Worldwide Success

At Worldwide Success we believe that being successful means sharing our resources with those that are less fortunate, and taking responsibility for the issues that afflict the world, whether it is global warming, poverty, or hunger.  According to the Borgen Project, 800 million people go to bed hungry every day and 300 million are children.  Three hundred million hungry children!  That is the equivalent of the entire US population!  Think about that the next time you are upset about not having the money to buy the latest iPod.

While there has been some improvement in reducing poverty in the world, there is still much work to be done.  During the 1990s, the share of the world’s people living in extreme poverty fell from 30% to 23%. But as the world population increased, the number fell only by 123 million. China has been able to cut its hunger in half in the 1990s and was a big contributor to the reduction in poverty.  But today there are still 1.2 billion people that survive on less than $1 a day.

Also consider that the top 1% of the world’s richest people earn as much as the poorest 57%.  When we talk about the world’s richest 1%, we are not talking about millionaires living is luxury.   If you are reading this article, there is a good chance that you belong to this 1% group.  I mention this not as a form of criticism, but as a means to raise awareness.  I believe in the free enterprise and that individual financial success is the fuel for the engine that drives economic growth and raises the standard of living for everyone.  However, we can’t ignore the inequalities in our world and we must take responsibility for fixing the extreme consequences of inequality, particularly world hunger.  We cannot stop working towards this cause until hunger is completely eliminated from the face of the earth.

The elimination of extreme poverty and hunger is number one on the list of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals signed in September of 2000 by all 191 member nations, targeting the year 2015 for completion.  Several nations promised to allocate 0.7% of their GDP to achieve the millennium goals, but many have been criticized for not delivering on their promises.  The United States leadership and commitment is key to the success of the program, and even though the US provides the largest amount of aid abroad, it’s been criticized for its active endeavors to undermine the program.

It is estimated that $19 billion a year would eliminate starvation and malnutrition in the world.  While this is no spare change, it is only a small fraction of the US military budget of $420 billion.  The war in Iraq alone has cost $247 billion thus far – that would buy 13 years without hunger in the world.  The purpose of this article is not to debate the priorities of the US or any other government, but to promote effective initiatives that are helping combat hunger globally.  One organization that does this very well is Feed My Starving Children (FMSC).

FMSC uses volunteers, mostly children themselves, to pack nutritious meals made out of soy, rice, vitamins and dehydrated vegetables.  They then partner with relief organizations worldwide, such as Salesian Missions, Operation Blessing, OC Ministries, Kids Around the World, OrphanAge and UMCOR to distribute food to starving children.  In 2005 alone, 75,000 volunteers packed nearly 16 million meals.  Each meal from FMSC costs about 15 cents to produce and 94% of all their income goes directly into the food program.  The food is sent all over the world.  In 2005, for example, they sent food to more than 20 countries, including Haiti, Jamaica, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Lesotho, Liberia, Ghana, Guatemala, Malawi, Cambodia, East Timor, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia.

The food produced by FMSC is easy to transport, and easy to make once it reaches its final destination.  All you have to do it add the contents of each small pouch into boiling water.  Each pouch yields 6 nutritious meals.  The food tastes good and is culturally accepted throughout the world.   The formula for the food was carefully designed by scientists from leading food companies in the Minneapolis area.  Even though the purpose of the formula is to save the lives of severely malnourished children, the ingredients also improve the health, growth and physical well-being of children that are no longer in immediate danger of starvation.

FMSC has three locations in the Minneapolis area and is opening a new facility in Chicago this year. These locations offer opportunities for groups of all kinds to work together packaging food.  Schools, corporations, neighborhoods, churches, synagogues, and other faith communities are welcome to participate in this rewarding experience.  FSMC will provide training and show you how to package the food.  Groups of 10 can sign up online for 2 hour shifts.  There are also specific walk-in shifts for individuals who are not part of a group but still want to volunteer.   If you do not live near one of these locations, you can donate money online.  FMSC also accepts checks and gifts of stocks.

I was very impressed by FMSC’s operation.  This group has figured out an efficient way to produce food that is non-perishable, that is easy to transport, that is very nutritious, and that has an acceptable taste anywhere in the world.  They have also effectively recruited volunteers to do the most labor intensive process of packaging the food.  Industrial engineers have volunteered to design the packaging process which is very well done.

I would encourage you to participate in this organization’s mission.  If you live near one of their locations, you should go in and experience packaging the food yourself.  It not only gives you a sense of contribution, but is also is a great learning experience.  Otherwise, consider making a monetary donation.   At Worldwide Success, we are committed to helping this organization and its mission, and we are currently allocating 50% of all incoming donations to help their cause.

World hunger can be eliminated.  This is one way of getting there.  Share your success with others and make this world a better place for all human beings.  Contact Feed My Starving Children today.  FMSC is a Christian organization that encourages people of all beliefs to help accomplish their mission.

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