I have joined this powerful global movement because I believe that empowering girls and women is the only way in which we can build a better world for ourselves and for future generations, a world where hunger and poverty are only a distant memory. I have created this team also to send the message that men AND women are all in this together; that in order to really empower women, we need to shift the mindsets of men as well. We won’t end gender inequality if only half the population is fighting for it.

There is clear and unambiguous evidence that the end of world hunger can’t be achieved if girls and women are discriminated against and held back. Today there are nearly 800 million people who still go to bed hungry at night, and 60% of them are women.

The Hunger Project – the international organization behind this campaign – works to end hunger and poverty by pioneering sustainable, grassroots, women-centered strategies and advocating for their adoption in countries around the world.

But they do this differently. They see people living in hunger as the solution, not the problem. They shift the mindsets of women and men so they transform into leaders for the sustainable end of hunger. Then, through their programs such as education, microfinance, agriculture and health, they empower people with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to break the poverty cycle themselves.

You say: Why doesn’t The Hunger Project just distribute food? The answer is simple: Distributing food aid can alleviate hunger for a short while, but it’s NOT a sustainable solution to world hunger. Ending world hunger for good means taking a holistic approach: you need to focus on promoting universal education; ending harmful practices such as child marriage – which locks girls in an endless cycle of poverty and malnutrition that lasts generations; mitigating the effects of climate change; ensuring people have access to clean and safe water; educating people about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; and so much more.

Here’s a practical example of how The Hunger Project empowers women and girls in communities around the world.

Veena was married off at just 16 years old. Getting married this young is illegal in India where she lives, but it is still very common. Child marriage can have devastating effects on girls, including violence, exclusion from any control or decision making, early pregnancy and limited opportunities for employment.

Due to her personal experience, Veena is passionate about ending child marriage. Through The Hunger Project’s training, Veena now sees how she could use her influence as an elected member of her local council to stop other girls being married off at an early age. As a result, she has led a local movement against child marriage, going door to door talking to people about how harmful and dangerous it is for girls. She was successful in getting the local council to pass a declaration to end child marriage in her area. She is proud that no young girls have been married in the last 2 years.

So, how does this campaign work?

We try to make a difference by raising funds for The Hunger Project so that they can empower women around the world. They do this through activities such as:

• Maternal and Child Health – so mothers and babies gain access to quality healthcare and nutrition

• Ending Child Marriage – so girls stay in school to reach their full potential

• Microfinance – so women have access to microfinance loans and financial literacy training to start their own businesses and be financially independent

Here are some clear examples of the tangible impact your investment can have:

• $25 could provide one person with Functional Adult Literacy training so she can read and write
• $60 could provide one woman with a microfinance loan and financial literacy training so she can start a small business, earn an income, and support her family
• $120 could train one volunteer leader in Africa who will educate families about the importance of keeping their daughters in school so that they marry later
• $230 could train one Elected Woman in India to be an effective local council member and ban child marriage in her village

So, do something different today. Join the movement, fundraise for a good cause, and spread the word! You don’t have to join the team – you can also just donate directly!

*Note, if you’re in the US, your donations are tax deductible.