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Cecilia Loría Saviñon, former member of The Hunger Project's Global Board of Directors, passed away on December 8th after a long struggle with cancer. Cecilia was a respected advocate of Mexico's feminist movement for over 20 years and a committed government official.

December 2008 Global Update. Through her participation in Hunger Project trainings, Bhavika has become a fearless women's advocate. Learn more about her and the 275,000 grassroots volunteer leaders who are initiating change in their villages.

Today, more than 30 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. The Hunger Project has trained more than 600,000 people in its HIV/AIDS and Gender Inequality Workshop.

Hunger Project communities are educating their children; immunizing their babies; getting health care for pregnant women; and caring for the overall welfare of their children, both girls and boys.

The Hunger Project is poised to have 2008 be our best year yet in terms of fundraising results. This newsletter highlights the stories of leaders who are recognizing that the current economic climate is not a time to step back, but a time to step forward.

On October 18, Faiza Jama Mohamed and Janet Nkubana were named co-laureates of the 2008 Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, at a celebratory gala in New York City.

On October 15, 2008 the people of Bangladesh observed the 9th National Girl Child Day. National Girl Child Day is a national strategy that seeks to improve the status of and end discrimination against girls in Bangladeshi society. Since 2000, Bangladesh has celebrated National Girl Child Day each year as one day of the annual Children's Rights Week.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Working with the indigenous peoples in Chiapas and Oaxaca, The Hunger Project has gained significant momentum in local mobilization.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). The Hunger Project-Ethiopia engaged in major activities toward our objective of ending hunger, specifically in the area of epicenter farms, food bank activities and improving household food production.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Despite ongoing social unrest and periods of violence, ACLO forges ahead in its programmatic achievements, including the completion of the first cycle of a three-year project to create a cadre of rural and indigenous leaders with advanced skills.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). In the reporting period, over 300 metric tons of food was stored in epicenter food banks, ensuring food security. A total of 27,711 female condoms have been distributed, along with voluntary counseling and testing services, contributing to HIV/AIDS awareness.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Emphasis on food security, health and education has created extensive progress. Crop yields have increased by 40 percent, over four thousand women and men have been educated in preventative health and 115 literacy centers were opened.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Despite the many challenges they faced in 2008, Chirapaq achieved significant advances in empowering indigenous women to be willing and able to protect their individual and collective rights through training, communication and collective action.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Amidst the challenge of the world food crisis, most Hunger Project-Benin epicenter food banks are fully stocked to ensure the food security of the communities.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). The Hunger Project-Uganda takes pride in the continued good working relationship, partnership and support from other organizations and relevant government authorities at both local and national levels.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). The Hunger Project-Senegal is mobilizing communities where there has been decreased activity for several years. Community members are assuming new roles and are becoming more directly involved in activities.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). Due to unfavorable farming conditions, microfinance partners have faced challenges repaying their loans on time. However, with the help of the epicenter and loan committees, partners have increased their repayment rates by 13 percent.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). The Scale-Up Program has seen significant achievements in maize output and epicenter construction.

Update to the Global Board (October 2008). The Hunger Project-Mozambique focused on projects with tangible impacts for its partners. As a result, partners are starting food processing businesses following Hunger Project trainings. Tree planting projects and water and sanitation projects are well underway.

The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) first established World Food Day in 1979 in order to raise awareness about world hunger. Today, the world is in the midst of a food price crisis that is estimated to be pushing more than 100 million people into absolute poverty. Shining a spotlight on hunger has never been more important.