The Hunger Project and Foxwynd Foundation are coming together in a multiyear partnership under Foxwynd’s Fellowship Program to further enable community leaders in Maculuve and Malindile Epicenters in Mozambique to accelerate their journey to self-reliance.
Malindile and Maculuve Epicenters are located just outside of Zinave National Park, a sanctuary for critically endangered rhinoceroses and other iconic African animals—elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and more. When we began working with these communities in 2021 and 2022 respectively, 74% of people in Malindile and 58% in Maculuve were experiencing moderate to severe hunger. People had been turning to their traditional natural resources, collecting water and firewood and hunting within the park. This was a major source of pressure on conservation efforts.
Through our Vision, Commitment and Action workshops the communities have started to transform their mindset about the park, taking ownership over the conservation and seeing preservation of the park as an opportunity.
This new partnership with Foxwynd Foundation will support training in leadership, women’s empowerment, ecological agriculture for food security, literacy, health and nutrition, water and hygiene management, microfinance and income generation so that community members may meet all of their basic needs and thereby reduce and eventually eliminate community incursion into the park.
The grant is part of The Foxwynd Fellowship Program, a unique initiative designed to deepen the Foxwynd Foundation’s commitment to established U.S. nonprofits and emerging international organizations. Each year, the Foundation’s trustees each select one nonprofit that personally resonates with them. This family member serves as an internal champion, a direct liaison and advocate within the Foundation. Rene Bentley’s selection of The Hunger Project marks the first official partnership under this program.
Rowlands Kaotcha, The Hunger Project’s President and CEO, said, “We are grateful to Rene Bentley for championing our work and to the Foxwynd Foundation for their investment in the future of Mozambique. This new grant will allow the people of Malindile and Maculuve to expand the impact and scope of the work they have been carrying out in their communities.”
“I am inspired by The Hunger Project in their approach to directly engage with and empower local communities to spearhead these projects. I look forward to advancing these sustainable, positive environmental and social impacts in Mozambique, together,” said Mrs. Rene Bentley.
We are looking forward to seeing the impact of this grant in Mozambique.
The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation to The Hunger Project.