Breaking the cycle in Bangladesh.

29 Oct 2019
Author: Kathryn Chung
3 minute read
1 in 3 people in Bangladesh suffer from chronic hunger every day. Training over 4,000 Youth Leaders, The Hunger Project works on the ground, empowering local leaders to confront the major causes of hunger and inequality. With the continued support of our investors, we are one step closer to a self-reliant and hunger-free future.

Why Bangladesh needs our support.

1 in 3. That is the number of people battling chronic hunger every day in Bangladesh. 

The majority of these people suffering are women and children. Gender discrimination is pervasive in the country, with Bangladesh’s socio-cultural environment heavily disadvantaging women. 

From the day they’re born, girls face significant obstacles in their development. Studies show that women receive less investment in their health, care and education. 

The facts: 

  • HALF of all girls are involved in child marriage.
  • 1 in 5 girls are married off before they are 15.
  • 1 in 2 women experience physical and/or sexual violence from their partners. 

 

The Hunger Project’s work in Bangladesh.

Empowering youth leaders to pioneer change.

The issues in Bangladesh are deep and entrenched in political, cultural and social structures. In order to solve these issues and create a future free of hunger, we invest in capacity building of women and girls to confront problems of gender inequality, education and climate change. 

We work on the ground in Bangladesh, mobilising local “animators” (trained volunteers), youth leaders and local government representatives. As the largest volunteer-based charity organisation in Bangladesh, the centrepiece of The Hunger Project’s strategy is grassroots training:

  • We have trained over 4,000 volunteer Youth Leaders in Bangladesh who are actively forging change in their communities. 
  • In 180 Sustainable Development Goals Unions our partners carry out holistic, bottom-up strategies to achieve the SDGs in their communities.
  • Through this work, we are reaching 5 million people to end hunger in Bangladesh.
  • THP Bangladesh has promoted the signing of a code of conduct between Muslim and Hindu communities, helping create an environment of security, safety and peace
  • Through The Hunger Project’s POWER program, women leaders are empowered to effectively participate in local politics and challenge gender inequality and violence against women

A snapshot of success: meet Shirma.

Shirma Misti is 1 of 2,103 volunteer animators trained in Bangladesh in 2018.

                                          

I got married when I was only 16 years old, so I couldn’t finish school. I was lucky that I was able to go back to school and finish my education with the support of The Hunger Project. I desperately want future generations to have a better life. That is why I organise easy-to-access meetings on important themes like child marriage, women’s rights and stopping payment of dowries. I have also set up a small savings group for women. We save small amounts of our own money and lend it out to each other. That is how I have been able to start my small shop and buy some chickens. I no longer have to depend on my husband. I am self-reliant.

                                          

Thank you for helping us create a future free of hunger in Bangladesh.

The challenges in Bangladesh are not isolated. These issues of gender inequality, violence and hunger affect us all, and require our collective support. 

With each new person who contributes to The Hunger Project’s work, we move closer to a self-reliant and hunger-free Bangladesh. Thank you to our investors, it’s because of you that we can continue our important work.