To support the work of The Hunger Project buy the song here or support our work by texting SONG19 £3, £5 or £10 to 70070

A massive thankyou to everyone involved including the whole team at World Duty Free andBlack Jack Promotions.

Get Song | Joe McElderry Live at Pizza Express Jazz Club

More about World Hunger Day | Give Now

One World One Song YouTube Channel

We’ve dubbed it Team Hunger’s #SuperSunday as we have a big day planned this Sunday 19 May, 2013 in the run up to World Hunger Day events coming up next weekend.

BBC Radio London 949 – Inspirit

08:40 | Up & coming Jazz sensation, Anthony Strong will be interviewed by Jumoké Fashola ahead of next weekend’s World Hunger Day Live Jazz events at Pizza Express Jazz Club. Anthony will be performing on the show – missed it? Catch up on iplayer radio | Book Now

BBCRadio2 Wogan Weekend

11:45 | We are really delighted that Radio 2 will premiere the first ever radio play for our new anthem to end world hunger, One World One Song. Xfactor winner, Joe McElderry will be interviewed by Sir Terry Wogan before the first airing of the song - missed it? Catch up on iplayer radio | Song Website | One World One Song YouTube Channel

World Duty Free, Gatwick Airport

From 14:00 | A big thank you to World Duty Free who are partnering with The Hunger Project for an afternoon of special performances of One World One Song by Joe McElderry. We will be airside at Gatwick South Terminal.

If you are jetting off somewhere this weekend, come and support the sustainable end of hunger and poverty and sing along with Joe McElderry and Dionne Warwick.

To support the work of The Hunger Project text SONG19 £3, £5 or £10 to 70070

A massive thankyou to everyone involved including the whole team at World Duty Free and Black Jack Promotions.

Get Song | Joe McElderry Live at Pizza Express Jazz Club

More about World Hunger Day | Give Now

Anthony will be performing with Jumoké for World Hunger Day celebrations on Sunday 26, May

Support our work to end hunger by booking your ticket today. Show Info:

Jumoké Fashola and Friends, Sun 26 May with
Barb Jungr, Randolph Matthews, Anthony Strong, Tammy Weis & Mari Wilson
19:30 Show | £25 Online

Gudatu Saving and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), or rural bank, of The Hunger Project’s Jaldu Epicentre in Ethiopia has been awarded two cups and certificates for its outstanding work in mobilising the highest number of women members and the highest saving amounts among other SACCOs at the regional and federal levels.

The awards were handed over to the SACCO chairperson, Mrs Ayantu Dube, by Mr Alemayehu Atomsa, Oromia Administrative Region President, on February 28, 2013 at Adam City and by Mr. Hailemariam Desaleny, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on March 2, 2013 at Bahir Dar City, respectively.

The initial certificate award was prepared by the Oromia Regional Government Agricultural and Rural Development office on the occasion of the 6th Regional Farmers and Agro Pastoralists Festival celebration at Adama City. Following this, as the first of three SACCOs elected from the region, the Gudatu SACCO received its second award at Bahir Dar City on a similar occasion celebrated at the federal level. The certificate stated that the SACCO “is awarded for having contributed a lot in realising the agricultural and rural development policy and strategy to enhance the agricultural production and productivity and for their active contribution in implementing the five years Growth & Transformation Plan.”

Both events were covered on regional and national radio and television programmes.

Read more and explore how our programmes are ending hunger throughout Ethiopia

Currently, the SACCO has 1,330 members of which 934 are women. As of the end of 2012, the members had mobilised and deposited a total of birr223,539 (approximately £8,000) in their savings accounts.

Links

• Learn more about The Hunger Project’s Microfinance Programme in Africa.
• Learn more about our work in Ethiopia.
• Empower women and men to end their own hunger: invest now.

29 April: 3pm… Day 1 Lunch was rather basic today and I am definitely feeling a few hunger pangs and struggling to concentrate….

Lunch:

1 Baked Potato (20p)
1/2 tin of value baked beans (12p)
pinch of salt (no butter or cheese)
2 jaffa cakes (10p)

8am and we’re off #belowtheline – my breakfast has been a great success (14p) and I’ve even managed to get my trusty superfood in ‘chia seeds‘.

I couldn’t have done this without some bulk buying though and it has taken me an age to plan the elements which highlights the reality for the 1.4bn women, men and children (1 in every 8 of us).

When you Live #BelowtheLine you spend so much of your life chasing the next meal and moving to a new reality where you are envisioning a better future is really difficult.

Breakfast:

4g (teaspoon) Chia Seeds (4p)
Water and pinch of salt
Table spoon milk 1p
Small portion of frozen value berries (25g) 6p
Value Oats (50g) 3p
Total 14p

How is everyone getting on? Send me your news to mark.speirs@thp.org

Live Below the Line runs until the end of June – it costs nothing to sign up! Read more | You can sponsor Mark #BelowtheLine

A shout out to…..

25 April

Thanks everyone for joining The Hunger Project UK’s below the line team….. (it’s absolutely not too late to join me) and with Ben Affleck joining the campaign, Hugh Jackman inviting us all to getting involved – I’m getting just a little excited about next week!

Why we’re doing the challenge

The Hunger Project are empowering millions of women, men and kids to end their own hunger around the world and for just one week we’re all jumping into their shoes to stand in solidarity with them in their daily fight for a better future and to a get a better sense of the injustice facing one in eight of us around the world…..

Our £1 a day doesn’t even cover fuel, school fees or transport so it really is only going to be a glimpse of the incredible struggle for those living with chronic persistent hunger.

But I’m up for the challenge – are you? I’m starting to get really nervous about next week!!

Meal planning – you’ve got to plan #belowtheline

As yet I haven’t done any meal planning whatsoever… so it’s all going to have to happen this weekend….. if you’ve got some pictures, ideas or want to help me create the visual/written resources for our 60 plus challengers next week get in touch….. we are only a team of two staff – we need a hand!! email or post here (mark.speirs@thp.org)

• Live Below the Line kick starts a season of campaigning for The Hunger Project in the run up to our 3^rd annual World Hunger Day – why not get involved?
• Hugh Jackman invites us to Live Below the Line – are you in?
• We’ve launched Come Dine ‘Below the Line’ our ‘slimmed down’ version of the challenge on the 9^th May, 2013 – read more about how to set up your #belowtheline dinner party.

Team Hunger – Mark

mark.speirs@thp.org

Just some of the 60 challengers taking on #BelowTheLine – help them with their fundraising!

7 ‘Intimate’ Live Music Events 26-28 May, 2013

Following two highly acclaimed sell out shows at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre and the Royal Albert Hall, Pizza Express Jazz Club is delighted to welcome the  first limited season of  ‘up close and personal’  live concerts events in celebration of World Hunger Day 2013. Just 100 tickets per show – book early

Headliners:

Jumoké Fashola, London Community Gospel Choir, Joe McElderry & Andrew Roachford

With Special Guest appearances by
Barb Jungr,  Randolph Matthews, Anthony Strong, Tammy Weis & Mari Wilson

Featuring a host of amazing ‘Friends’ of The Hunger Project– old and new – and with some fabulous surprise guests still to be announced, the inspiring journey of these magical concerts will feature a diverse mix of musical genres including Jazz, Gospel, Soul and RnB through to Folk, Musical Theatre and Popular Music…all brought to you by some the most incredible vocalists, musicians and performers around today.

Ticket proceeds go to The Hunger Project’s incredible work to end hunger from the grassroots level in Africa, South Asia and Latin America.

London Community Gospel Choir – Gospel Brunch, Sunday 26 May
Hosted by Jumoké Fashola | 12:30 | £25  Online 0845 602 7017

Jumoké Fashola and Friends, Sunday 26 May
Guests Randolph Matthews & Tammy Weis | 17:30 | £25  Online 0845 602 7017

Jumoké Fashola and Friends, Sunday 26 May
Guests Barb Jungr, Anthony Strong & Mari Wilson | 21:30 | £30  Online 0845 602 7017

Andrew Roachford & Friends, Monday 27 May
Hosted by Jumoké Fashola | 18:30 | £30  Online 0845 602 7017

Andrew Roachford & Friends, Monday 27 May
Hosted by Jumoké Fashola | 21:30 | £30  Online 0845 602 7017

Joe McElderry & Friends, Tuesday 28 May (World Hunger Day)
Hosted by Jumoké Fashola | 18:30 | £50  Online 0845 602 7017

Joe McElderry & Friends, Tuesday 28 May (World Hunger Day)
Hosted by Jumoké Fashola | 21:30 | £50  Online 0845 602 7017

Educating the next generation about the whys and wherefores surrounding 870 million people’s daily challenge facing chronic and persistent hunger is part of The Hunger Project UK’s mission for 2013.

This missive was originally translated into a ‘One World One Song’ premiere at World Hunger Day 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Music for this song was composed by the legendary songwriter, Tony Hatch and was sung/accompanied by Dionne Warwick, Joe McElderry, The London Community Gospel Choir, Southbank Sinfonia and the 250-strong World Hunger Day Youth Choir from Woodbridge School, Suffolk.

Just one year on, ‘One World One Song’ is about to be launched as a single in its own right featuring the full original cast.  It will be the UK’s first charity single to be recorded in conjunction with a British education programme of this kind.  ‘One World One Song’ will be launched as a single globally on 27th May 2013.

All proceeds will go directly to The Hunger Project supporting their partner communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America.

Commenting on the dual-purpose educational-fundraising strategy of ‘One World One Song’, The Hunger Project UK’s Country Director, Tim Holder, said:-

“I am delighted that we have the opportunity to engage young people, possibly for the first time in schools about the lives of families who may be just like their own but whose future is stunted by the daily challenge of living in extreme hunger and poverty.  By introducing the UK’s first ever cross-curricular educational programme, we aim to educate and communicate why chronic, persistent hunger exists and how our young people should step up within their own communities to create solutions to end this terrible situation.  The future of us all is in the hands of the next generation – they have the power to end this plight once and for all.

“Furthermore, by launching the UK’s first educational single with-a-purpose, blending three generations of musical and artistic genius, we are not only raising the charitable bar by making fundraising accountable to young and old alike but also creating a socio-economic platform for tomorrow’s leaders to learn from today’s lessons.  We want everyone to listen to the lyrics, to purchase and participate in the song, with a view to sparking levels of engagement and genuine understanding that we all take direct action,” he added.

The Hunger Project UK’s Ambassador for Education and also Head of Sixth Form at Woodbridge School, Nicki Carter, added:

“As the Head of Sixth Form of a British school I am deeply inspired and delighted to be part of the creation of this new and innovative approach to educating young people.  The Hunger Project is committed to delivering sustainable solutions rather than offering quick-fix emergency aid for communities exposed to chronic and persistent hunger.  As Dionne Warwick herself says ‘If you think it, you can do it’ and The Hunger Project’s no-nonsense approach to solution-led fundraising support fully endorses Dionne’s words.  I only hope that teachers throughout the UK also feel the same way and take action themselves”.

Lessons relating to The Hunger Project’s cross-curricular educational programme will include some of the following subject areas for children in Year 8, aged 12-13, initially created by Suffolk-based teachers for schools across the UK.  Further down the line, it is hoped that schools will create their own bespoke programme via a pick and mix of resources available to all:-

• Drama
• English
• Geography
• History
• Maths
• Music
• PSHE*
• Religious Education
• Science
  *(Personal, Social, Health Education)

‘One World, One Song’, featuring Dionne Warwick, Joe McElderry & Friends, will be available for pre-order from the 17^th May 2013 globally.  A backing track will also be available to buy/download as well as the single itself for both communities and individuals alike. What is important is that we are all singing and sharing the meaning of ‘One World One Song’.  Over the coming days all social media channels will be live in relation to the single so that you can share and celebrate ‘One World One Song’ via youtube, Twitter, Facebook etc.

The next step for ‘One World One Song’ will happen at a series of 7 ‘World Hunger Day Unplugged’ Concerts between 26^th and 28^th May 2013 at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Central London.

For more information about the ‘One World One Song’ Schools Project as it develops please subscribe to our newsletter or download the press release.

Follow us @OneWorldOneSong on Twitter | Like our Facebook page TheHungerProjectUK

Programme Update – World Water Day 2013

In the countries where The Hunger Project (THP) works, communities have limited access to toilet facilities and safe water supplies. Even when improved sources of water exist, they are often more than 30 minutes away and require women and girls to travel there several times a day.

But more than something to drink or bathe with, water is a life-source. According to statistics from the United Nations, each person on Earth drinks between 2 and 4 litres of water each day – a mere fraction of the amount of water necessary to grow the food and raise the livestock necessary for us to lead healthy, sustainable lives.

In honour of this universally valuable resource, each March we celebrate World Water Day.

This year’s theme calls on the global community to recognise our shared use of water and cooperate to ensure safe, convenient access for every woman, man and child. As stated by UN Water: “cooperation is essential to strike a balance between different needs and priorities” surrounding this valuable, life-giving resource.

Learn more about how The Hunger Project is training and empowering rural communities to secure access and use safe water throughout our programmes.

Throughout THP’s programmes in Africa, South Asia and Latin America, we empower our village partners to create and strengthen cooperatives to improve their lives and those of their families and communities.

Organised groups provide countless advantages to community development. Group meetings become forums where members can voice and address common concerns and make decisions to take collective action on issues from education to family planning to access to clean water and sanitation.

Cooperation between community members, regional government and local businesses have yielded water and sanitation innovations like water purifiers in rural Uganda, clean water boreholes in Burkina Faso and sanitation programmes in Bangladesh.

Join us today in celebrating this phenomenal resource and relationship and join us this entire year in ensuring that successes LIKE THESE aren’t stand-alone achievements.

Learn More

• Get Involved
• Programme Update – World Water Day 2013
• Water and Sanitation Facts

www.flickr.com The Hunger Project UK’s World Water Day 2013 photoset

International Women’s Day statement by Rita Sarin, Country Director, The Hunger Project-India

I am honoured to share my thoughts on violence against women. Putting an end to such violence is crucial if we want to lead lives of self-respect and dignity.

While on one side, India has made great strides in the information technology sector, participated in the World Economic Forum meetings at Davos and so forth, all of us in the world saw another India last month when mass protests against gender violence led by youth and senior citizens ― beginning in Delhi, then engulfing the nation and beyond ― created a historic moment. Voices of women and diverse constituencies were unified, forcing the State to take political notice.

With promises of law reform, dedicated parliamentary sessions and police reforms, the improvements to women’s safety in our towns and villages being made during this time will go down in the history of my nation as a paradigm shift in how we look at women in this country.

Let me share that violence against women does not only include sexual assault. Here in India, we have it in all shades and forms: acid attacks, honour killings, domestic violence, dowry deaths, female infanticide, abuse, Sati (the practice of a recently widowed woman immolating herself on her husband’s funeral pyre) and commercialisation of women as a product by the media.

Women throughout the ages have dealt with violence in their day-to-day lives. We have a declining sex ratio nationally. Here in Delhi itself, we have 866 women to every 1,000 men. Amartya Sen, in his various discourses, has talked about the “missing girls.” Let me tell you, it is cultural and embedded in our lives and on the 16^th of December 2012 it exploded in our faces as we witnessed it in our living rooms with news coverage of the rape of a female student riding a bus through Delhi.

I come from and work in a rural setting. I work with elected women leaders who are constantly facing hostile, patriarchal and violent environments. On top of it, if they are Dalit (caste formerly described as “untouchables”), the violence is of an even deeper nature.

The Hunger Project’s participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign involved 4,000 elected women leaders covering eight million people across seven states of India. It unearthed the reality that women live with this day-to-day violence, and its threat, all the time. Candlelight marches, talks under a tree, signature campaigns, dedicated Gram Sabhas (general assemblies), dialogues and interaction made it clear that we need to:

• Break the culture of silence on violence.
• A culture of violence and fear is unacceptable.
• Accountability at all levels is the need of the day.
• Time-bound justice is a must for deterrence.
• Women’s issues are human rights issues.

The reality today is that women are breaking out of the shackles of cultural discrimination and coming out in large numbers from the middle class to work as professionals in diverse areas of work. That is what Nirbhya (the gang-rape victim in Delhi) was trying to do. She had her dreams and was trying to pursue her happiness and carve a life of rights and dignity for herself and her family. What happened to her is not one case, as is evident now to all of us.

Let me state that in this entire economic boom in our country, we forgot about women and the way we look at and ill-treat them. Let us not get seduced by the booming economy of the other India. This will never take us as one nation together moving towards development.

Therefore what do we need to do?

• We need to invest in women’s groups who are working on issues of violence against women.
• We need to invest in elected women leaders at the grassroots level who are dealing with these issues on a daily basis.
• We need to build and invest in institutions working on women’s rights.
• We need to invest in systems of gender sensitisation and in policy reforms towards gender equity.
• We need to invest in educating youth in schools and colleges on issues of gender violence, and invest in layers of administration to sensitise them on issues of violence against women.

I will end by saying that it is important to continue to engage, intervene, monitor and demand a violence-free attitude, environment and culture. The moment created at this point must retain its force until promises of change are kept.

Learn More

The Hunger Project celebrates International Women’s Day 2013 around the world

THP-India strengthens elected women leaders

Do Something Great – Signup today for Live Below the Line

Invest in women today

Wow! After a long journey we are up and away with Live Below the Line 2013 a brilliant campaign and fundraising event which challenges us all to live below the line for 5 days so that many more people can be empowered to cross it.

I’m in! Sign me up

The Hunger Project has a 35-year track record of mobilising people living below the line on their journey to economic self-sufficiency. We work in Africa, Asia and Latin America, reaching twenty million people in 8,700 villages in the most rural places imaginable.

With a commitment to the sustainable end of world hunger, The Hunger Project has already empowered and trained 380,000 volunteer leaders, who now have the confidence, methods and skills to begin a future without hunger. They are now leading their communities to take action in areas such as health, education, food security and income generation.

In the UK we operate with a team of two and an incredible bunch of committed supporters just like you, with one aim – to support our growing numbers of partners – the women, men and their children living below the line as they begin the journey to end their own hunger.

You won’t be alone – keep in touch, email us to let us know you are on-board, join the event page on Facebook, post your videos and pictures and fundraising stories so can share them with the rest of Team Hunger.

Join us in creating sustainable opportunities for many more to Live Above the Line

Tim

Tim Holder – Country Director
The Hunger Project UK

• A message from Angela Rippon OBE – Our Patron
• Live Below the Line UK Newsletter
• Watch Hugh Jackman’s Live Below the Line Video