• Your first name and the name of your school, college or organisation
  
  
• What you have done to help the hungry in Africa
  
  
• Your web address if you have your own site and details of your initiative are on line
  
  
• If you have held a fund-raising event, an all night vigil for the hungry or any other event, please send us photos to publish in a gallery.



• Or, if you wish to remain anonimous.
  
  

If you have any suggestions to help build the Africa Hunger Alert campaign, please click here


HOW YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE

The Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis has raised US$50,000 for operations run by the WFP – the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

The generous donation was presented to WFP Executive Director James T. Morris, who has attended the church for the past 35 years, by the Senior Pastor at the church, Dr.William Enright. Thanking the Church for its generosity, Mr.Morris said that he wanted the gift to be spent on the current humanitarian crisis in southern Africa, where it will help feed more than 6,000 children.

Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis

After publishing an article (edition 1/2) highlighting the Africa Hunger Alert, Landbruk, a weekly magazine published by the Swedish farmers’ association, was overwhelmed by requests from readers asking what they could do to help the starving in Africa

In response, Landbruk’s website (www.landbruk.com) is carrying a direct link to WFP’s home page, explaining that visitors can donate online to the agency’s operations in Africa.

Some 150,000 rural farmers in Sweden subscribe to Landbruk.

Landbruk - http://www.landbruk.com

Ethiopian community members in Houston, Texas, in the United States would like to thank you for your effort to bring Ethiopia’s drought to the global community's attention. In order to rally behind your campaign, we are mobilising our local community to actively participate in reaching out to those affected.

One obstacle to our campaign is the need for video and pictures illustrating the gravity of the situation. Please send us advice on how and where to find the pictures and news footages of the draught and its impact on Ethiopia.

Houstonforethiopia
houstonforethiopia@yahoo.com

United States Congressman Frank Wolf , who recently visited Ethiopia and Eritrea, has held a press conference in Washington to talk about the need for more action to avoid the development of a famine in the Horn of Africa. His report on the visit is available at www.house.gov/wolf

Congressman Wolf has already met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell to highlight the hunger crisis, and is seeking an audience with President Bush. He has also offered to introduce a planned House International Relations Committee hearing on Africa with an account of his trip.

Those fighting against the growing humanitarian crisis in Africa are hitting roadblocks that need concern us all. The wealthy nations of the West are focused on the geopolitical crises in Iraq and North Korea. The threat of mass starvation in Africa seems like a chronic toothache compared to the abscess that is the threat posed by Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-il.

Meanwhile, Westerners themselves are displaying donor fatigue. It sometimes seems as if Africa is always facing famine, and the very perpetual nature of it makes it easier to turn away and close the chequebook. Yet almost 20 years after the Live Aid phenomenon brought unprecedented attention to famine in the Horn of Africa, the threat is acute again.

More than 35 million people face a food crisis in 2003 -- roughly half of them in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the other half in six nations in southern Africa. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said in November that the looming famine in his country could be as bad as the one two decades ago, when as many as one million people died. It may turn out not to be that disastrous, but only by degree.

International aid agencies have improved their food distribution systems significantly in recent years. In a normal year, about one-10th of Ethiopia's population requires food assistance. More is certain to be done this year.

Still, the situation in Ethiopia is similar to neighbouring Eritrea, where the crops have largely failed because of poor spring and autumn rains. The United Nations World Food Programme fears its supplies may run out by April.

In southern Africa, the crisis appears to have been exacerbated by politics. In Zimbabwe, the Mugabe government has driven white farmers off their land and attempted to manipulate food aid in favour of supporters. In Zambia, the government has refused to accept U.S. maize stocks on the basis that they have been genetically modified, and the United States has refused to provide cash instead. There are fears that corruption and mismanagement will hinder distribution of assistance to the other countries facing famine: Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique and Swaziland.

The most frightening aspect of this crisis, though, is that it seems inextricably tied to the AIDS pandemic that haunts Africa. That translates into an unprecedented challenge, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan suggested in a recent article. In particular, women, who are the economic foundation of rural communities in Africa, now make up almost 60 per cent of those
afflicted with HIV on the continent.

"AIDS has already caused immense suffering by killing almost 2.5 million Africans [in 2002]," Mr. Annan wrote in The New York Times a week ago. "Now it is attacking the capacity of these countries to resist famine by eroding those mechanisms that enable populations to fight back -- the coping abilities provided by women."

Among the initiatives now required are new agricultural techniques appropriate to a depleted work force. "Shipping in food is not enough," Mr. Annan contended. Nevertheless, shipping in food remains the first line of defence.

Recent figures show that barely half the US$500-million (U.S.) in emergency food aid needed in southern Africa has been pledged. Countries have fallen short; so have individual donors.

The industrialized world, especially the United States, knows the war against terror must be relentless. But it cannot be all-consuming; other,international challenges cannot be allowed to slip. American officials, including a senior member of Congress, are now touring the Horn of Africa. Their report is likely to paint a dire picture. Washington, and Ottawa too,
must maintain a sharp focus on Africa's plight.

This editorial was first published in the Globe and Mail newspaper - Toronto, Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

I am a Somali refugee who arrived in Canada in 1993 as a World University Service of Canada (WUSC) refugee student, now in my 2nd year of a Ph.D. programme at York University, Toronto.

I am writing to offer my assistance in any way required for your fundraising
efforts. I read an article in The Nation (Nairobi) about the food shortages in Dadaab camp. In 1999, I undertook field research among the women of the Dadaab, Hagadere, Ifo and Dagaheley camps in partnership with the UNHCR. I spent four months with these women - who are enduring a fate which I narrowly escaped - and have come home with photographs, audio recordings of their songs and a strong desire to help.

As a student who provides support to my family back in Somalia, I am
financially unable to provide donations of any kind to the WFP campaign, but I would be more than willing to help "put a face" on this issue.

Shukria Dini

The German Club of Seckman High School in suburban St. Louis held a
candlelight vigil on the evening of December 16 to raise both awareness of Africa's famine and money to send to the US Friends of WFP.

A business donated Blues Hockey tickets, which were raffled off and we accepted donations at the vigil as well. We raised over US $700 that evening.

Including our previous collections of change and aluminum cans we have collected a total US$1217.00. This was a large amount considering how unpopular this topic is right now and
the light turn out at our vigil.

Students spoke at our vigil and we had a Catholic priest (the event
was non-religious) and a staff aid of Congressman Richard Gephardt as keynote speakers. Also one of my students composed, wrote and then performed an original song about the famine.

Local papers covered our event, but our best efforts could not
get metro wide coverage in our newspaper or any of the TV stations
interested. We felt everything that we could control went well and we are eager to help any other groups interested in holding a similar vigil. We learned a lot about holding vigils and your group could learn from our experience. We will gladly send our press releases and flyers for use at your vigils.

You can contact us through the website one of my students set up
for the vigil: www.famineafrica.com

Mr. Kirby and the Seckman High School German Club

The Hong Kong government has approved a two million Hong Kong dollar (US$ 256,410) donation to Oxfam Hong Kong to help drought victims in Ethiopia.

The money will be drawn from the HK government's Disaster Relief Fund, which was set-up in December 1993 specifically to provide emergency relief to people and places outside Hong Kong.

18 December 2002

Catholic Relief Services has been trying to raise awareness in
the US about Africa issues and so we welcome any opportunity that enhances
that. To enable us to explore the ways in which we can collaborate on the
Africa Hunger Alert, I am trying to find out the specifics of how this will
work.

Our main target right now are US colleges and universities. Are there any
university and college groups that are interested in working on the Africa
hunger crisis? We really would like to work with any of those.

Thank you again for initiating this.

Catholic Relief Services
Baltimore, MD 21030

World Vision is focusing particularly on Southern Africa. At present, the total number of beneficiaries from our food aid programme in the six countries is 2,794,656. According to our agreement with WFP, we are distributing a total 206,193 metric tons of food aid, valued at US$ 83,243,009.

In response to the current food crisis, World Vision aims to meet the
immediate needs of vulnerable communities and to develop long-term
programmes to strengthen their resilience to future food shortages.

Efforts include: food distributions and improved access to health
services, training in agricultural productivity, improved water
availability and seed fairs and training to improve communities' own
early warning systems for future crises. All the programmes also include
AIDS education and prevention components.

See WV International's website and its feature on the Southern Africa Food Crisis - http://www.wvi.org/home.shtml

World Vision

Rachel Bezner Kerr, a Cornell University graduate student of sustainable agriculture, held The Malawi Music Benefit at Jacksonville in the United States, to raise funds and awareness of the food crisis in southern Africa.

Bezner Kerr, who has worked on food security issues in Ekwendeni, Malawi, for the past six years, decided to organise the fund raiser after witnessing firsthand the horror of starving children in northern Malawi’s villages.

She says: “it was a horrible thing to witness and it doesn’t make you feel good about the state of the world – but it definitely made me want to raise awareness back home.”

At Ekwendeni, Bezner Kerr works with international relief organisations to introduce long-term strategies to increase agricultural output. “In the long-term, we hope there will be less reliance on commercial fertilisers, which are very expensive and more of a reliance on a sustainable agricultural system,” she says.

Bezner Kerr has also given a presentation about hunger in Malawi at Jacksonville’s New Life Presbyterian Church.

Jacksonville, US
For more information, contact Bezner Kerr at rnb5@cornell.edu

9 December 2002

Japan's Friends of WFP, a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing awareness of hunger around the world, recently invited artists & sponsors of a house music concert to tell their audience about the Africa Hunger Alert.

Over 1,200 people, mainly university students, came to the event, watching a WFP video highlighting the plight of the hungry and listening as singers described the suffering in Africa and how individuals can help.

Posters, brochures and a donation box were placed in the foyer of the concert hall

The initiative was so successful that Japan's Friends of WFP plans a repeat performance at a jazz and classical music concert early next year.

Japan Friends of WFP
Tokyo, Japan

Glimmer of Hope, the Austin, Texas-based foundation, is donating US500,000 to emergency famine relief in Ethiopia.

The organisation, which is headed by philanthropists Philip and Donna Berber and operates almost exclusively in Ethiopia, is already coordinating with its partners to make sure the donation is used as efficiently as possible.

Announcing the initiative, Philip Berber said: "We have done much due diligence to determine the extent of the threat and received some important answers to some key questions. For example -- which areas are affected? What foodstuffs are available? Where and at what price? How and where can they be bought? And, how they can be distributed."

24 November 2002

Hunger and famine are beyond the comprehension of most of us. In our country, you're hungry so you eat. But what if there is no food in your home or community?

That's what people in Eastern Africa are experiencing now. More than 16 million people risk starvation in the Horn of Africa. About 70 percent of those are women and children.

The children of the world are innocent, vulnerable and dependent. They are also curious, active and full of hope. Their time should be one of joy and peace, playing, learning and growing, not suffering.

Why should Americans help the poor in Africa? Because it is the right thing to do. With a blessed country and with such great abundance, we have a moral obligation to reach out and help our brothers and sisters.

By supporting aid agencies, Americans have the ability to provide long-term development programmes that empower the poor to address their own problems.

By helping others, Americans help themselves. Because of Americans' financial and prayer support, food for the hungry can be provided for Africa.

Sybol Haskins
Boad Ripple High School,
Indianapolis, United States

(Reprinted with the permission of the Indianapolis Star)

22 November 2002

I am a visiting lecturer of Peace Studies and International Relations at the University of North West in South Africa.

I am also the Deputy Director of World Voices Norway, a youth organisation in Norway which attempts to raise concerns of young people all over the world.

Extremely worried about the hunger catastrophe in Southern Africa, I would like to dedicate a month of my Christmas holiday to volunteering for WFP in any Southern African country where you may need my help.

World Voices Norway would like to do a USD 3,000 (minimum) fundraiser for WFP, and I would volunteer my time to help distribute food, help with logistics, etc … over the holidays.

We would also cover all costs involved with my stay during my time as a volunteer. WFP would not have any costs, and would, if we agree on this, receive all funds that we raise.

Please let me know if you would like our help, and give us some feedback on the best way in which we can help you help people where they need it.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours,
GD

Centre for Peacebuilding and Conflict Management - Norway
http://www.ccm.no

22 November 2002

I believe one way we can overcome the hunger crisis is by making sure all the Ethiopians abroad understand the severity of the problem.

We are over here spending money on luxury items that we absolutely do not need. On the other hand our own brothers and sisters are dying because they don' t have anything to eat.

I am not in any way trying to exclude myself. I think a lack of exposure to the problem adds to the ignorance that we are experiencing.

I truly believe that your organization, with the help of Ethiopians directly affected by the hunger, can get a very substantial assistance from Ethiopians living abroad.

After all, we should be eager to save the lives of our own people.

AB

20 November 2002

17 November 2002

Certainly much must be done -- and quickly -- if these children and adults are to possess hope for survival and a better life.

There is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit humanitarian organization, LifeNets International, that has been working on this since the mid-1990s. We have successfully organized several relief and medical projects for needy people and children in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries in Central America and elsewhere.

Hundreds of tons of food, medical supplies and other aid, including the construction of medical facilities, have benefited people facing life-threatening crises. And LifeNets has accomplished the delivery of needed aid without the benefit of paid staff.

We are entirely volunteer-driven, with people all over the United States donating thousands of hours annually. Virtually 100 percent of funds given to LifeNets go directly to those institutions, who need them (all humanitarian groups are verified in advance as legitimate operations before receiving aid) and are leveraged many times over by purchasing quality food and supplies at deep discounts.

We also robustly follow up on our donations to ensure that food, supplies and funds actually get where they were supposed to go. LifeNets also is well known for not reinventing the "humanitarian wheel."

We partner with existing programmes funded or directed by the American Red Cross, Bank of America, FORUM Credit Union, Rotary, Kiwanis and many other churches and non-profit organizations to extend efforts already in place.

Proof of this can be found in Star coverage (Feb. 21, 2001) of LifeNets work helping children victims of the Chernobyl disaster, our most recent annual report or online at www.LifeNets.org. In addition to project information, the LifeNets Web site features hundreds of photographs of children and families, who have benefited from LifeNets programmes.

The main point remains this: One doesn't have to be a millionaire, power-broker, politician or industry giant to make a difference. A little creativity and imagination, coupled with a firm commitment, can change the lives of many for the better.

Thank you for your editorial. From our Indianapolis-based operations, we look forward to continuing our work throughout the world, especially at this time of drought and famine.

Victor Kubik, President
LifeNets International,
Indianapolis, United States
http://www.LifeNets.org

(Reprinted with the permission of the Indianapolis Star)

15 November 2002

15 November 2002

12 November 2002