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The Hunger Project Online Briefing Program
The Hunger Project in Bangladesh: Empowering Women Animators
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Hunger-Free Zones, catalysts, and the 40 points measurement tool

VCAW
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    Animators
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Trainers and Catalysts
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   Hunger Free Zones

The work that animators do is part of The Hunger Project strategy of Hunger Free Zones in Bangladesh.

Hunger Free Zones (HFZs) and catalysts

A Hunger Free Zone is a group of villages and villagers who have taken a stand to completely remove hunger from their area.
Several animators work together in a HFZ, to mobilize villagers in their work.
In each Hunger Free Zone, an experienced animator - called a catalyst - takes responsibility for ensuring that the Hunger Free Zone is successful.
Catalysts work together with villagers, local leaders, district government, media, and other NGOs to "catalyze" action. Rather than implement specific projects, catalysts create a phenomenon of action and local responsibility for the community.

40 points of progress

Catalysts and villagers asses the progress of HFZs by using the 40-point measurement protocol.
The "40 points" give villagers an opportunity to measure their own progress in areas such as women's empowerment, health, education, and awareness building.
As country director, Prof. Badiul Majumdar, says: "The instrument lists all the areas where improvements are needed, and can be used for planning future action. The most attractive aspect is that the villagers realize that many of the actions for the end of hunger are cost-free and require only creation of awareness."

Measurable results

At the beginning of 1999, there were 64 Zones working towards becoming Hunger-Free. THP-Bangladesh has set out to launch 200 new Hunger Free Zones by the end of December, 2000.
This year, The Hunger Project has set a target of 70 new women catalysts on the team.
The accomplishments of women catalysts and the HFZ residents are significant.
Ferdous Ara is the catalyst of the Barandipara Hunger Free Zone, population 2,977, in the Southern Region of Bangladesh. Her Hunger Free Zone was declared in 1999. As of March 2000, 150 village women and 70 village men are participating in the Hunger Free Zone process.

20 women have taken The Hunger Project's skills training, and are engaging in income generating activities. Women have started their own businesses, including handicrafts, tailoring, and fisheries, and have joined together to start saving co-operatives. Women who earn an income often spend this money on the well-being of their children and their families.
Three local organizations have been created for women's empowerment and joint savings.
The Alor Pathik Women Development Organization has mobilized 50 women to create self-employment and generate awareness about education, health, environment and legal rights.

Trainers

The Hunger Project Online Briefing Program
The Hunger Project in Bangladesh: Empowering Women Animators
Page 16 of 21

Girl Child