Action Against Hunger
 | |
| Abbreviation | ACF |
|---|---|
| Motto | Providing Innovative Solutions to World Hunger |
| Formation | 1979 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | To end child malnutrition while providing communities with access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. |
| Headquarters | New York, USA; Montreal, Canada; London, UK; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain |
Region served | Some 40 countries around the world |
Budget | $34,380,519 in 2008 [1] |
| Website | www.actionagainsthunger.org (US) www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk (UK) |
Action Against Hunger (known internationally as Action Contre la Faim, or ACF International) is an international humanitarian organization that intends to end world hunger. Action Against Hunger's primary aim is to respond to emergency situations of wars, conflicts, and natural disasters. The services of the organization includes nutrition and health, water and sanitation, and food security. The group services more than 5 million people in more than 40 countries.[2]
History
Action Against Hunger (ACF) was established in 1979 by a group of French doctors, scientists, and writers. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Alfred Kastler served as the organization’s first chairman.
ACF initially provided assistance to Afghan refugees in Pakistan, famine-stricken Ugandan communities, and Cambodian refugees in Thailand. It expanded to address additional humanitarian concerns in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Balkans and elsewhere during the 1980s and 1990s. Action Against Hunger’s Scientific Committee pioneered the therapeutic milk formula (F100), now used by all major humanitarian aid organizations to treat acute malnutrition. As a result, the global mortality rate of severely malnourished children under the age of five has been reduced from 25% to 5%.[3]
Action Against Hunger – USA was established in 1985 and became the first member of what is now ACF International. ACF International currently has headquarters in five countries – France, Spain, the United States, Canada and the UK. The group's policies include independence, impartiality, nondiscrimination, free and direct access to victims, professionalism, and transparency.
The organization operates feeding centers, food and supply distributions and provides water and sanitation facilities. The group also provides training in nutrition, water and sanitation, food security, and health care. ACF utilizes experts and local staff when developing programs.
Attack against workers
In 2006, seventeen Action Against Hunger workers were killed in Muttur, Sri Lanka while aiding with the reconstruction effort after the 2004 Tsunami. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had recently had a firefight with Sri Lankan government forces in the town.[4] The independent Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has accused government forces of committing the massacre.[5] However, the Sri Lankan government currently denies it and is conducting an investigation.
Activities
The organization sets up feeding centers as an attempt to feed malnourished children. The organization also intends to control and prevent malnutrition through child-growth monitoring, nutritional surveys, and public education. Therapeutic feeding centers treat children with acute severe malnutrition through programs involving medical treatment.
The group also provides access to drinking water, through the drilling of wells, tapping springs, and installing water systems. Local members and communities receive training, as an effort to maintain equipment and work with local populations on the issue of drinking water.
The organization distributes seeds and tools, and conducts training programs in income-generating activities such as Farmer Field School (FFS), gardening, animal breeding, and food conservation as an effort to improve food security.
The organization also sets up mother and child health centers to provide immunization and pre/post-natal care. The public health programs include the training of medical staff, the monitoring and control epidemics, and rehabilitation clinics.
Some private schools help this charity by giving money from their activities.
Advocacy
Action Against Hunger intends to raise awareness about hunger and seeks to alert the international community when human rights, especially the right to food, are perceived to be violated.
Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award
The Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have been perceived to have made substantive contributions to the humanitarian field through philanthropy, public awareness, or their efforts to improve conditions for communities.
In 2009, ACF honored the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its Director-General, Jacques Diouf,[6] for their perceived commitment towards preventing hunger and poverty.
In 2008, Anderson Cooper was the first journalist to receive the Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award. He was selected as the recipient for the award in 2008 for his ongoing coverage of global issues perceived to be important, and for bringing awareness of humanitarian tragedies for the American public.
In 2007, film director and Academy Award nominee Terry George was the recipient of the annual award for his perceived humanitarian commitments, and the impact of his depiction of the Rwandan Genocide in his movie, Hotel Rwanda.
The 2006 Action Against Hunger Humanitarian Award recipient was Susan Sarandon, for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and the advocacy of victims of hunger and HIV/AIDS.
In 2005, the recipient of the award was the Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu in recognition of his efforts against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
Past recipients of the award have included Nobel Laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela (2004), as well as author Frank McCourt (2002), and Jeff Bridges, among others.
Campaigns and activities
Athletes Against Hunger
Some athletes intend to raise awareness and funds for Action Against Hunger. This informal assemblage of athletes were dubbed "Athletes Against Hunger". The group also generates publicity through climbing Mount Everest, cross country inline skating and hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Race Against Hunger
The Race Against Hunger is a campaign that intends to unite international middle and high school students, against global hunger and malnutrition. The Race aims to educate American students about the causes of global hunger and intends to generate attention and awareness towards the issue.
The educational component of the Race involves an interactive program about global hunger that teachers implement in their classrooms. Recognizing the paradox of hunger in the developing world amidst an obesity epidemic in the United States, the curriculum is followed by an opportunity for students to engage in activity through a “fun-run” event. Students seek sponsorships for the “fun-run”, and the proceeds raised by students are intended to support Action Against Hunger’s programs.
In 2003, Zidane attended the Race Against Hunger organized by Action Against Hunger Spain (also known as Acción Contra el Hambre) held at the French Lyceum of Madrid. This event raised an estimated 25,000 Euros.
Restaurants Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger's annual Restaurants Against Hunger Campaign partners with leaders from the food and beverage industry to bring attention to global hunger. Each year, the campaign raises funds and support for Action Against Hunger’s programs.[7][8]
Various singers have performed at the annual Restaurants Against Hunger Spring Gala including Kaïssa and Clara Lofaro.
Love Food Give Food
Action Against Hunger's program, Love Food Give Food, intends to allow people who are interested in food to raise funds that intend to save the lives of malnourished children. As the food and drink industry’s chosen charity, the program strives to bring attention to the problem of global hunger and raise over £1 million annually for this cause.
During the months of September and October, certain restaurants fundraise for Love Food Give Food by adding an amount of money to the price of certain items. Other restaurants support the program year-round.
During 2011, Love Food Give Food asks participants to host dinner parties for Action Against Hunger, requesting participants of dinner parties to donate to Action Against Hunger. Certain celebrity chefs support Love Food Give Food by providing recipes for the dinner parties.
References
- ↑ Charity Navigator Rating - Action Against Hunger | ACF-USA
- ↑ "ACF International". Action Against Hunger.
- ↑ "Definition and evaluation of therapeutic food for severely malnourished children in situations of humanitarian emergencies". PubMed.
- ↑ Reddy, B. Muralidhar. "15 NGO workers killed". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ↑ Huggler, Justin (2006-08-31). "Europe accuses Sri Lankan army of assassinating aid workers". The Independent, UK (London). Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
- ↑ FAO Media Centre: Action against Hunger honors J. Diouf
- ↑ Love Food Give Food - Action Against Hunger
- ↑ Restaurants Against Hunger | Action Against Hunger