Blog FeedThe many challenges of poverty
As the Vice President of Program Services here at Freedom from Hunger, I would like to thank Daniel for contributing to Freedom from Hunger Day all the way from Ghana. I hope you were able to engage with him and learn more about our programs. As shown by our video, Freedom from Hunger’s programs are making a difference in the lives of women facing the many challenges of poverty, hunger and ill-health. These women’s determination to overcome these odds has always inspired me. I would love to hear from you, too. Let us know what you think of our work in Ghana and West Africa.
4 Responses to “The many challenges of poverty”
Ellen | 09-28-07
Ellen - I have been working with Danny Mensah to launch the MicroBusiness for Health initiative in Ghana. It has been an amazing learning jouney to see how the Freedom from Hunger experience in microcredit, saving and participatory education can be re-packaged to continue to serve the needs of the poor in rural areas. The MBH strategy extends the opportuntiy for community members to learn more about how to protect their health and better deal with health problems as they arise. It is an initiative that continues in the path of so many other Freedom from Hunger initiatives that addresses chronic hunger through a business-based approach and becomes a permanent service in rural communities.
Ellen | 09-28-07
Ellen - Working with the HealthKeepers is a marvelous learning experience. They are formed into small teams that come together regularly to re-stock their inventory, discuss how well sales are going, share techniques for selling and motivating use of recommended health protection products and practices and more. Watching them bond and grow in their skills is a very rewarding experience. It is also rewarding to see how the community responds to them. Initially the new HealthKeepers wondered how they would be received by their friends and neighbors. Once they learned and demonstrated their skills with practical solutions to nagging health problems, their frieds and neighbors have begun seeking them out. The HealthKeepers know they have a valuable service and products to offer.
Barbara C | 09-28-07
This is such an innovative program to train and enable women entrepreneur “healthkeepers” within thier own resource-poor communities to both provide access to basic affordable health products in a basket that they sell door to door, and to provide the education and counsel that women need to use these products and protect their health effectively. And they do not have to volunteer but are remunerated for their efforts so that it is a self sustaining operation. People get doorstep access (so that they don’t have to walk miles) to health products with one-on-one education (a crucial, often missing component) and the healthkeeper receives a livelihood at the same time. It is very compelling.
kim | 09-28-07
I was privileged to visit Burkina Faso and meet women who were part of the program and had purchased insecticide treated mosquito nets. They were excited and proud that they were able to care for their families, and share their new knowledge with others in their village.
In one meeting I learned how important it was for the women to buy the nets themselves, rather than have them given to them. A treated net costs about $5.00. When a woman feeds her family on a dollar a day, it can take her six months to save for it. Talk about valuing her purchase!! When I heard that I was shocked…that was about the same as my daily latte budget.
Thanks for the reminder. Next week, I pledge my weekly latte budget to Freedom from Hunger. I can do without the designer coffee and in the meantime, imagine a world without hunger! Anyone else?