Nothing else matters when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from and you can’t feed your children.
Sadly, this is becoming more common for vulnerable people around the world. Over the past decade, conflict, climate change, economic instability, and displacement have driven a rise in global hunger and food insecurity. Today, an estimated 266 million people face acute hunger around the world (UN World Food Programme).
The World Food Programme identifies four key drivers of hunger worldwide:
- Conflict that disrupts food systems and livelihoods.
- Climate change and extreme weather that damage crops and incomes.
- Economic hardship that puts food out of reach for vulnerable families.
- Displacement that limits access to food, work, and essential services.
How Village Communities Fight Extreme Hunger
But there is hope! World Renew demonstrates God’s love as we work with local ministry partners who walk alongside members of their communities. Through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), people in poverty can increase food production and their incomes. Participating families have enough to eat and can provide for others.
VSLAs help hard-working mothers and fathers to grow more food so they can provide for their families and sell extra produce. This strategic investment in small farmers feeds participating families and increases their purchasing power, while expanding local food supplies. Best of all, these personalized, local solutions help villages break the cycle of poverty and hunger to become more resilient.
Cecelia’s Path to Greater Food Security and Income
One person who has experienced the impact of this approach is Cecelia Naveia. Cecelia lives with her family in the Milange district of Mozambique. When she joined our local partner’s village savings and loan program, Cecelia learned how to start a small business using her farming skills.
Cecelia had one garden plot and with money from her savings and loan group, bought two more fields, plus corn and soya seeds to plant in them.
Her efforts paid off! At the end of the loan cycle, she had earned about $190 USD, which is almost half the average annual income in Mozambique. In the future, Cecelia hopes to buy a bicycle to improve her mobility and continue to increase her earnings.
Along with an improved income, Cecelia has gained confidence. She’s learned to pray in a group and has been able to bless others in her family and community, just as she was blessed by the program. Cecelia thanks God, her local church, and everyone who supports the savings and loan program that has changed her life in so many ways.
Building Lasting Solutions to Hunger
World Renew remains committed to helping families build a more secure future through food security, savings groups, and economic opportunity programs. By equipping people with the skills, resources, and support they need to increase food production and earn a sustainable income, communities can become more resilient in the face of poverty, climate challenges, and economic uncertainty.
Support from people like you helps families strengthen their livelihoods, feed their children, and build a more hopeful future.
