by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Brazil is giving hope to the world by leading in the war on poverty. The country has seen dramatic changes over the years in how many people are going hungry. In 2003 over 17 million Brazilians were living in extreme poverty. That number dropped to nine million in 2009. It still means that nine million people are living in poverty, but it also means that the social programs being used to combat poverty and hunger are working.

The new Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Jose Graziano da Silva, was previously a food security minister for Brazil. He was also one of the creators of the nation’s “Zero Hunger” social programs. One of the programs is “Bolsa Familia” or “Family Grant” which gives money directly to poor households. Graziano has stated that one of his first priorities for the FAO is to eradicate hunger.

“Bolsa Familia” is the social program that can be credited with helping Brazil’s extreme poverty numbers drop. Graziano believes that the “Zero Hunger” programs should be a model for other nations. According to Fox News Latino, Graziano believes that the “strong institutional framework” including the right to food in Brazil’s constitution and working closely with civic groups are the strength behind Zero Hunger.

Graziano stated, “These two pillars are what make the Brazilian program so attractive for the world.”

Last year it was estimated that 925 million people worldwide suffered from malnutrition, hunger, and poverty by the U.N. food program. A fear that the numbers are already on the rise due to the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, rising food prices globally, and economic collapses is well founded. The social program initiatives under “Zero Hunger” should be a great starting point for governments all over the world to give hope to those living in extreme poverty.

Some of the initiatives under “Zero Hunger” include “Bolsa Familia”, job training for women, support for small farmers, and running restaurants that serve 50-cent meals.

More by Linda:

Soles4Souls: Over 300 Million Children are Without Shoes

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

I had the pleasure of meeting two representatives of Soles4Soles at BlogHer ’11 in San Diego where I was able to learn more about the organization and what it stands for. Chris and Jeremy were two of the nicest guys, although guys were in limited supply at BlogHer, a girl could meet. You can see in their eyes how much the organization means to them and why the cause is so close to their hearts.

Since I don’t know when any of you will be able to meet Chris or Jeremy at an event, I decided I should tell you a little bit more about the organization and what they are doing to make a difference in the world today.

Soles4Souls, Inc. was founded by Wayne Esley in 2004 following the devastating tsunami that hit Southeast Asia. A picture of a single shoe washed ashore triggered an idea that would lead Esley to creating Soles4Souls, Inc. and help put shoes on over 15 million pairs of feet worldwide.

Some might ask, “Why shoes?” The truth of the matter is that shoes can prevent infections, diseases, burns, and other injuries that could lead to health issues later in life. Soles4Souls “Why Shoes?” webpage sums up the importance of shoes especially for children, “With the number of children living in abject poverty and therefore surviving at a scavenger's existence, the feet are at tremendous risk as the child hunts for food or household items in garbage dumps, abandoned housing/construction areas, or while crossing through open sewer trenches and contaminated areas.”

The organization takes new and gently used shoes, cleans them up, and then delivers them to those in need. Soles4Souls has delivered over 15 million pairs of shoes domestically and internationally. Volunteers with the organization have delivered shoes to children and families in need in over 127 countries.

Shoes are not the only concern for Esley and his volunteers. Clothing, toys, furniture and building materials are all items that can provide support to victims of natural disasters and those living in extreme poverty. Soles4Souls’ other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, focus on these efforts.

Visit Soles4Souls to find out how you can make a difference by cleaning out your closet, hosting a fundraiser or taking a trip to deliver shoes to those in need.

More by Linda:

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating the Men and Women Making a Difference

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

August 19th marks World Humanitarian Day, a day where the men and women who have dedicated their lives to making it better are recognized for their services. As the World Food Programme states, “The event has special significance this year as the world grapples with a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.”

Humanitarian aid workers do not have an easy life. They make sacrifices, risk their lives, and tackle challenges that sometimes seem to be never-ending. The World Food Programme recognized four volunteers who have made incredible strides and impact on the world. Fethi Mohammad, Consolata Kwadi, Mick Eccles, and Challiss McDonough were marked by the WFP for their contributions to putting an end to hunger and navigating through extremely unfriendly conflict zones to feed those affected by famine.

There are many humanitarians that deserve credit for the work that they do. The life of a humanitarian is not always easy, safe, or satisfying. It takes special people to make the world a better place. Those people are strong in mind, body and spirit.

I don’t have time to list all the humanitarians in the world, but here are some that I’d personally like to give credit to for World Humanitarian Day:

Wayne Elsey- Founder and CEO of Soles4Soles, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing shoes, clothes and hope to victims of abject suffering. Soles4Souls also supports micro-business efforts seeking to eradicate poverty.

Istvan Papp- U.N. Peacekeeper who was kidnapped while on a mission to oversee the disarmament program in Darfar in October 2010. He was chained to a tree in the Sudan for 3 months before finally being freed by his captors in January 2011.

Sergio Vieira de Mello, a humanitarian worker for the U.N., and the 21 others who lost their lives during a hotel bombing in Baghdad in 2003. World Humanitarian Day was declared for August 19th by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to honor de Mello and the other volunteers who gave up their lives doing good works on that sad day in 2003. De Mello was awarded the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights posthumously in 2003.

Who did you recognize for World Humanitarian Day?


More by Linda:

Child Poverty: America's Rising Crisis

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

Jeff Bridges Helps Launch No Kid Hungry Campaign in Virginia

_by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

America has a rising crisis on its hands-- child poverty. A study released on August 17, 2011 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that child poverty has increased in 38 states from 2000-2009 leaving 14.7 million children in families that fell below the federal poverty level in 2009. That is 1 in 5 children living in poverty.

Today's federal poverty level is $22,350 a year for a family of four. The researching foundation on child well-being cited that research has shown that the federal poverty level should be double that for a family of four at $44,700. The current level has not changed since the 1960s.

The increase of child poverty over the years will have a devastating effect on the economy and especially on the children. According to the Daily Mail, “In the foundation's first examination of the impact of the recession on the nation's children, the researchers concluded that low-income children will likely suffer academically, economically and socially long after their parents have recovered.”

Stephen Brown, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, sees a bleak future for the economy, “What we are looking at is a cohort of kids who as they become adults may be less able to contribute to the growth of the economy. It could go on for multiple generations.”

The study concluded that the rise in child poverty would be a great social cost to America which would include reduced economic output, higher health expeditures and an increase in criminal justice costs for society.

Patrick T. McCarthy, President and CEO of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, believes that “We can—and must—do better. With sound investments, we can provide all children with the opportunity to reach the full potential of their talents and ambitions, while setting the nation on a path to renewed economic prosperity. It won’t be easy, but as a nation, we have the knowledge, tools, and determination to make it happen.”

Visit KIDS COUNT to learn more about the child poverty levels in your state and to find out what you can do to make a difference.

More by Linda:

Yum! Brands, Inc. Fights Hunger in Africa with $1M

Jeff Bridges Helps Launch No Kid Hungry Campaign in Virginia

Empowering Women is Key to Fighting Hunger

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Yum! Brands, Inc., the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, is well aware of the food crisis happening in Africa. Families in the Horn of Africa are suffering the effects of drought and war. Hunger and famine are at an all time high. Celebrities have called this plight in Africa, “the worst food crisis of the 21st century.” Yum! Brands, Inc. is attempting to make a difference by directing $1 million in funds from its World Hunger Relief global effort to help the United Nations World Food Programme feed those affected.

Over 13 million people in the Horn of Africa have been affected by the food crisis. One of the worst droughts in history, conflict in the region, and over-population in refugee camps is making food a scarce commodity. The World Food Programme is trying to get food to those in need in  Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, and Somalia.

Yum! CEO David Novak said of the companies actions, “The situation throughout the Horn of Africa is desperate,  and we all need to help.”

Yum! Brands, Inc. is not only fighting hunger in Africa, but all over the world through the World Hunger Relief effort. The company's hunger relief efforts span 110 countries, 38,000 restaurants and more than a million employees and volunteers dedicated to raising awareness and funds for hunger-relief agencies.

While also battling hunger in the Horn of Africa the company is also helping the World Food Programme's hunger relief efforts in Hondoras, the second poorest country in Central America.

More by Linda:

Jeff Bridges Helps Launch No Kid Hungry Campaign in Virginia

Empowering Women is Key to Fighting Hunger

Experiencing Poverty to Understand the Crisis

By Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Actor Jeff Bridges is using his celebrity status to draw attention to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign in Virginia and also talking to puppets while he is at it. Joining Bridges for the launch of the campaign was Gov. Bob McDonnell and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. No Kid Hungry helps to match up low-income children with federal nutrition programs during the summer months when there is no access to free or reduced-cost school lunches.

The politicians and the actor met up at Barcroft Elementary in Arlington, Va. to kick off the fight against childhood hunger. Bridges joked with a few puppets during the campaign launch news conference and before the puppet show which helps explain the No Kid Hungry movement to children. A new PSA that stars Bridges has the celebrity encouraging people to take the pledge at Share Our Strength and take action to fight childhood hunger.

No Kid Hungry is part of a national initiative to end childhood hunger by 2015. Several other states have begun campaigns for No Kid Hungry including Maryland, Connecticut, California and now Virginia. As the spokesman for No Kid Hungry, Jeff Bridges has been visiting schools, doing PSA’s and talking about the campaign on a national level. His most recent interview was on Hard Ball with Chris Matthews. You can watch the interview here.

Look for a No Kid Hungry campaign in your state to find out about federal nutrition resources available or consider taking the pledge at Share Our Strength to help eradicate hunger by 2015.

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

“Women make up a little over half of the world's population, but they account for over 60 percent of the world’s hungry.”- U.N. Economic and Social Council, 2007

If you were asked who was affected most by hunger would you choose a. women, b. children, c. men or d. all of the above?  The answer is not all of the above but a. women. In some of the least developed countries where hunger is an everyday threat women face the inequalities of economics which means they remain hungry. Some of these inequalities include lower job wages, less secure jobs and gender inequality in general.

A recent United Nations conference on the least developed countries called “Economic Empowerment of Rural Women is Key” address and analyzed the issues that women face. During the Opening Session of the 4th UN conference United Nations Women Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director Ms. Michelle Bachelet spoke to group of government representatives and global leaders about empowering women. In her speech Bachelet said, “Globally, rural areas have lagged far behind in terms of progress on all of the MDG [Millennium Development Goals] indicators, including those related to gender equality. This is particularly significant for the LDCs [Least Developed Countries], since more than 70 percent of their populations live in rural areas.”

Bachelet went on to address the steps that are necessary for her Vision and 100-Day Action Plan to work. One of the first things she addressed was unpaid women’s care work like that of tending an open fire where a woman in Africa will, “devote at least a quarter of total household labour to wood collection.” The solution: labour-saving technology and alternative energies sources. Bachelet offered some other solutions which would empower women including access to health care, education, and a greater investment in agriculture and rural development by increasing productive resources and financial services to women.

According to her speech, “FAO has estimated that, if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their farms by 20 to 30 percent. This could have a powerful impact on both food security and nutrition in LDCs.” Pointing out exactly why empowering women is the key in the fight against hunger.

You can read Michelle Bachelet’s entire speech at UN Women.

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

A student, Drew Mirolli, at North Paulding High School in Georgia is a founder of a non-profit organization that collects food and clothing for people in need. The non-profit called Operation Poverty has raised close to $13,000 to stock up a local food pantry and to help rebuild a girls’ dormitory in Uganda. As great as those things are, that is not what sets Operation Poverty apart from other non-profits that focus on helping those in need.

Operation Poverty believes that in order to understand the crisis of homelessness and poverty you have to experience it. The organization issued a challenge to the students of North Paulding High School- to sleep outside and live on $2 a day with daily rations of oatmeal, small PB&J sandwiches and ramen noodles. Over 200 students joined in “Challenge Week” with some dropping out along the way.

When the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked Mirolli if anyone dropped out of “Challenge Week” Mirolli responded, “We had a couple of freshman girls — it is just a little too hard. That almost makes me happy. That means that they are actually experiencing what it’s like.”

Mirolli was honored earlier this month in Washington D.C. for his outstanding community service. He was awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community Award which recognized outstanding service by middle and high school students. Mirolli is graduating this year but has passed the challenge project onto a senior at a rival high school He hopes that Operation Poverty will go nationwide with more and more students getting involved.

You can read Ann Hardie’s full interview with Drew Mirolli at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

by Linda St.Cyr, Contributing Writer

Sesame Workshop is the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street who run various initiatives to help prepare children for different challenges they may face in the world. Some of Sesame Workshop’s initiatives include Global Grover, Math is Everywhere, and Talk, Listen, Connect: Deploy.

Each initiative helps children understand different situations by utilizing the characters of Sesame Street. Global Grover helps children understand and respect others by instilling a healthy curiosity about other cultures. Big Bird has given children an eye for adventure and nurtures a love of science in children because of the initiative “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”.  Elmo is a part of Sesame Workshop’s latest initiative, “Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget”.

In partnership with UnitedHealthcare and the Merck Foundation, Sesame Workshop, launched “Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget” to help families with children aged 2-8 understand how to make healthier food choices on a budget, gain knowledge of what resources are available to food insecure families, and much more. The project is also being used to raise public awareness about food insecurity in the U.S.

The materials that caregivers and young children can expect in the Food for Thought project include a Sesame Street DVD (Elmo, Super Grover and their new friends Super Foods go on an adventure), a caregiver guide (tips, resources and more for families), Sesame Street recipe cards (healthy meals and snacks), and a children’s story called “A Delicious Day” where Big Bird goes to the local food pantry for the first time. The project also offers families an interactive website with games, tips, resources, and much more. Visit Food for Thought to learn more.

by Linda St. Cyr, Contributing Writer

What will you be doing on May 29th, 2011? Will you be Walking for Hunger? The World Food Programme’s latest campaign to raise worldwide hunger awareness is called End Hunger: Walk the World. The campaign will help support WFP’s efforts in providing free school meals to 20 million poor children each year. Twenty-five cents is all it takes for one child to receive one nutritious meal a day.

Walk the World is an annual event that has been going on since 2003. The idea was inspired by the millions of poor children around the world who have to walk to school every day- often several kilometres away while hungry and barefoot. These children are determined to get an education to improve their future. Studies have shown that children who are hungry are less able to focus in school, are more irritable, and at higher risk for anxiety and depression.

The walk begins in Auckland, New Zealand and finishes in Samoa with participants in each of the world’s time zones walking five kilometres (3.1 miles) in a 24 hour relay. Walk the World events are being set up all over the world. You can find one by using the interactive Google map on WFP’s website by clicking on a foot icon. From there you can sign up to join the walk or you can even participate in Walk the World by joining WFP’s Virtual Walk on Facebook.

So far the country with the most walks is Germany with 31 scheduled walk events. The U.S. has only 10 scheduled walks with many happening between May 29th and June 4th. You can join in or even create your own walk by visiting Walk the World.