The adventure begins! I am currently in Palenque, Mexico, which is located in the state of Chiapas. Located in the southeastern part of Mexico, it is well known for its cattle, agricultural, natural, and energy resources. However, the natural riches are a contrast to the poverty that controls the majority of its residents.

At first glance, my friends and I look like any other tourists that are here to see the ruins and the beauty that is all around us but, as you know, we are here for a bigger purpose. We want to live life with the locals and get to know the country through their eyes. My eyes burn with pain because I cannot change what I see. Poverty is a way of life here. Nineteen percent of Mexico’s population lives in extreme poverty, which would be living on less than one dollar a day. With a population of about 106 million that would mean about 20 million people live in extreme poverty.

There has to be more than this way of life. I see children sitting in the middle of the road for hours just starring. I see women poking their heads out of the shacks they live in with eyes of amazement that a gringo would care to speak with her. I have no agenda but just to offer love to the beautiful people here. My heart aches to help every starving child that I see far too many times in a day.

I have learned of an organization that has the same heart as this Planeteer. Freedom from Hunger brings innovative and sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty. Together with local partners, they equip families with the resources they need to build a future of health, hope and dignity. The branch within Freedom from Hunger that is currently offering help in Mexico is Reach Global.

Reach Global’s mission is to bring knowledge, life skills and linkages to massive numbers of poor rural women to build futures of health, hope and dignity for themselves and their families. They accomplish this by leveraging the power of groups and the dynamism of private enterprise to deliver proven services brokered from an array of global development organizations.

Simply put, they are equipping the local women so they can provide for their children and therefore lower the number of women living in poverty. This program is something that every person, no matter where you are in the world, can give to and, therefore, help make a difference.

Here are a few ideas of how you can partner with Freedom from Hunger:
- Make a monetary donation to help them expand their program to reach more women.
- Spread the word. Have a representative from Freedom from Hunger come and speak at your high school, club or office. Knowledge can save lives.
- Travel with Reach Global and visit the women who are being freed from the chains of hopelessness.
- Blog about Freedom from Hunger to spread their reach at a grassroots level.
- Send an e-card through their website to alert others to their good work.
- Throw a potluck or jog-a-thon to raise awareness.

Mexico is only the first country I have visited and already my heart is changing for the world. I see the emptiness in the eyes of so many children and it calls me to take action. Freedom from Hunger is a beautiful organization seeking to change the lives of women and children. They can’t do this alone. Begin searching yourself for what you are passionate about and then follow that dream. Make a difference in the world. Without action change does not occur. Be the change that this world needs.

Freedom from Hunger website: www.freedomfromhunger.org

Reach Global website: www.reach-global.net

Untill we meet again,
Planeteer Amy