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'''The Hunger Project''' (THP) describes itself asis a global non-profit organization committed to the sustainable end of world [[hunger]]. In 13 countries in [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Latin America]], the organization implements programs that mobilize rural grassroots communities to achieve sustainable progress in [[health]], [[education]], [[nutrition]] and [[family income]].
SinceOver the years since its foundation in [[1977]] The Hunger Project has sometimes attracted criticism for its methods and associations, as well as its past links to [[Werner Erhard]] andwhich [[Erhardis Seminarssummarized Training]]below.
==Current activities==
===Objectives===
In each region of the developing world, The Hunger Project's programs apply principles of self-reliance, gender-equality, local leadership and local democracy to overcome root issues of hunger and [[poverty]].
===Primary Activities===
In Africa (in [[Benin]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Ghana]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Senegal]] and [[Uganda]]) The Hunger Project carries out what it calls its "epicenter" strategy. The Project organizes clusters of 10-15 villages to establish and manage their own programs for rural [[banking]], improved agriculture, food-processing, income-generation, adult functional literacy, food security, and primary health-care (including the prevention of HIV/AIDS). A committee of villagers (with equal representation of women and men) manages each epicenter facility. A special program of [[microfinance]], the African Woman Food Farmer Initiative, integrates with the epicenter strategy.
In [[Latin America]], where poverty especially affects rural indigenous communities, The Hunger Project works with such communities to overcome their economic marginalization - particularly that of the indigenous women. The Hunger Project implements programs in indigenous communities of [[Bolivia]], [[Peru]] and [[Mexico]].
===Administrative & Fundraising Expenses===
Administrative and Fundraising expenses in 2004 accounted for '''23.5%''' of total expenses. According to the [http://www.opm.gov/cfc/04lists/2004NationalListwithout25WordStatements.doc Combined Federal Campaign 2004],''"Under OPM regulations, if an organi-zation’s administrative and fundraising expenses exceed 25 percent of total support and revenue, it must certify that the expenses are reasonable under the circumstances and include a formal plan to reduce such expenses below 25 percent."''
The Hunger Project receives its primary support from the private contributions of individuals in the [[United States]], [[Europe]], [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[New Zealand]] and [[Japan]].
==Brief History==
According to [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6427.htm Charity Navigator], [[Joan Holmes]] made $232,010.00<ref>http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6427.htm</ref> as president of [[The Hunger Project]] in 2004. This accounts approximately 21% of administrative expenses, and 2.97% of total expenses. In a comparison of its peers, CEO Compensation as a percent of expenses usually averages 1.92%<ref>http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm</ref>.
* February 1977 - THP is founded by [[John Denver]], [[Werner Erhard]], and Oberlin President Robert Fuller, and launched in public events across the US with an initial focus on generating the worldwide commitment to the end of hunger.
* 1978-1989 - THP carries out communication and education campaigns on the issue of world hunger, including mobilizing public response to international famines.
* 1990 - 1997 THP shifts its programmatic focus to pioneering decentralized, people-centered approaches to grassroots development, first in India, and then in Africa (1991), Bangladesh (1992), and Latin America (1997).
* 1998 THP makes the empowerment of women the top priority in all its programs worldwide.
==HistoryCriticism==
Particularly in its early years, The Hunger Project attracted criticism for (a) its association with [[Werner Erhard]], founder of est, who served on The Hunger Project's Board of Directors from 1979 to 1990, and (b) because it did not carry out feeding programs as a response to hunger. Whenever critics published statements alleging THP of being directly tied to, or promotional of est, THP requested corrections or removal of the statements, which in turn led to the further criticism that THP tries to squelch critics. THP maintains that it welcomes criticism, but not statements it perceives as false and defamatory.
=== Origins ===
The folksinger [[John Denver]], [[Oberlin College|Oberlin]] President [[Robert Fuller (disambiguation)|Robert Fuller]] and founder of [[Erhard Seminars Training]] [[Werner Erhard]] founded The Hunger Project in [[1977]]. [http://www.rickross.com/reference/hunger_project/hunger_project1.html Joan Homes], previously associated with Werner Erhard's [[Erhard Seminars Training]] (est), has served as Hunger Project CEO from its inception. [[Joan Holmes]] had served as a '''"consulting educational psychologist"''', with Erhard Seminars Training.
===Werner Erhard's Initial Influence===
''Main article: [[Werner Erhard]]''
Erhard formed the opinion that death by [[world hunger|starvation]] occurred not because of lack of food to feed all those who suffered from chronic hunger. Instead he blamed the context in which people viewed and interacted with chronic hunger. That context, he said, consisted of a closely-held belief (or [[discourse]], or conversation) that saw hunger as inevitable, a context of scarcity that governed all the interactions and fixes currently applied by those then attempting to fix the problem.
The Project had the initial stated intention of making "The End of Starvation within 20 Years an 'Idea Whose Time Has Come.'"'''(Copyright, [[1985]])'''. Erhard served on the Project's board from 1979 to 1990, after which he ceased contact with the organization.
"From the outset, Erhard was quick to insist there was no direct connection between [[est]] and the Hunger Project other than a $400,000 "interest-free loan" to begin the new endeavour, a $100,000 grant from a separate [[est]] foundation and the many hours that est staffers and volunteers contributed to the cause<ref>Pressman, Steven, ''Outrageous Betrayal: The dark journey of Werner Erhard from est to exile''. New York: [[St. Martin's Press]], 1993. ISBN 0312092962</ref>."
===Subsequent events===
In the early years of The Hunger Project, commentators and participants such as [http://hometown.aol.com/carol2180/index.htm Carol Giambalvo] criticized it for its association with [[Werner Erhard]] (who left the Board of Directors of the Project in 1990) and its resemblances to Erhard's other operations.
For a copy of Giambolvo's paper, see [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.landmark/msg/f1436f37837e568b?dmode=source the Google archive]. For a summary, see [http://www.rickross.com/reference/hunger_project/hunger_project1.html "The Hunger Project: A Historical Background"].
On [[May 30]], [[1981]] the board of directors of [[Oxfam Canada]] passed a resolution which stated they would not endorse any activities or programs sponsored by The Hunger Project, nor would they accept funds from the project.{{fact}}
=== Chronological Timeline ===
* '''October 1971''' - [[Erhard Seminars Training]], first seminar in [[San Francisco]], [[California]], led by [[Werner Erhard]].[http://www.dike.de/SINUSsekteninfo/lec/history/rename.html]
* '''December 1975''' - [[Joan Holmes]], current president of ''The Hunger Project'', quoted as saying: "Est training altered everything for me." - ''A Look at est in Education''
* '''February 1977''' - ''The Hunger Project'' is formally launched, at a meeting of [[Erhard Seminars Training]] advisory board.[http://www.werner-erhard.com/wernererhardcharitable.htm]
* '''May 1977''' Joan Holmes begins leading THP
* '''August-October 1977''' - ''The Hunger Project'' is launched (publicly) at events in 12 cities across the US and launches it's initial campaigns to generate public commitment to the issue of ending hunger.
* '''1978''' - THP holds first symposium of leaders of international hunger organizations. Critics begin a series of media attacks critical of THP's association with Werner Erhard.
* '''1979''' - THP participates in White House Crisis Committee on famine in Cambodia and launches campaign to raise money for relief agencies, including UNICEF, Oxfam and others.
* '''1980''' - THP holds second symposim of leaders of hunger and organizations and launches campaign for relief of Somalia famine.
* '''1980''' - [[Joan Holmes]] quoted in memo to ''The Hunger Project'' volunteers: "[[Est]] graduates represent the state of transformation in the world, the space of having the world work for everyone. Four years ago the graduates took on ''The Hunger Project'' and the end of starvation on our planet..."
* '''April 19, 1980''' - [[Kevin Garvey]] writes article titled ''Hunger Project: Erhard's est laboratory'', for ''[[Our Town]]'', a New York City newspaper.
* '''1981''' - THP launches Ending Hunger Briefing Campaign that provides 4-hour workshops on international development issues to 750,000 people in 12 countries.
* '''May 30, 1981''' - [[Oxfam Canada]] national board of directors pass resolution, decide not to endorse ''The Hunger Project'' programs/activities & not to accept funds from the project.
* '''1983''' - THP begins work in India
* '''1984''' - THP launches campaign to halt continent-wide famine in Africa.
* '''1985''' - THP launches book, "Ending Hunger, An Idea Whose Time Has Come" in the US Senate.
* '''1986''' - THP facilitates NGO participation at the UN Special Session on Africa
* '''1987''' - THP launches Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, and commits to a new focus for action directed at mobilizing the leadership, management and strategic planning needed to end hunger.
* '''1987''' - [[Carol Giambalvo]] writes paper titled ''The Hunger Project Inside Out''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.landmark/msg/f1436f37837e568b?q=The+Hunger+Project+Inside+Out%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rnum=1]
* '''February 13, 1985''' - ''[[McGill Daily]]'' publishes article ''Hunger Project Feeds Itself''
* '''1988''' - THP launches first mobilization of 160 villages in India, the Bayad Taluka, which
* '''1989''' - THP discovers in Senegal the elements of a new, multi-sectoral approach to rural development and begin formulating future programs.
* '''December 1990''' - [[Werner Erhard]] leaves the executive board of ''The Hunger Project''[http://www.thp.org/overview/responses/], THP launches new field programs in India.
* '''1991''' - THP launches field programs in Senegal and Bangladesh.
* '''1992''' - THP reviews India program with Prime Minister and commits to expansion.
* '''1993''' - THP expands into Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, and redesigns programs in Bangaldesh to focus more intensely on self-reliance in development.
* '''1994''' - Nelson Mandela receives Africa Prize at ceremony with President Clinton.
* '''1995''' - THP expands into Ghana.
* '''1996''' - THP expands into Burkina Faso and Benin.
* '''1997''' - THP launches Latin America Program in Mexico, Bolivia and Peru.
* '''February 5, 2003''' - [[John Coonrod]], COO & VP, writes letter to [[Carol Giambalvo]], stating: "''The Hunger Project'' has never denied that [[Werner Erhard]] was one of the founders of ''The Hunger Project'' or that, in the late 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Erhard encouraged participants in his programs to support ''The Hunger Project''"[http://groups.inetbot.com/showgrp/alt_pfan_plandmark_s278.html]
* '''April 12, 2004''' - ''Response to "The Hunger Project: Inside Out" by Carol Giambalvo'', the official response of ''The Hunger Project'' to [[Carol Giambalvo]]'s 1987 article[http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:DatfM63XDbsJ:www.thp.org/overview/responses/giambalvo.htm+%22hunger+project%22+response&hl=en&lr=&strip=0/]
* '''December 2004''' - [[Joan Holmes]], president, earned $232,010[http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6427.htm], '''21%''' of administrative expenses, and '''2.97%''' of total expenses. Fundraising & Administration expenses accounted for '''23.5%''' on FYE 2004 Financial Statements[http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6427.htm].
* '''May 2006''' - ''Hunger Project refutes innuendos'', an article posted on ''The Hunger Project's'' offical website, posts information regarding [[Werner Erhard]]'s relationship to ''The Hunger Project''[http://www.thp.org/overview/responses/]
==Governance and Administration==
* [[Joan Holmes]], President
===Executive Staff===
* [[Joan Holmes]], President, previously '''consulting educational psychologist''', [[Erhard Seminars Training]].
* [[John Coonrod]], Vice President and [[Chief operating officer|COO]]
* [[Fitigu Tadesse]], Vice President for Africa
* [[Badiul Alam Majumdar]], Vice President and head of Bangladesh programs
=== Board membership ===
* [[Peter Bourne]]
* [[Joaquim Chissano]], former President of Mozambique
* [[V. Mohini Giri]], former Chair of the National Commission for Women in India
* [[Joan Holmes]]
* [[Specioza Kazibwe|Specioza Wandira Kazibwe]], former Vice-President and Minister of Agriculture in Uganda
* [[George Mathew]]
* [[Queen Noor of Jordan]]
* [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]]
* [[Cecilia Loría Saviñón]], Former Director of Indesol in Mexico
* [[Amartya Sen]]
* [[Steven J. Sherwood]]
* [[George Weiss]]
=== Chair Emeritus ===
* [[M. S. Swaminathan]]
== See also, Relevant Articles ==
* [[Werner Erhard]]
* [[Oxfam Canada]]
* [[Charity Navigator]]
* [[World Food Conference]]
* [[est]]
* [[Erhard Seminars Training]]
* [[Landmark Forum]]
* [[Landmark Education]]
* [[John Denver]]
* [[Robert Fuller]]
* [[Joan Holmes]]
* [[Steven Pressman]]
==References==
<references/>
== External links ==
===Corporate Websites===
* [http://www.thp.org The Hunger Project] official website
* [http://www.hungerproject.org The Hunger Project Policy Briefings Site]
* [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6427.htm The Hunger Project Financial Statistics] from Charity Navigator, '''2004'''
===Financial Information===
* [http://www.opm.gov/cfc/04lists/2004NationalListwithout25WordStatements.doc Combined Federal Campaign, Office of Personnel Management], '''note, Word document.''', As ''"Global Hunger Project"'', item #1436, "fundraising and administrative expenses as a percentage of total support and revenue." = '''21.9%'''
* [http://www.cvc.vipnet.org/cgi-bin/cvc-view.cgi?org_id=1a0511818351002d300 CVC Charity Application] from Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, "The combined fundraising/administrative costs incurred by this organization" = '''20.54%'''
* [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6427.htm The Hunger Project Actual Financial Statistics] from Charity Navigator, '''2004'''
* [http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=justgive&ein=94-2443282 Global Hunger Project dba The Hunger Project] from JustGive.org, '''2004'''
* [http://www.newyork.bbb.org/reports/charityreports.aspx?pid=287&action=details&id=485 Better Business Bureau], Charity Report, '''2003'''
===Generally favorable opinions on The Hunger Project===
* [http://www.thp.org/overview/responses/ "Hunger Project Refutes Innuendos"] From the Hunger Project's website, interesting points.
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200605190254.html/ PanAfrica: Better Leadership Determines Our Future] ''Concord Times'', Freetown, May 19, 2006.
* [http://griefandrenewal.com/widows_5.htm/ Message from President Joan Holmes to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan] griefandrenewal.com, Freetown, posted May 15, 2006.
* [http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/121817/1/1893 Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: What Really Works on the Ground] ''OneWorld South Asia'', posted, November 8, 2005.
* [http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/30/120.html Million Dollar Initiative to Help African Women Farmers] By Thalif Deen, September 13, 1999
===Generally unfavorable opinions on The Hunger Project===
* [http://atheism.about.com/b/a/079082.htm ''The Hunger Project: Going After Critics''], ''About.com'' article by Austin Cline, ''The Hunger Project: Going After Critics''
* [http://www.ex-cult.org/Groups/Landmark/landmark-cherries.dir/apostate/lecarchive/canteat.htm ''The Hunger Project: You Can't Eat Words''] by Dr. David Hoekema, May 2nd, 1979
* [http://www.ex-cult.org/Groups/Landmark/landmark-cherries.dir/apostate/lecarchive/closetie.htm ''The Hunger Project and est: Close Ties''] by Dr. David Hoekema, December 26th, 1979
* [http://www.rickross.com/reference/hunger_project/hunger_project1.html ''The Hunger Project: A Historical Background''], Rick Ross, April 8, 2004
* [http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult_q2.html website, ''The Orange Papers''], see subsection, citations & article briefs on ''The Hunger Project''
* [http://members.tripod.com/~homeo/wheels7.html Wheels of Fortune], ''Part 7 - Devotion Over Dollars'', by Jim Provenzano, Bay Area Reporter
* [http://www.newint.org/issue148/hungry.htm Hungry for Converts], ''new internationalist'', John Tanner
[[Category:International charities]]
[[Category:Development charities]]
[[Category:Human Potential Movement]]
[[Category:Personal development]]
[[Category:New Age]]
[[Category:1970s fads]]
[[Category:1977 establishments]]
[[Category:NPOV disputes]]
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