Create self-reliant epicenters in Africa with THP

PICTURE THIS

In rural Africa, there is very little infrastructure. That means no hospitals, schools, or running water. Picture tiny dung huts set amongst thick jungle or dotting a vast desert, each with their own over-used little plot of dirt on which to try to grow enough food to feed a family. They could be hours away from a source of water—and even then it might not be clean. People are just scraping by day to day, eating only one meal a day if that, with no hope for the future to look any different.

The thing is there is hope for a better future. In our experience, people who live in hunger are not the problem – they are the solution.

WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT AFRICA?

We have developed the Epicentre Strategy: a unique, integrated approach created in Africa, by Africans, that over the last 20+ years has become an effective, affordable and replicable strategy for the end of hunger.

HELP US CONTINUE THIS IMPACT

The $25,000 (or more) that we raise will be directly invested in our Epicentre Strategy to ensure we can continue to develop these life-changing dynamic centres. This holistic Epicentre Strategy builds a path to ‘sustainable self-reliance’ through four phases over approximately eight years, with the ultimate goal of having the rural African communities confident and capable of continuing the work started by The Hunger Project, managing the Epicentre and its programs themselves without support from The Hunger Project. This is what we see as ‘sustainable self reliance’.

THE EPICENTRE STRATEGY IMPACT

The Epicentre Strategy unites 10,000 to 15,000 people from a cluster of villages in rural, remote Africa to create a dynamic centre, or “Epicentre.” This is where villagers are inspired and mobilised to take action to meet their own basic needs. There are 123 Epicentres across 8 countries in Africa,and more than 1.8 million people have been reached to date.

Here are some of the things we achieved over a 6 month period in 2015:

- 10,982 partners weer trained in HIV related issues to help prevent the spread, encourage testing and treatment and remove the stigma associated with HIV.

- 19,306 children were monitored for signs of malnutrition in order to provide early intervention to prevent stunting.

- 2,522 loans were given to village partners enabling them to start up small business to provide income for their families.

A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT…

Three Hunger Project Epicentres in Ghana have achieved the targets they set themselves for self-reliance - and will be celebrating this significant milestone in July. This is the ultimate goal of The Hunger Project in Africa - and we’re thrilled to have been partners in making this possible in Ghana!

Here are a few example of what self-reliance looks like:

- In 2014, 97% of births are attended by licensed health care professionals at Atuobikrom Epicentre in Ghana.

- 99% of households are using an improved drinking water source at Akotekrom Epicentre in Ghana as of 2014.

- There has been a 581% increase in the proportion of households using an improved sanitation facility at Akotekrom Epicentre in Ghana between 2008 and 2014.

- In the communities of Akotekrom Epicentre in Ghana, 92% of children aged 4-18 are attending school

- There has been a 98% increase in the proportion of children attending secondary school in the communities of Atuobikrom Epicentre in Ghana between 2008 and 2014.