For those who know James Chisholm and me, you’ll know we’re completely different people. James is 6 ft tall, a rugby player, and loves adventure sports. I’m 5 ft nothing, get completely bored by Monday morning chats about the latest sports results, and prefer exercise to be calm and peaceful — something that lets me have a chat while moving.
And yet, despite being very different in so many ways, we’re aligned in two big areas: our commitment to The Hunger Project, and our vision and dedication to Peeplcoach.
It all started with The Hunger Project
Without The Hunger Project, we may not have become co-founders. It’s fair to say that when we first met, we didn’t exactly click. What we both noticed were our differences — and, if we’re honest, some stereotypes and unconscious biases came into play.
If you had told either of us back then — 25 years ago — that we’d one day build a business together, we probably would’ve quoted Darryl Kerrigan from The Castle:
“Tell him he’s dreamin’.”
But what brought us together was a shared commitment to equity, fairness, education, empowerment, human rights, and above all — leadership. These are the values that underpin both The Hunger Project and Peeplcoach, which is why James, Peeplcoach, and I have personally given and fundraised more than $193,000. Additionally, through our advocacy and introductions to our networks, we have helped raise a total of $4.7 million towards ending hunger. THP is our principal charity partner because, like us, they believe in human potential, leadership, and in the power of individuals, teams, and communities to create sustainable change.
Today, the need could not be greater. In 2024, 673 million people faced chronic hunger — that’s 1 in every 12 people worldwide. Women and children are most affected, with only 48% of women and 25% of children in Africa having access to the essential food groups they need.
Why The Hunger Project?
No one says it better than the village partners themselves — or Rowlands Kaotcha, The Hunger Project’s Global CEO and President. We encourage you to take just five minutes out of your day to be inspired by the impact of The Hunger Project, but for those of you who like to read rather than watch, here are the reasons we at Peeplcoach are committed to the work of THP:
In 2024 alone, THP reached 12.9 million people across Africa, India, Bangladesh and Mexico. Communities where THP operates have seen a 20% decrease in hunger, a 24% decrease in child marriage, and a 27% increase in women-owned businesses. In fact, 96% of community partners report an improved quality of life.
- Mindset matters — reframing problems into opportunities and believing in leadership as the foundation of sustainable change
- It takes a village (or a high-performing team) to embed lasting change and success.
- Vision, action, commitment — It starts with every individual having a clear VISION of their future, putting ACTIONS in place and then COMMITTING to take those actions. Ideas are easy, implementation is hard!!
- Lifelong learning — curiosity, education, training, and development are essential.
- Asking for help is a strength — none of us has all the answers, and we can’t do it alone.
- Sustainable change takes time — it requires ongoing focus, commitment, and practice.
- Innovation comes from need and passion — and from everyday people stepping just outside their comfort zones.
- Say yes — say how, say when. Don’t let “no” or “I can’t” be your default.
- Leadership is a verb — not a title, not a reward. It’s about how we think, communicate, and take action.
- And finally, in the words of Rowlands Kaotcha:
“Every human being is the master of their own destiny.”
If you’d like to know more about Peeplcoach or The Hunger Project, please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone on our team. We’d love to chat.
