South Asia

Kenchamma's work with The Hunger Project-India quickly showed that she was a natural and capable leader. Though her gender and caste presented her with extra obstacles, she has delivered undeniable results in the community, producing wide-ranging changes benefiting women, the elderly and children.

Srimoti Diti Adash's community was plagued by hunger, poor sanitation and lack of clean water. In 2008 she was mobilized by THP-Bangladesh's animators. Now Srimoti is committed to tackling these issues and others by inspiring self-reliant action in her community.

At the end of August, the Government of India made an important decision moving toward an increase in the reservation of seats in village councils for women from one-third to 50 percent across the country. "This is a historic moment," says Rita Sarin, Country Director of THP-India.

In late May, THP-India officially launched SUGRAMA, a federation of 5,000 elected women representatives in Karnataka. These women leaders will now have a unified platform from which to speak, and the strength and support that comes from that solidarity.

An example of the benefits education and a giving spirit, Dalimba Majhi has succesfully run in local elections. She is now a widely respected as a community health activist and a strong proponent of girls' education.

THP-India won a grant for the state of Madhya Pradesh. Federations of elected women were strengthened. And, over 30 participating organizations concurred that THP should maintain its role as facilitator and secretariat for the National Platform to Promote Decentralisation (NPPD).

THP-Bangladesh made a notable impact on increasing transparency for recent elections with a large awareness campaign. Along with the promotion of good governance, grassroots mobilization and empowerment of women were prioritized during this period.

In Bangladesh, several hundred youth and adults gathered in December 2008 for the annual Youth Ending Hunger Conference to discuss issues ranging from education campaigns, to math competitions and anti-tobacco advertising.