WI NT E R 2 0 2 2
The Africa Famine
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Contents
8 Responding to Hunger
Convoy of Hope is pushing back against Africa’s imminent famine.
18 Empower Girls, Empower the World
Girls’ Empowerment programs mentor young participants and forge healthy futures.
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Convoy News
16 On the Map: Africa 20 Give the Gift of Hope 22 Learn About Convoy 24 Q&A 26 FYI 27 Legacy Giving 2
GIVE THE GIFTOF HOPE Participate through the Gift Catalog at catalog.convoyofhope.org and you'll receive a stocking cap (while supplies last).
NOVEMBER 29
1 Convoy Drive, Springfield, MO 65802 Hope Quarterly is published by Convoy of Hope. Published: Winter 2022 ©2022 Convoy of Hope
Editor-in-Chief | Roger Flessing Editor | Scott Harrup Managing Editor | Lindsay Donaldson-Kring Content Editors | Levi Costello, Alyssa Everett & Morgan Mills
Reporters | Levi Costello, Sara Forhetz, India Garrish & Jess Heugel Photographers | Clayton Gilligan, Jess Heugel, Christian Lamb, Joe Mason & Simen Reinemo Webmaster | Jess Heugel
Creative Director | Josh Carter Designers | Aaron Davis, Leah Kiser & Misty Olivera
Board of Directors Dr. Aaron Cole, Court Durkalski, Telvin Jeffries, Dr. Brad Trask, Dominick Garcia, Dr. Tom Carter, Lindsay Howard, Dr. Sam Huddleston, Randy Hurst, Cheryl Jamison, Klayton Ko, Kay Logsdon, Rich Nathan, Tom Rankin, Sherilynn Tounger, Kirk Yamaguchi & Hal Donaldson (President)
Fighting Famine F
FROM THE PRESIDENT
WINTER 2022
ood, water, shelter, and medicine are not currencies to be bartered for personal or political gain — they are basic necessities God wants afforded to every human life.
But these necessities are severely and often fatally lacking for many in the United States and countries around the world. Africa, and particularly the region of East Africa, is on the verge of a major famine. The projections are staggering and bring to mind some of the pain I’ve seen firsthand: the anguish of parents whose children are malnourished and suffering; the desperation on people’s faces within refugee camps. But compassionate friends like you are making it possible for Convoy of Hope to plan and implement a growing response. We are committed to an ongoing presence in communities in need. Our strategic programs include distributing meals in the short term and increasing crop yields in the long term.
Feedback | editor@convoyofhope.org Website | convoyofhope.org Twitter | @convoyofhope Facebook | /convoyofhope Postmaster | Send address changes to: Hope Quarterly 1 Convoy Drive, Springfield, MO 65802
On the Cover: More than 7,500 children in Kenya receive regular meals as part of Convoy of Hope's response to impending famine in East Africa.
With your help, we are working to restore hope in regions where impending famine threatens millions of people. Thank you for your faithfulness and partnership. Gratefully,
Hal Donaldson President, Convoy of Hope
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CONVOYNEWS
leaving the state. And, workers began distributing emergency supplies to survivors almost immediately. Cars lined up at the points of distribution, including at First Assembly of God church in Fort Myers. “It was an emotional day,” said Ethan Forhetz, Convoy’s national spokesperson. “Everyone who was here was still reeling from the devastation. The volunteers’ ability to serve, despite their personal circumstances, was truly inspiring.”
Disaster Relief Teams On-Site Following Hurricane Ian
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ategory 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida on September 28 with sustained winds of more than 150 mph — one of the strongest storms on record. By October 3, the death toll in Florida had climbed to 100 and estimated damages exceeded $100 billion.
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Convoy of Hope was preparing to serve impacted communities while Ian was still a tropical storm on the edge of the Caribbean. Volunteers filled thousands of bags of groceries, and Convoy team members prepared response vehicles. Convoy’s disaster response fleet arrived within hours of the storm
Convoy of Hope is committed to remaining in the area while residents begin rebuilding their lives. At this point, boat loads of supplies have been taken to surrounding islands that suffered a direct hit. Team members are on-site to bring essential supplies, but more than that, they’re there to bring hope. Scan here to learn more about Convoy of Hope’s response to Hurricane Ian. Scan here to listen to TobyMac’s “Help Is On the Way,” a theme for Convoy’s Ian Response.
CONVOYNEWS
Convoy of Hope Serves the Uvalde Community After Shooting “I’m
actually at a loss for words. This is beautiful. It’s amazing. We appreciate how much love has come from all over the country for us.” Nichole, a counselor for the Uvalde, Texas, school district, expressed her thanks to a Convoy of Hope team member.
Nichole’s daughter was at Robb Elementary School on May 24 when 19 students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting. Nearly three months later, she was encouraged to see a back-to-school event focused on helping families in the community. Convoy of Hope took part in the outreach on Friday, August 12, at
the invitation of Pastor Joe Ruiz of Tree City Church. Along with local volunteers, Convoy team members handed out an entire tractor-trailer’s worth of goods — backpacks, snackpacks, shoes and socks, water, and more — to guests who visited the drive-thru distribution.
Scan here to watch a video of the Uvalde outreach.
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CONVOYNEWS
Farmers Support Children’s Feeding Hal Donaldson with Kenneth Hodder (right)
Salvation Army Partners With Convoy in Ukraine
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he Salvation Army is partnering with Convoy of Hope for humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine, providing more than $1 million for food and shipping costs.
“More than 180,000 people will be provided with meals, and The Salvation Army is beyond grateful to Convoy of Hope for joining with us in this service,” said Salvation Army Commissioner Kenneth Hodder.
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or kids engaged in Convoy of Hope's feeding program In Burkina Faso, Africa, the food they receive is often the most substantial meal they will eat in a day. Farmers trained by Convoy of Hope are donating 10% of their harvest to help toward the Children's Feeding program in their area. During a time when supply chain issues are a challenge, this ensured the children received nutritious meals.
Convoy of Hope has committed to providing 50 million meals to those affected by the continuing conflict. Scan here for the latest updates and videos on Convoy of Hope’s Ukraine response.
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Scan here for more stories about Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture initiative.
CONVOYNEWS
A State Farm Good Neighbor Grant has allowed Convoy of Hope to expand its disaster response resources and reach even more people following a crisis. “We are thankful for the partnership between State Farm and Convoy of Hope,” said Stacy Lamb of Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team. “We love the instant impact that allows our organization to assist others in need right after a disaster strikes.”
An August Community Event in San Jose, California, uplifted spirits and filled backpacks. Convoy of Hope partnered with 17 churches and 30 organizations to serve more than 3,200 people with 5,000 bags of groceries, as well as supplies for the upcoming school year. Before the event, local volunteers filled 820 backpacks with school supplies. Guests had access to haircuts, career services, a Kids Zone, back-to-school supplies, children’s shoes, lunches, veterans and health services, and family portraits. More than three years after Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas, Convoy of Hope continues to serve communities with agricultural training as part of its commitment to long-term recovery. The USAID-funded Convoy of Hope John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program is offering training across the island chain for beginners with small-scale home gardens and for experienced farmers. In the first week alone, between 300 and 400 participants received training.
Two years after Claudia connected with Convoy of Hope's Women's Empowerment in El Salvador, her personal business is booming. Claudia is a talented baker and cook, but she had struggled to get her business off the ground. As she learned from and bonded with other women, she found the drive, motivation, and confidence to expand. Now a continual line of customers visit her stand at a busy intersection. When a woman like Claudia generates an income, the entire community profits. Scan here for more Women’s Empowerment success stories.
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FEATURE
RESPONDING 8
FEATURE
CONVOY OF HOPE IS SERVING AFRICAN COMMUNITIES ON THE EDGE OF FAMINE BY S C OTT HAR R U P
To Hunger 9
FEATURE
Imagine, for a moment, that 9/11 didn’t end on 9/11. Or, imagine nearly 3,000 people dying every day from terrorist attacks until Pearl Harbor Day on December 7. Those deaths would approximate the 260,000 people who starved to death during Somalia’s last famine in 2011 — half of them children under the age of 5. That year, United Nations leadership reacted with a heartfelt campaign, “Never Again: A Charter to End Extreme Hunger.” Tragically, “again” is just around the corner. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) recently issued its first-ever “crisis alert” with its annual Emergency Watchlist report. The agency is calling for urgent action in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Those nations make up 2% of the world’s population but represent 70% of those facing extreme food insecurity. This year, the longest severe drought in decades coincided with the loss of 90% of wheat imports to the region due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Where the drought is the worst, no food is growing. Almost none is available to buy. This translates to 20 million people going hungry in the region, nearly
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Food is distributed from a truck in Mozambique.
double the number reported in late 2021. Convoy of Hope, already serving in Ethiopia and Kenya, saw the warning signs of drought and the potential for famine years ago. In 2019, Convoy took the first step to embedding its proven and effective strategy in the Sahel region of Africa. Programming began in Burkina Faso, and Convoy has since added South Sudan and Niger to the list of countries it serves. “We are not naive — the problem is greater than any one organization can solve,” said Heath Adamson, Convoy’s senior vice president of Global Program.
FEATURE
Livestock that families rely on are starving across East Africa.
“But Convoy’s commitment to engage early and its strong presence in East Africa makes it possible for the end of the story to be rewritten for those we serve.” Convoy of Hope has been active in Kenya for more than 20 years. In 1998, President Hal Donaldson visited Mathare Valley, a massive slum on the outskirts of Nairobi. Seeing children eating from a garbage dump compelled Hal to orchestrate a response. Since then, thousands of children in Mathare Valley have been fed, and Convoy’s footprint in Kenya has become multifaceted. continued on p. 13
Scan here to learn more about Convoy’s presence in Kenya.
Meals in Mathare Valley
Makena Goes to the Market
The Africa Hunger Crisis
The Art of Advocacy
Mathare Valley in Nairobi, Kenya 11
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FEATURE
Africa is not alone in its plight. A U.N. study warns that famine could affect 49 million people in 46 countries this year. The key to any compassionate response is to act now.
‘A FA RM E R IS A FA RM E R ANY W H E RE . TH E Y H AVE TO KNOW A NE W T E C HN IQ U E W ILL S UC C E E D, S E E IT WO RKING, AND M AKE A P ROF IT. IF TH E Y DO N’ T, TH E Y ’ LL NE VE R ADOPT IT.’ — DR. JASO N STR EU BEL continued from p. 11
Convoy's long-term response to food insecurity goes beyond simply distributing meals. Agriculture experts train farmers to increase their yields. Designated agricultural areas at Convoy’s main U.S. campus are helping experts determine which growing techniques work best in different countries, climates, and soil compositions. “A farmer is a farmer anywhere. They have to know a new technique will succeed, see it working, and make a profit,” said Dr. Jason Streubel, senior director for the Center for Agriculture & Food Security. “If they don’t, they’ll never adopt it.”
Convoy of Hope is acting now — in Africa, and around the world — to move children and communities from food insecurity into healthy and fulfilling futures.
Scan here to learn more about Convoy’s Agriculture initiative.
Beyond the Meal
The Dirt Tour
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FEATURE
The Hungry Continent In 2020, 1 in 5 Africans were undernourished, which is double the proportion of any other region in the world.
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In 2022, Africa’s largest population (Nigeria’s 200 million people) includes 19.5 million people living with a food crisis.
In seven nations across East Africa, 50 million people confront acute food insecurity.
In the Sahel corridor (a middle band across Africa), a recent Red Cross assessment estimates 7.7 million infants and those in early childhood (under 5) are expected to suffer from malnutrition, with 1.8 million severely malnourished.
Phases of Food Insecurity*
FEATURE
*Phases are paraphrased from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
Phase 5 Phase 4 Phase 3 Phase 2 Phase 1 Most households can feed themselves and their families without outside assistance.
Finding food is difficult, and households can’t easily afford nonfood essentials.
Households are either experiencing food gaps that lead to aboveusual acute malnutrition OR can only meet their food needs by going without other essential resources.
Phases Represent Faces Of the more than 12 million people living in South Sudan, over 8 million are facing severe food insecurity (IPC 3 or higher), meaning over 60% of the population is struggling to consume food on a regular basis. At least 87,000 people are already experiencing famine-like conditions (IPC 5), and 2.9 million
others are just one event away from catastrophe (IPC 4). In 2022, there is reportedly a 36% increase in individuals being admitted to programs for the treatment of acute malnutrition, and over one-third of the counties in South Sudan are in a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) status,
Households are either experiencing large food gaps that lead to very high acute malnutrition OR can only meet their food needs by going to extreme lengths.
No matter what they do, households are experiencing an extreme lack of food. Starvation, death, and extreme acute malnutrition are widespread.
meaning the numbers exceed an IPC standard emergency threshold of 15%. In Ethiopia, 20.4 million need food assistance, according to recent assessments by the World Food Programme. In Somalia, over 7 million face acute food insecurity, and over 200,000 face catastrophic hunger, meaning severe malnutrition.
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Convoy of Hope’s response to nations in need
Africa
ON THE MAP
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In
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, nearly 2 million people faced emergency levels of food insecurity in the leanest season between June and August 2022. Convoy of Hope has mobilized feeding operations in Burkina Faso, particularly in targeted programming for mothers, infants, and children. Convoy currently serves more than 8,500 children regular, nutritious meals.
Convoy of Hope has served over 5 million emergency intervention meals in five East African countries — Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Convoy of Hope has directed relief operations in this entire region for a decade.
Since 2012,
FEATURE
Empower Girls, Empower the World 18
FEATURE
in the cycles they dream of breaking,” said Fortunate Zondo, Girls’ Empowerment youth programming manager.
BY I N DI A GARRI S H
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reated as part of Convoy’s Women’s Empowerment program, Girls’ Empowerment provides adolescent girls with after-school and communitybased sessions. They learn about their value and identity, along with topics such as menstrual health and hygiene, avoiding harmful practices, and how to make positive life decisions into adulthood. Some of the girls say they no longer want to end their lives because they now recognize their purpose. “We wanted to develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks, such as gender-based violence or early childhood pregnancy, while they are young girls instead of waiting for them to become women, who might have children and continue
As girls build friendships, learn about their body autonomy, manage their menstrual health, and empower their minds, they also gain financial literacy and learn to effectively engage with their communities. The goal is to partner young girls with women in the community who can mentor them. “Across our global programs, the impact of intentional mentorship
to contextualize curriculum and address local needs. The goal is to build local capacity to sustain effective programming and build trust. The program has had significant growth since its inception. So far, more than 23,000 girls have been empowered.
‘When girls have role models and observe other girls making positive choices, they are more likely to embed good choices in their own lives.’ is widespread,” Fortunate said. “When girls have role models and observe other girls making positive choices, they are more likely to embed good choices in their own lives.” Program leaders work strategically with communitybased mentors in each country
— F O RTUN ATE ZON DO Girls’ Empowerment team members believe participants one day could become mothers and entrepreneurs; they may own land or businesses. By focusing on empowerment programs for these girls, Convoy is creating spaces for them to believe in their capacity for greatness.
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LEARN ABOUT CONVOY
Disaster Services
Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team is consistently among the first to respond to disasters at home and around the world. This team is highly regarded for its scalable response and distribution model, which utilizes several warehouses, a specialized disaster response fleet, and a highly trained team of staff and volunteers to respond to disasters quickly and effectively.
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Children’s Feeding
Convoy of Hope wants to see lives changed — free from poverty and hunger — through Children’s Feeding. A nutritious meal opens doors to provide children and their families with education, clean water, job and agricultural training, and a sense of hope.
Agriculture
Food security transforms communities by lifting people out of dependence for their daily sustenance. Through Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture program, vulnerable farmers and families are equipped with skills, tools, and seeds to produce life-sustaining crops. Tens of thousands of meals are harvested each year, some of which are used to support Convoy’s Children’s Feeding program — simultaneously generating income for local farmers.
LEARN ABOUT CONVOY
Rural Initiatives
Poverty and hunger have gained a devastating edge in rural communities. Through Rural Initiatives, Convoy resources, empowers, and partners with rural churches through training, mentoring, and coaching. Convoy believes that increased presence and partnership with local leaders will help strengthen and enrich entire neighborhoods and towns.
Women’s Empowerment
Convoy encourages women around the world to realize their value and reach their potential through job training and education. As a result, many now own a business that allows them to better feed and care for their children.
Community Events
Communities are the heart of counties, states, and nations. Convoy of Hope is committed to working with local volunteers, businesses, agencies, churches, and organizations who believe in building stronger communities through generosity and kindness.
Please pray for those we serve. 23
Dr.Heath Adamson Dr. Heath Adamson, Convoy of Hope’s senior vice president of Global Program, works with team members to grow Convoy’s strategic initiatives. Through Convoy of Hope, international strategic-feeding programs serve the undernourished, women receive job training, agriculture projects help farmers, and much-needed relief reaches communities following natural disasters. Heath recently connected with Hope Quarterly.
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HQ: How would you describe the mission of Convoy’s Global Program? Heath: We want to bring hope to as many hurting, vulnerable, and broken people as possible. Hope only works, however, if we get there in time. We are ending the cycle of poverty in the lives of children, women, families, and entire communities. Hope often looks like a plate of food to the hungry child, confidence and opportunity to the marginalized woman, and training and tools to the discouraged farmer.
Q&A HQ: As a parent, what is your vision for the children Convoy of Hope serves? Heath: Embedded within the heart of each child is a creative expression the world longs to experience. The cure for cancer may reside deep within a child we feed in Bangladesh or Ethiopia. That cure may be undiscovered, simply due to lack of education, food insecurity, and missing opportunity. Each child deserves to go to bed at night expecting tomorrow to be a better day.
HQ: The scale of need in places like Africa and Ukraine can feel overwhelming. How do you maintain perspective? Heath: Hopelessness is dynamic and complex. The solution remains simple: Have compassion, live generously, and get involved. When the magnitude of the need seems daunting, we must remember the significance of each individual. Our impact ultimately is not about numbers — it’s about people. Because everyone is of utmost value, our work requires us to remain culturally astute, spiritually sensitive, and to prioritize quality. We listen to the needs of those we serve. We have a phrase on the team: “We don’t want to lose our tears.” We never want to reduce our work to leadership skills and aptitude alone. Pure hearts matter.
I envision children singing and dancing in their homes because the cycle of poverty ended and a new cycle of hope began. Healthy marriages, family legacies, community volunteers, philanthropic businesses, teachers, farmers, medical professionals, and prime ministers will emerge from our feeding programs for decades to come.
HQ: Why is 2030 an important year for Convoy of Hope? Heath: About 10 years ago, leading experts targeted 2030 as a tipping
point around global hunger and poverty. Governments and agencies collaboratively sought to address this. Sadly, many expect an even greater surge in need by then. Economic rhythms, human migration, famines, global supply chain disruptions, fragile food sources, and recent crises have only exacerbated the importance of 2030. At Convoy, we see 2030 as an invitation to do even more and expand our capacity. For example, if 90% of those who suffer from extreme poverty will reside in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, we want to interrupt the vicious cycle of hopelessness. Our board approved the launch of program operations in Burkina Faso in 2019, and other nations like South Sudan and Niger followed. We are aggressively moving toward feeding 1 million children in our school-based feeding program, empowering 250,000 women and girls each year, and training 100,000 farmers annually around the world by 2030.
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FYI
Convoy of Hope strategically addresses food insecurity — holding community events in cities across the U.S., opening feeding centers for children around the world, and bringing meals to areas impacted by natural disasters. Thanks to generous donors, Convoy is feeding more people in need than ever before.
At a recent Community Event in Wichita, Kansas, Convoy volunteers and partners distributed more than 10,300 bags of groceries at nine drivethru sites. Convoy also serves foodinsecure students through $40 gifts from “backpack buddies” that provide a student with a backpack full of nutritious and easyto-prepare snacks and meals. Convoy of Hope is committed to feeding 1 million children regular nutritious meals by 2030 and is already serving more than 465,000 children around the world. Just $10 provides meals for one child for a month.
WANT TO FUND FOOD?
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Agriculture helps alleviate long-term food insecurity. Besides offering training, Convoy’s Agriculture initiative gives a participating farmer much-needed tools ($100) and seeds for crops ($20). Larger projects equip communities with greenhouses, hydroponics, and irrigation systems.
Following a natural disaster, Convoy can give a family of four a food relief pack for just $50.
Did You Know? The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates $1.8 billion is needed to adequately respond to East Africa’s regional famine through the end of 2022.
LEGACY GIVING
Joyful Giving BY MA RY VOGE N
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oug and Jayne are in their vegetable garden in Old Salem, a historic district in WinstonSalem, North Carolina.
“We have been blessed to have what we need,” Doug says. “Beyond that, we give what we can. Jayne and I view life as a calling, and giving is a big part of that calling. Giving is more than writing a check. It’s a relationship.” “One reason we support Convoy of Hope,” Jayne says, “is that they are so effective in what they do, so clear on their mission, and effective in achieving it. It’s an easy organization to support.” They first learned about Convoy of Hope while listening to an NPR report after an earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010. Convoy was one of the first responders thanks to a local warehouse already full of supplies.
Recently, Doug and Jayne visited Convoy’s World Distribution Center and spoke with team members about Convoy’s programs in the U.S. and around the world. “We’re excited about the expanded vision for the Center for Agriculture & Food Security,” Doug says. “Convoy’s specialists can analyze many different environments for growing crops in countries Convoy serves in, and then can provide research
and hands-on methods to help achieve better yields and feed more people.” “We also learned about Convoy’s outreach in rural communities across the United States,” Jayne says. “Rural poverty is overwhelming.” “We have been blessed in so many ways,” they insist, “that if we don’t share our blessings then they aren’t truly blessings.”
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