World hunger relief international

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Homepage www.worldhungerrelief.org

World Hunger Relief, Inc. is a non-profit Christian organization committed to the alleviation of hunger around the world. Based outside of Waco, TX, WHRI operates a working farm for the purpose of training individuals to help others with agricultural indepedence and increased productivity in impoverished areas of the world. Operations at the farm include a fair trade store, an active CSA, livestock management for milk and meat, a pecan orchard, and participation in local education programs in the Waco area. WHRI personnel abroad are active in development programs in Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, and India.

Contents

[edit] Mission statement

  1. Train individuals in holistic ministry that equips them to work with communities in developing sustainable farming techniques
  2. Educate those with an economic abundance on methods of conserving and sharing resources
  3. Participate in local and international sustainable development programs[1].

[edit] History

World Hunger Relief, Inc., was chartered in 1976 by real estate developers Bob and Jan Salley. The Texas, non-profit charter provided for a program in agroforestry and related technologies to address the needs of the hungry, both foreign and domestic.

In 1979 Carl Ryther and his family returned to Texas after 17 years of agricultural missions in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). The Salley’s invited Ryther to join World Hunger Relief in 1979 to develop a program to train individuals to address hunger needs around the world. In the following 25 years, WHRI trained over 300 interns working in 20 countries spanning 4 continents. These interns now work for various international organizations promoting sustainable food production and economic development.

During his years in Bangladesh, Ryther had developed simple food production systems to address the food needs of the poor following major civil and environmental crises. These systems; which included intensive vegetable production in grow-beds, rabbit husbandry, and agroforestry (Leucaena); were designed to maximize food production in situations of limited land resources. In 1980, Ryther completed a Backyard Food Production Systems training manual which was translated into several languages.

In subsequent years, WHRI training was expanded to include sustainable technologies appropriate to developing countries with more extensive resources and production. These systems included alley cropping, larger scale organic vegetable production, drip irrigation, rotational grazing, and additional livestock (chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, bees, and emu).

In the mid-1980’s WHRI personnel became active in development programs in Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, and India. Most of these efforts involved agroforestry outreach utilizing the “miracle tree” Leucaena leucocephala. Well digging for irrigation and sanitary drinking water was also a component of many of these programs.

The Ferrier, Haiti program is now 25 years old and has led to the formation of a sister organization, World Hunger Relief, Haiti. In our local community, WHRI has addressed hunger issues of low income, elderly and disabled individuals through various community gardening projects. The organization also provides training for schools in gardening and composting. Each year WHRI hosts tours for school and church groups focusing on sustainable agriculture, environmental responsibility and world hunger issues.

In 1994, Lee and Kathleen Piche joined WHRI as co-directors working alongside Ryther. During the following nine years, they expanded the program to include a Grade-A goat dairy, dried flower production, and fresh market vegetables organized in a community supported agriculture (CSA) model. They were also instrumental in significant facility improvements including construction of the Carl Ryther Education Building which was completed just before Ryther’s death in 1999.

In recent years, WHRI staff has expanded to include a Development Director, Education Director and Farm Operations Director. In 2003, Neil Rowe Miller began as Executive Director. In the following year, we undertook a major reorganization of our intern Training program, providing a more comprehensive full-time curriculum, and offering living stipends in addition to room and board.

[edit] People

[edit] Farm Staff

  • Neil Rowe Miller, Executive Director
  • Matt Hess, Education Director
  • Dale Barron, Development Director
  • David Cole, Farm Manager
  • Patrick O'Connor, Pecan Orchard Intern
  • Kristine Zylstra, Local Education Intern
  • Susan Trainor, CSA intern
  • Will Summers, Urban Gardening Intern
  • Peter Zylstra, Village Store Intern
  • Jocelyne Philpott, Livestock Intern
  • Eleanor Lewis, Live-In Volunteer
  • Brandon Cowan, Live-In Volunteer
  • David Barrett, Live-In Volunteer
  • Ted Eash, Live-In Volunteer
  • Darlene Eash, Live-In Volunteer[2]

[edit] Board of Directors

  • Victor Hinojosa, President
  • Clark Baker, Vice President
  • Tom Odegaard, Secretary
  • Annette Bigham, Treasurer
  • Fernando Arroyo
  • Vincent Asamoah
  • Fred Hills
  • Linda Lewis
  • Etta Mill
  • John Robinson

[edit] WHRI Interns

Interns work and study for one year on our 40-acre farm in central Texas, followed by an optional three-month experience in a developing country. Interns are involved in all aspects of running a working farm (planning, production, research, marketing, etc.), utilizing production techniques appropriate to developing-world settings. These include composting, cover cropping, biointensive integrated pest management, drip irrigation, multi-species rotational grazing, pastured poultry, etc.

In addition to farm work, interns are involved in leading school tours, teaching classes, and speaking to church and community groups. Those interns who choose to participate in the optional 3-month international internship will be encouraged to raise support through fund-raising activities. Interns may also choose to learn skills in animal traction through a one-month exchange agreement with Tillers International in Kalamazoo, MI.

To supplement their practical learning, interns attend classroom lessons two afternoons per week. Curriculum for these lessons covers a broad range of topics, but centers on sustainable agriculture and Christian missions. Field trips are also organized to other farms, and interns are encouraged to attend short courses at other facilities in Texas and beyond.[3]

[edit] Live-in Volunteers

WHRI trains individuals who feel called to service in developing countries and wish to acquire skills in sustainable farming, community development and Christian missions. Live-in Volunteers provide 20 hours of work in return for housing and basic food staples. Live in Volunteers are an important part of our community, they are encouraged to participate in all aspects of farm life, including devotions, class time, and field trips. Length of stay for Live-in Volunteers can range from a few days up to a year.

[edit] The Village Store

The Village Store, utilizing the principles of fair trade, is a vehicle to help people understand how they can “shop with a conscience” and help others around the world through their purchases.

Set up in the straw bale Educational Building, the Village Store offers crafts, food, clothing, housewares, art and toys from around the globe. Sources of goods include Ten Thousand Villages, Equal Exchange and A Greater Gift, as well as communities in which our intern alumni are working, therefore capturing the personal stories of the artisans and craftspeople who produce the goods.

[edit] Community-Supported Agriculture

The World Hunger Relief Farm offers fresh and seasonal produce to our local area through a Community Supported Agriculture Food Club. The CSA Food Club is available for two seasons, spring and fall. Members pay a small deposit to cover initial cost for seed and organic fertilizers. When the season begins, members are charged a weekly rate, and billed at the end of each month. This subscription method helps encourage ownership in our operation, but allows flexibility for the share-holder. Additional organic foods sold include pecans, goat milk, eggs, and grass-fed beef and goat meat.[1]

[edit] Local Education

The Local Education Program promotes Christian responses to hungry people in ways that do not create dependency. By educating school-age children, community groups, and churches of the plight of the poor, WHRI seeks to create an awareness of the problem of hunger in central Texas and throughout the world. Additional education program topics include life in developing countries, nutrition, gardening, composting, and animal husbandry.

[edit] Related organizations

[edit] References

  1. ^ WHRI Mission. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  2. ^ Staff | World Hunger Relief, Inc
  3. ^ Intern Curriculum.
  4. ^ Charitable Gift Giving that Makes a Difference | Heifer International
  5. ^ Mennonite Central Committee
  6. ^ ECHO Home

[edit] External links