Overview

On September 23, 2006 The Hunger Project formally launched its new strategies to address the root cause of the high rates of child malnutrition in South Asia - the subjugation, marginalization and disempowerment of women.

1600 activists, dignitaries, and grassroots women leaders from around the world came together to launch The Hunger Project's "South Asia Initiative," designed to empower the leadership of rural women in India and Bangladesh as representatives in local democracy and as change agents in their communities.

Recent articles in publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker have shown that the leadership of 1 million grassroots women in India's local government (panchayati raj) is indeed the greatest social experiment of our time. In Bangladesh, women are proving to be critical change agents for progress in their communities. Hunger worldwide will end when women — those most affected by hunger and most responsible for its end — have a powerful voice in decision-making at every level of society.

The evening’s program included speaking by our country directors, our president Joan Holmes, George Mathew, grassroots women leaders, an exhibition and video that vividly portray the life of a South Asian woman, the release of two new publications on women's leadership in India and Bangladesh, and entertainment by South Asian musicians.

There are videos that highlight the issues described in this event.