[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1553-E1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO THE HUNGER PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2000

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work 
of an outstanding group called the Hunger Project. The Hunger Project 
is a strategic organization and worldwide endeavor focused on ending 
hunger throughout the world. The Hunger Project strives for a more 
permanent, wide reaching solution to assure that all of us, including 
the citizens of underdeveloped societies in Africa, Asia and Latin 
America will one day know a world without hunger.

[[Page E1554]]

  Each region, country, city and village that suffers from hunger is 
unique. It is this simple truth that guides the work of the Hunger 
Project. Instead of relying upon solutions that have been successful in 
other places, each situation is approached as a new initiative and a 
plan is designed specifically with the particular area in mind. Through 
the mobilization of both the grassroots and the local leadership, 
effective, specialized plans are devised and implemented. The Hunger 
Project stresses self-reliance and enablement; when people are given 
the right tools, they can create societal structures that will not only 
end their hunger, but also prevent it from ever happening again.
  The key component of the Hunger Project's strategy is the empowerment 
of women. The unique position of women in society allow them to be the 
most effective agents of change in the battle against hunger. The 
responsibilities of nutrition, family planning, education and others 
typically fall to women, yet women are traditionally shut out of their 
society's development and decision making process in developing 
nations. The Hunger Project mobilizes women to fight for the ability to 
take control over their own lives and the future of their families.
  This Saturday, the twenty-third of September, the Hunger Project is 
launching a new crusade against hunger targeted at South Asia. 
According to the Hunger Project's President, Joan Holmes, studies show 
South Asia suffers from the highest levels of childhood malnutrition in 
the world as a direct result of the oppression of women in this area. 
However, new laws in both Bangladesh and India allow women to serve in 
their local governments. The Hunger Project is utilizing this new 
opportunity to help women in those nations organize, mobilize and 
exercise these new rights to make hunger in their communities a memory.
  Mr. Speaker, the mission and work of the Hunger Project are both 
admirable and vital. The dedication and commitment of individuals such 
as Karen Herman and other supporters of the Hunger Project are making 
the end of global hunger a goal within our reach. I salute their noble 
undertaking and look forward to working in partnership to assure that 
one day their vision of a world without hunger is realized.

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