Organisation: Paul Wessels, Independent consultant

Description:
A former Shell manager for 37 years, Paul Wessels committed himself to the global battle against hunger and poverty since his retirement late 2007. He is a recent member of SIGN and donates on a personal basis.

Contribution to the GSFP:
With my background in the international development of production and supply of base materials, I want to contribute to achieving food security by providing input to the development of the food supply chain from smallholder farmers to school pupils. The main objective is to stimulate food productivity and supply to the vulnerable part of the community, while generating some income locally and become independent.
A specific task is to get appropriate cookstoves installed to advance health, safety and environment in the preparation of school meals.

Expected output:
The mission is that 1 million schoolchildren, who are at present malnourished, receive one nutritious meal per day. In this way, the next generation will be in a better position to secure the primary necessities of life themselves in a sustainable way. Moreover, the current community will benefit from this market opportunity.
It is aimed for that the GSFP will succeed in such way that it can act as a role model for similar partnership programs in other countries.

Motivation:
Access to the primary necessities of life is a Human Right. Unfortunately we are living in an unbalanced world with one billion people deprived from the essentials. We are obliged to break through the vicious circle of poverty in order to realise the Millennium Development Goals. A key element is to activate strong cooperation by all organisations involved, locally and internationally, to accelerate the progress. It can’t be that we launch missiles to other planets, while we are unable to get one billion people out of their misery and offer them a life in dignity.