ART AND IMPACT

We sat down with Emma Bardsley from The Hunger Project to talk about their work, our cooperation, but also what inspires her and why she thinks art is so important. Learn more about The Hunger Project by visiting: https://thehungerproject.org.uk/   

Empowering women is central to our mission because women and girls account for 60% of people living in hunger worldwide. When women have access to education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities, they become catalysts for change, leading to improved agricultural productivity, better family nutrition, and stronger economies. Our experience shows that investing in women leads to sustainable development and the eradication of hunger and poverty. 

2. How do you feel art can contribute to the empowerment of communities and women? 

Art is a powerful medium for expression and storytelling. It can raise awareness, challenge societal norms, and inspire action. By engaging with art, communities can reflect on their experiences, celebrate their identities, and envision new possibilities. For women, art provides a platform to voice their stories, assert their rights, and foster solidarity, thereby contributing to their empowerment. 

I have always been a creative person with a deep appreciation for how art allows us to express ourselves in ways that words often cannot. Art has the power to capture emotions, tell untold stories, and connect people across cultures and experiences. Whether through painting, photography, or other forms of artistic expression, I believe creativity plays a crucial role in shaping perspectives and inspiring change. This passion for art aligns with my work at The Hunger Project, as both art and social impact share the ability to challenge norms, spark conversations, and drive transformation. 

Hess Art House stands out for its commitment to social impact through art. Their initiative to donate £10 from each artwork sold to support our programmes demonstrates a genuine dedication to using art as a vehicle for positive change. This approach not only brings art into people’s lives but also directly contributes to empowering communities globally. 

This collaboration merges the transformative power of art with the critical need to address hunger and poverty. By partnering, we can reach broader audiences, raise essential funds, and inspire collective action towards sustainable development goals. The synergy between art and social empowerment amplifies our impact, fostering a deeper connection with supporters and communities alike. 

As a mother to young children, our work in maternal health and nutrition resonates with me deeply. Being born in the UK is a privilege - I’ve never had to worry about accessing healthcare, affording nutritious food, or balancing work and family. But for many women in the communities we work with, pregnancy and childbirth come with immense challenges. 

In rural areas, healthcare facilities are often too far away. Many pregnant women must walk a long way to access care, and when their due date nears, they leave home months in advance to wait outside a hospital. At The Hunger Project, we work to change this reality by building and strengthening local healthcare systems. 

In all of our Epicentres—community-led hubs that serve as a central point for development—we establish health clinics that offer maternity and birth services. These clinics allow women to remain in their communities throughout pregnancy, receive regular check-ups, access nutrition advice, give birth safely, and receive postnatal care for both mother and baby. 

A powerful example of this impact comes from Atakpessi, a caregiver at the Gbégourou Epicentre Health Unit in Benin. Before The Hunger Project’s health unit was built, women had to walk 3km to reach the nearest state health centre. Many skipped prenatal consultations altogether, leading to complications and, in some cases, tragic losses of both mothers and babies. Since the installation of the health unit, access to care has transformed. Today, an average of 45 women attend prenatal consultations each month, and 15-16 babies have been delivered safely at the clinic. Thanks to the support of health and nutrition facilitators, awareness and education around maternal health have improved, and malnutrition rates among children have significantly decreased. 

As Atakpessi explains: 
“The presence of The Hunger Project – Benin has made a huge change in the community. I have the chance to see everything that is being done here since the health centre is located in the epicentre buildings.” 

Stories like this reaffirm why our work is so vital. Every mother deserves the right to a safe pregnancy and childbirth, and every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy. By ensuring that healthcare is accessible within communities, we are not only saving lives but empowering women to thrive. 

Witnessing the resilience and determination of the communities we partner with fuels our commitment. Every success story, whether it's a woman entrepreneur thriving or a village achieving food security, reinforces our belief in the possibility of a world without hunger. These tangible outcomes inspire us to persist in our efforts. 

Centre your initiatives around the communities you aim to serve. Empower local leadership, especially women, and adopt sustainable, grassroots strategies. Collaborate across sectors, remain adaptable, and ensure that your programmes address the root causes of the issues at hand. 

We are expanding our programmes to reach more communities, focusing on innovative agricultural practices, enhancing women's leadership training, and strengthening partnerships to amplify our impact. Our goal is to adapt to emerging challenges and continue our mission to end hunger sustainably. 

We see this partnership growing through impactful events and creative collaborations that raise our collective voice in the fight to end hunger. By using art as a tool for awareness and advocacy, we can engage more people in meaningful conversations about global hunger and the role each of us has to play in ending it. Through storytelling, visual expression, and community-driven initiatives, we aim to inspire action and build a movement that drives sustainable change. 

Individuals and organisations can support us by making a donation, participating in fundraising events, volunteering, and advocating for policies that address hunger and poverty. Our Unleashed Women community is a collective of women here in the UK using their voices, skills, and resources to empower women worldwide, fostering a network of changemakers committed to ending hunger.  

Absolutely. At The Hunger Project, we use photography to give the people in our communities their own agency, ensuring they are seen with dignity and strength. We aim to highlight them at their best—showcasing their leadership, resilience, and success—while still illustrating the work we do and how people can support it. Photography is a powerful medium that not only captures reality but also tells a deeper story, inspiring connection, empathy, and action. It allows us to shift narratives, moving away from stereotypes of poverty and instead celebrating the potential and progress within these communities.