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2011: A Year in Review

December 22, 2011

6477670665_e97a3f4595.nodeIt’s been quite a year for us at The Hunger Project (THP) and for the development community as a whole.

Global conversations are turning, en masse, towards the world’s invaluable smallholder farmers – most notably female farmers. Agriculture, gender equality and sustainability, all fundamental elements of THP programs, are taking center stage and we couldn’t be more excited for the coming year.

But first, a look back at some of 2011…

This year, in addition to awarding the prestigous Africa Prize to Liberia’s first female Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Florence Chenoweth, we saw a past Africa Prize Laureate awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside two other remarkable women. Our CEO Mary Ellen McNish discussed major implementation of THP methods in conversation with the President of Ghana. And our program partners in the Horn of Africa faced the added threat of drought on top of chronic hunger and impressively demonstrated the resilience of sustainable communities.

Leaders in our Program Countries demonstrated the power of their passion combined with sustainable practices and rose to the top of global conversations. Leaders like Tarcila, Executive Director of Chirapaq – our partner organization in Peru – who was awarded the Ford Foundation’s Visionary Award. Leaders like THP-Mexico Country Director, Lorena Vázquez Ordaz, who was appointed to a national advisory board to promote civil society organizations in Mexico.

And during it all, our partner countries hiked (two of them!), danced and ran their way to creating resources and building impactful partnerships with women, children and men who are engaged with THP programs around the world on their way to lives of sustainable self-reliance.

2011 was definitely a memorable year.

But, as in every year, there have been trying moments: Another past Africa Prize Laureate, Professor Wangari Muta Maathai – an inspiration to us here at THP – passed away after a long battle with cancer, leaving a hole in the voice of environmental policy in Africa. Severe climate change continues to impact the Horn of Africa, affecting millions, and gender equality remains one of the leading hurdles for women in the developing world.

Our strength as a united, global community has never been more important. Your partnership, your investment and your passion will be crucial to the millions of women and men in THP programs this year. We couldn’t be more thankful to have such an amazing, inspired and empowered community.

Happy Holidays and a bright new year!

Learn More

2011 – A Year in Pictures
What You Read in 2011 – Our most widely read articles and posts of the year.
Check out ALL of the news from the last year!