Kim’s Tour of No Regrets

In this moment, between Britney and Miley, the world is paying attention to the hungry. Rising costs, shortages and choices to make and global impact. And what does it mean for us? Does it mean we have to think twice about buying a lovely London Broil? That Costco limits our bulk items? I’m not placing judgment here. After all, I make sure I have fresh strawberries (never frozen) almost every day of the year.

But it does give me the chance to tell you the story of Fula Devi, one more time.

I met her when I was traveling with Freedom from Hunger (www.freedomfromhunger.org). She lives in the village of Misirichak, in the state of Bihar, India. That was February 13. I have thought of her every day since.

Fula has three children, all under the age of eight. She had two others, but one died of a cold, and one of diahhrea. She is a day laborer in the fields. She is part of the untouchable caste. She’s beautiful, isn’t she? But I have never met a mother in such despair.

She lived in the poorest village we visited, and we interviewed her in a small courtyard with her family and neighbors hanging over the walls, crowding into the corners. I suspect she was speaking for all of them.

“I wake up around 7 in the morning, sweep my house and cook. I go to work. In the evening, I get one kilo of rice, and I cook, eat and sleep. The children remain in the house. No one can look after them. I get some small snacks at work and I bring them back to share. If they cry, I bring them to the field.

No one sleeps without food. I mix rice, and if someone gives me potatoes, I mix potato with it. We eat two meals a day.”

This is what a kilo of rice looks like.

Can you imagine working all day, in a field, and feeding your family this? And being grateful for a potato to add to it? Day after day. And then the next day. And the next. And the next month, and the next year.

Fula Devi’s village was new to the Freedom from Hunger program, so she does not yet know that things can get better. Eventually her self-help group will have both savings and knowledge to share with each other. That she will eventually be able to feed her family vegetables. That there will be enough food. Someday. At least that’s what I tell myself. And that is what I am working for.

There are many, many articles being written about the food crisis. Some of the best are in The Economist. Do me a favor, and take a moment to learn more. And then you can enjoy your London Broil and I can enjoy my strawberries, and we can figure out a way to help Fula Devi, and the billion people who are living in poverty with her.

Thank you.