsathletestosavelives

WHaT Is g? We know it’s the seventh letter of the alphabet and a family-friendly motion picture rating. but it’s also part of a new initiative by Gatorade called G Movement— one that goes well beyond the beverage.

To celebrate their popular line of rehydrating sports drinks, Gatorade has joined forces with Action Against Hunger. The goal? Use the power of athletics to fuel Action Against Hunger’s mission to prevent childhood deaths from global malnutrition.


fROM�THE�WEEKEND�WARRIORS�Of�RUgBY�lEAgUES,�TO�THE�DAIlY�jOggER�TRAININg�fOR�HER�fIRST�MARATHON�AND�THE�NExT�UNDISCOVERED�gOlDEN�glOVES�CHAMP, people of all stripes can now put their athletic prowess to work in the fight against acute hunger and malnutrition. Action Against Hunger and Gatorade are seeking athletes and aspiring athletes alike who are fired up and ready to use their competitive edge for a great cause. Beginning this fall, individuals from across the United States can apply online to participate. Step one involves applicants choosing their own personal, physical challenge. For those who never had the drive to scale Mount Everest before, saving a child from acute malnutrition could be just the incentive they need. And what better way to find that extra motivation to hit the gym than by supporting Action Against Hunger’s life-saving programs? Once the personal challenges are set—whatever they may be—participants will collect donations from friends and family members to meet their goals. All money raised will go to Action Against Hunger, so whatever the sport, whatever the challenge, we’re asking athletes to rally friends, families, and communities to cheer them on and support the cause as they sweat it out to end acute malnutrition. Whether it’s a dollar per mile run, lap swum, goal scored, or meter climbed, the contributions pledged will encourage the athletes to meet their goals while simultaneously providing Action Against Hunger with the funding necessary to reach more children threatened by acute malnutrition across the world. Gatorade’s G Movement initiative will support all participants with access to online training tips and tools as well as Gatorade products. In addition, Gatorade will provide five people—pre-selected by Action Against Hunger based on their motivation and athletic challenge—with grants of $2,000 each to help them complete the athletic feat of their choosing. With Gatorade’s help, nothing can stand in the way of those coveted rock climbing lessons, some extra

personal training from an expert, or a once-in-a-lifetime snowshoe expedition. And everyone will be able to watch the athletes’ journeys unfold at www.actionagainsthunger.org/g-movement. For added inspiration, Gatorade will generously match all funds raised through this program, up to $100,000 total. Also, the athlete who raises the most funds will receive special recognition from Action Against Hunger and a year’s supply of Gatorade.

“We’re delighted for the opportunity to help Action Against Hunger fulfill its mission and to contribute to the fight against acute malnutrition,” said Mary Doherty, Director Gatorade Sports & Event Marketing. “For every athlete out there who wants to test the limits of their abilities for a worthy cause, this is their chance.” The goal of this innovative partnership is to raise at least $200,000 to fight deadly malnutrition around the globe, but we can’t do it without you! No matter what your fitness level or preferred physical activity, your participation will go a long way in achieving this goal. Considering that it costs as little as $50 to provide a malnourished child with life-saving treatment, including ready-to-use foods and expert supervision, you could make a world of difference—the difference between life and death—for as many as 4,000 children. What is G? As Gatorade puts it, “G is giving back.” Are you up to the G Movement challenge?

NO�ROll�IN�THE�PARK:�SKATERCoMPlETES3,800MIlEJoURnEyToFIGHTHUnGER

last��summer,�21�year-old�jack�Sisson completed an inline skating excursion across the country to promote Action Against Hunger’s life-saving programs. A Dartmouth ’09 student, Sisson decided to break from the typical summer vacation to do something extraordinary: On June 10th, he set off on a 72-day journey from Yorktown, VA that took him through 10 states and 5 sets of in-line skate wheels.

Sisson’s dedication to promoting a global cause through athletics garnered plenty of attention across the country—Rollerblade, the manufacturer of inline skates, even provided a $5,000 matching gift. Jack ultimately raised over $11,000 for the fight against hunger and has been featured in a video on Gatorade’s G Movement website where he inspires others to take on hunger.

Considering that it costs as little as $50 to provide a malnourished child with life-saving treatment, you could make a world of difference

g�MOVEMENT:�gET�INVOlVED

Inspired? Interested in getting involved? Visit Action Against Hunger’s G Movement website, check out inspiring videos, view profiles of participating athletes, and get registered!

www.actionagainsthunger.org/g-movement


ANNOUNCEMENTS

ARMED�WITH�YOUTHfUl�IDEAlISM�AND�A�DESIRE�TO�MAKE�THE�WORlD�A�BETTER�PlACE, students around

the country are making strides in the fight against global hunger with

ACF’s international Race Against Hunger campaign. Modeled after Action Against Hunger’s highly

successful student outreach program in France, the Race Against Hunger aims to educate middle school students about the problem of global hunger while inspiring

them to be part of the solution. Spring 2008 marked Action Against Hunger’s pilot Race Against Hunger in the U.S., with four middle schools participating

in Chicago, Illinois. Five hundred students ran to fund-

raise over $10,000, displaying the extraordinary power of today’s youth to make a difference by turning ideals into action. In France, where the Race Against Hunger was first developed ten years ago, over 500 schools and more than 165,000 students participated in 2008, raising over €2 million ($2.5 million) to fight global hunger and malnutrition. Building on the tremendous success of the inaugu-ral Race in Chicago, the second annual Race Against Hunger spread across the nation, taking root in 21 cities with over 11,000 students from 42 participating schools! As one Chicago teacher put it, the Race Against Hunger offers “an opportunity to help students rethink some of our cultural habits that contribute to global hunger and perhaps to make a lasting change in their personal lives as well as lives across the globe.”

the youth eFFect: student action against hungercornell’s big red relief concert embodies the creative engagement of students across the country

STUDENTS�fROM�All�OVER�THE�COUNTRY�HAVE�RESPONDED�TO�glOBAl�HUN-gER’S�gROWINg�PROMINENCE�IN�THE�NEWS—global food riots, the spike in food prices, and revised estimates that global hunger now affects over 1 billion people (up from 854 million a couple of years ago). These headlines have moved America’s youth to take action in creative ways, whether forming service learning clubs at school, holding educational fundraisers such as ACF’s Fast for Aware-ness, or taking individual action to raise awareness and funds by skating across the U.S. for Action Against Hunger! Of remarkable note are the Cornell University students who organized the

Big Red Relief Concert, a campus-wide concert to highlight the global food crisis and support Action Against Hunger. “Action Against Hunger doesn’t just give food away; it tries to make sure that those whose lives it touches are given the tools to ensure their own well-being,” says student organizer OreOluwa Badaki. “Big Red Relief believes in this goal, and we look forward to helping make this a real-ity.” The concert raised an impressive $4,350, but equally important is the example that Cornell students have set by working to end global hunger.


schools across america race to end global hungerthe race against hunger campaign gets students moving to help end acute malnutrition

hands 4 hungerstudents highlight global hunger with “hands 4 hunger” project

STUDENTS�AT�ClINTON�TOWNSHIP�MIDDlE�SCHOOl�IN�NEW�jERSEY created a poignant learning activity on global hunger with a proj-ect called Hands 4 Hunger that symbolizes the 25,000 people who die every day from hunger-related causes. Students created a collage of 2,500 colorful hand-shaped cutouts, each representing 10 of these 25,000 fatalities. As a public display, the collage educates as well as impresses, providing facts about global hunger. “I thought it would be effective in spread-ing an important message, not to mention fun,” explains Abbey Daudelin, eighth grade student and leader of the project. Enrichment Teacher Diane Cormican concurs: “It’s pretty powerful when you see it.” The Clinton Township eighth graders felt compelled to educate others about global hun-ger after learning about the crisis in Darfur, and their efforts have not stopped there: they’ve also enrolled in the 2009 Race Against Hunger.

ACTION�AgAINST�HUNgER’S�POPUlAR�RESTAU-RANTS�AgAINST�HUNgER�CAMPAIgN celebrated its 8th year in 2008, partnering with food and beverage leaders to raise funds and aware-ness in the food-focused social environs of the Tri-State Area. Adding to the success of

the event was Café Joul, a popular French bistro known for its mouth-watering foods and cozy atmosphere. Since June of last year, Café Joul has committed to donating $1.00 from sales of one of two popular items—their green salad and a chocolate mousse—to the

Restaurants Against Hunger campaign. Café Joul has already garnered over $1,700 for Restaurants Against Hunger, while expanding Action Against Hunger’s local visibility and reach. With dedicated partners such as Café Joul, this year’s Restaurants Against Hunger campaign is bound to be a success.

lAST�SPRINg,�PRISM�INTERNATIONAl, a not-for-profit trade association for the commercial information management in-dustry, used a cross-country motorcycle trek to raise awareness and vital funding for the fight against malnutrition. The trip is the first charitable activity for the association and will be part of PRISMgives, a broader philanthropic effort. “The magnitude of energy and enthusiasm for PRISMgives was overwhelming—we just had to come up with a kick-off activity that was equally exciting,” said PRISMgives project coordi-nator, Tom Adams.

The cross-country event took place May 10-16 and covered nearly 2,800 miles. Riders averaged an 8-hour daily schedule, traversing the varied terrain of the American South and by-passing major cities. “Everyone interested in eliminating global hunger was encouraged to get in-volved, either by riding or donating—and the dedication really paid off.We exceeded our $25,000 goal and are still receiving gifts!” exclaimed Adams.

As the global hunger crisis crescendoed last summer, leading children’s clothier Estella embarked on a retail journey to help make hunger history. During a four-month cam-paign beginning in September 2008, Estella donated $0.60 for every online transaction or in store purchase—the cost equivalent of a packet of Plumpy’nut, the life-saving Ready-To-Use-Food (RUF) used to save the lives of malnourished children. Estella was eager to help children in need given the company’s mission. “This campaign was designed to raise awareness

of RUFs like Plumpy’nut, a little known breakthrough cure for a big disease afflicting less fortunate babies and kids—kids who are the same age as the children our store caters to,” said Estella co-founder Chike Chuk-wulozie. The campaign was an astounding success, raising over $10,000 in just 12 weeks and changing the lives of children all over the world.

cartier shinesworld renowned jeweler partners with acF to tackle childhood hunger

RENOWNED�lUxURY�jEWElER�CARTIER�RECENTlY�PARTNERED�WITH�ACTION�AgAINST�HUNgER on two successful initiatives—an international “Love” campaign featuring ACF as its charity partner, and a holiday giving campaign among US employees that raised funds for ACF’s lifesaving programs. The “Love” campaign reinforced Cartier’s long standing commitment to children’s chari-ties, raising funds to support malnour-ished children in North Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma). Giving At Thanks-giving, the employee giving program, built on Cartier’s holiday tradition of presenting employees with gift certificates for a Thanksgiving turkey. Through this program, Cartier encouraged its employ-ees to donate their gift certificates to sup-port ACF’s relief programs. By the end of the campaign, more than 200 employees from across the US participated. Their generosity—a wonderful reminder of the power of collective acts of good will—helped provide more than 100 children with enough Plumpy’doz to keep them healthy and free from the dangers of acute malnutrition.

To learn more, visit�www.estella-nyc.com Cartier’s love Campaign:www.love.cartier.com

Restaurants Against Hunger:www.actionagainsthunger.org/rah

If you’re interested in reliving the journey, you can find details online at www.prismgives.com

Kiddy clothier estella taKes on childhood hungernew york children’s clothier offers life-saving premiums with purchases of top brands for children and babies


hunger awareness rumbles through a town near youcross-country motorcycle trek raises awareness and vital funding for global hunger programs

action against hunger a la cartenew york city bistro café Joul adds action against hunger to the menu

Nonprofit ORGU.S. Postage

PAIDPalatine, IL

P&DCPermit #7066

247 West 37th Street, 10th FloorNew York, NY 10018

Action Against Hunger receives top ratings from key charity watchdogs:www.actionagainsthunger.org/financials

WITH YOUR HElP THIS COUlD bE Al�gORE’S�NEW�MOVIE

Five million children die from malnutrition. One film could save them:

No�Hunger.

MAKE�THIS�Al�gORE’S�NExT�fIlM: Ask Al Gore to make this film, help end acute malnutrition, and save the lives of 5 million children each year. view the trailer, sign the Petition: www.AskAlgore.org

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