Address by Joan Holmes

President, The Hunger Project

On the occasion of the eighth annual award ceremony of The Hunger Project's Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, Washington, D.C., 5 October 1994.

On behalf of The Hunger Project, may I welcome you to the 8th annual award ceremony for the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger.

Tonight is a truly historic occasion.

This evening we honor one of the greatest leaders of our age -- President Nelson Mandela.

President Nelson Mandela's leadership did not begin at his inauguration. Nor did it stop when the scourge of the repressive and de-humanizing system of apartheid was finally brought to an end.

Nelson Mandela's leadership began years ago. He had a vision of a better life for all people in a non-racial, democratic and just society. He dedicated his life to achieve this vision -- whether as a freedom fighter, a prisoner, a political leader or as President.

Therefore tonight, we honor Nelson Mandela not only for what he has accomplished, but also for pointing the way to what next must be accomplished.

On behalf of The Hunger Project, may I say how honored we are that President Clinton was here with us this evening. By his presence, President Clinton demonstrates what he has recently asserted --- Africa matters to America.

President Clinton at a White House conference on Africa called for the creation of an American constituency for Africa --- so that American people of every race, region and background understand why Africa matters to all of us and to our common future.

Mr. President, the constituency of The Hunger Project stands ready to participate with you in this vital initiative.

We also urge the creation of policies that would advance America's authentic partnership with Africa.

By awarding the Africa Prize for Leadership, The Hunger Project seeks to make known the many positive accomplishments on the African continent. We seek to make known the courageous leaders who are creating a new future for Africa.

This initiative reflects The Hunger Project's profound commitment to Africa and its people. The constituency of The Hunger Project denies Afro-pessimism. We have confidence and faith in the creativity, determination and ultimate success of the African people.

Our stand is not naive. We are well aware of the many extraordinary challenges facing the people of Africa. We are also aware, after years of travel and work in Africa, that the African people are up to meeting this challenge.

Let us not forget, the people of Africa won their political freedom. They did this against all odds -- circumstances that seemed intractable and obstacles that seemed insurmountable. A people who can achieve this victory have demonstrated that they are capable of meeting the next great challenge.

It is this challenge -- the second liberation -- the economic liberation of Africa -- that tonight is dedicated to.

As Nelson Mandela has said, "we do not want freedom without bread, neither do we want bread without freedom." At his inauguration, the President made clear that his new nation now faces its biggest challenge -- to bolster the new political freedom with a program to eliminate want, hunger and deprivation.

This challenge is not confined to South Africa -- although in southern Africa, some of the most severe hunger in the world has been a direct consequence of apartheid.

This challenge faces the entire continent of Africa.

More than 25% of the world's hungry people live in Africa.

- Every year 4 million African children die before the age of five

- nearly one third of Africa's children are severely malnourished

- one in three go without primary education

- nearly 2/3 of Africa's people lack safe water

- almost 1/2 receive no basic health services.

When we also consider the problems of mounting debt, environmental degradation and rapid population growth, we can begin to conceive the magnitude of the challenges Africa faces.

At stake is the fate of a continent battling for the end of hunger and economic recovery.

The Africa Prize for Leadership was created to empower and support a new African leader to emerge -- a freedom fighter for the end of want, hunger and deprivation.

The Africa Prize for Leadership was created to garner international recognition and support for these leaders to succeed.

Nelson Mandela stands out as the shining example of this new breed of leadership.

His agenda for action includes:

This is an agenda to ensure every child, woman and man has the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life.

This is an agenda for the end of hunger.

It is therefore a great honor for The Hunger Project to award the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger to President Nelson Mandela.

President Mandela provides a model of leadership which inspires and encourages men and women across Africa to express their own leadership.

Also, the President provides a yardstick by which other African leaders can now measure their own efforts.

Given the formidable challenges in Africa, we in the international community have a moral imperative to act. Given the new leadership emerging in Africa, these actions can succeed.

Now is the time to take a stand for Africa.

Now is the time to express partnership and solidarity.

Now is the time to join the courageous women and men of Africa in creating a new future for the continent -- and for the world.