Special Appeal for children displaced by drought

The many families who trekked miles from their rural homes during the horrific drought of recent memory have been wondering if they might not have been better off to stay out in the rural districts rather than dealing with the issues that Covid 19 has brought to their lives.

Over the past couple of years, we have worked tirelessly to help these families to start afresh in an urban setting until such time as those who wanted to do so could relocate to their home areas safely.  We started with emergency relief, ongoing food parcels and, then, schooling for children and training for youths.  Those ready to do so were assisted with business grants to set up small businesses.  Our intention was to make these families self sufficient in order that they were better equipped to either stay in their new homes or to return to their home areas replete with some skills to earn a living and to find ways of surviving in such harsh environment.

Covid 19 has brought all of us new concerns and challenges.  It has affected our donors and reduced our income.  It has impacted our emergency aid programmes and training programmes.  However, despite that, we remain in contact with our beneficiaries and continue to do all we can to support them through these difficult times.

Our training programmes were largely halted by various government directives in March.  Fortunately, some trainees have been able to return in recent weeks and are due to graduate by February - a three month delay only.  This will see youths in a position to set up their own small businesses and support their families.  We continue to offer emergency food support to those who have lost their jobs and income during the pandemic as the government provides no social welfare net to help out.  Many working in businesses directly impacted by Covid 19 have lost their jobs and rely on handouts or alternative income.

Some families have decided to relocate to the harsh and arid northern areas they fled during times of drought and floods as they believe they will at least escape catching Covid 19 in a sparsely populated, remote area.  Medical bills are a real concern to many - there is no free medical care and the possibilities of Covid 19 affecting a breadwinner or a family member with underlying health conditions are very real as the infection rate climbs in Kenya, a country with little medical infrastructure to deal with a pandemic.

Those families who relocate are in a better position to survive this time around with their new lifeskills.  However, we all hope and pray that the spectres of drought and flooding will give some respite until such time as they find their feet again.  In the meantime, we continue to support those who constantly move from these regions to the town areas.  To do this, we always welcome the support of our donors.  Thank you all for your help during these trying times. 

It has not been formally announced yet, but it is highly likely that Kenyan schools will not reopen at all in 2020. Families that rely on the school system to keep their children occupied, as well as providing them with a meal every day where feeding programmes are available, are already struggling after having their children home for the past three months.

Many parents have lost income due to covid 19 making their jobs obsolete or reducing their income substantially. This is a further blow. Many have relied on school feeding programmes or sponsored school places to ensure a hot meal every day for their child even before covid 19 came along. Those who have been displaced through drought, floods, landslides etc over recent years have not had time to fully settle and establish businesses, small farms etc and have been dependant on assistance such as sponsorship.  Many charities have curtailed donations or programmes since the advent of covid 19 so, even in parts of the country that have not had a single case of covid 19, it's effects on the economy and social interaction and education have been sorely felt.

We have been trying to seek out such families and help with their food needs but another six months of this is going to bring serious hardship to many.

Not all parents are in a position to be able to homeschool their child - they may not have been to school themselves or have no resources such as text books, technology or internet. Without a square meal at home, and with nothing to occupy themselves, there is more danger than ever of children running to the streets in hope of food or rescue,  or getting into trouble through hunger and boredom. Please consider helping organisations such as ours that are helping the vulnerable in these difficult times.  This time round, it is not drought or flooding that is likely to cause starvation - having barely made it through those problems, covid 19 is the new form of drought.  

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• Schools reopening likely to be delayed