Day One

Today we discussed MDG #1: Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

Poverty is defined as "the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor."

A few statistics:

• Someone dies of hunger every 3.6 seconds.
• 13.2% of the world population is starving.  That's 925,000,000 people.
• 1.4 billion people survive on $1.25 or less every day.
• The world has enough resources for each person to consume 2,700 calories a day.

What can be done to improve this situation?  Empower women.

Check out this video about girls living in poverty.  (I cried.)   

What are others doing to help?

A few organizations we discussed:

• Heifer International  (Watch this video to see how the lives of poor women in Nepal were changed after they began raising their own livestock.)

• World Food Programme (and their successful program, www.FreeRice.com)
• Krochet Kids

After we talked about these organizations' successes, we brainstormed problems related to poverty and hunger in our communities and how we can take action.  

Service projects are short-term solutions to an issue.

Take Action projects are long-term, sustainable solutions that address the root cause of a problem.

You've heard the saying:  "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime."  That is what Take Action projects are all about.

I would write more about what I experienced today, but it's very late (or very early, depending on your perspective).  I have another big day of sessions tomorrow, so until then...goodnight!