Visit the Social Media Dashboard 

Press Room

Global 4-H Network Receives $1.5 Million Grant 

Chevy Chase, MD (Jan. 12, 2012) - Today, the global 4-H network announced support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to help youth in sub-Saharan Africa create sustainable livelihoods and improve household and national food security.  With this $1.5 million grant, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help National 4-H Council grow country-led 4‑H programs in Sub-Saharan Africa that will support the next generation of farmers.

Over the next 30 months, this grant will support 4-H initiatives that will:

• Build capacity of country-led 4-H organizations to provide necessary training for young farmers;
• Increase public and private investment in country-led 4-H programs; and
• Establish knowledge systems that will provide 4-H and other organizations with access to high-quality agricultural information and resources.

"Everyday, the global demand for food increases by the size of the entire population of Des Moines, Iowa," said Donald T. Floyd Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO.  "The Gates Foundation has become an integral partner of the 4-H effort to combat worldwide hunger by empowering the youth of today to become the farmers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow."

4-H’s 100-year history in agricultural innovation and youth skill-building combined with an existing infrastructure in more than 70 nations, has uniquely positioned the organization to equip millions of young people in developing nations with the skills needed to build a truly sustainable future.

These expanding 4-H programs in Sub-Saharan Africa will reach nearly 250,000 young farmers with skills needed to become successful agricultural producers.  The work of these youth will impact one million people by providing fresh food sources and resources to combat hunger and food insecurity in their communities.

About 4-H: 

4-H is one of the world’s largest youth evelopment organizations, found in more than 70 countries in North America, South America, Central America, Europe, Asia and Africa. In the United States, 4-H s a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 111 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country.  Learn more about  4-H at www.4-H.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H. 
 

Contact: 

Kyle Jones,
301-961-2889, kjones@fourhcouncil.edu