20 Year Message from Joining Hands Coordinator

Dear Friends,

20 years ago, the Presbyterian Hunger Program was invited and challenged by our global partners to deepen our response to hunger and poverty. Our partners were seeing and experiencing systemic injustices that cannot be addressed through “projects” alone.

At the invitation of our partners, we tried a different approach. One that brought together churches and civil society networks in many countries around the world with Presbyterians in the United States to challenge the global systems that create and maintain people in poverty. The approach was built on equal partnerships. Out of this new approach the Joining Hands initiative was born.

20 years later, many leaders have been developed, policies and laws have been amended, corporate practices have been improved, communities have regained their land and control over their resources, and lives have been transformed. We have built a movement together that continues to organize around the globe to find common solutions to complex problems.

As we stop and look back at everything that we have accomplished, we are also reminded that our journey is far from over. Millions of people still go to bed hungry every night. The global system continues to be driven by corporations that prioritize profits over the lives of people.

Even as we celebrate 20 years of Joining Hands during a time of global turmoil with the Coronavirus pandemic, we are reminded that we must continue to persevere, because God is there for us through everything, and we can call upon him anytime.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Peace, Valéry

Valéry Nodem
Associate for International Hunger Concerns
Coordinator of the Joining Hands Initiative
Presbyterian Hunger Program