Feed 300 poor children in urban Mombasa

At the Mustard Seed Project's school not only do our children get a high quality education in well equipped classes of no more than 30, but all our children receive porridge on arrival at school and a balanced middday meal.  The costs of our feeding programme are almost as high as the costs of running the school, but we know that well fed children are healthier and ready to learn. Our national exam results are very good, despite the poverty in which many of them live. During school holidays the very poorest families are supported with basic maize meal and beans. Despite the help of the Mustard Seed Project (MSP) stories from our community show that so many live life on the edge.

Unemployment is very high in Mombasa. Every day near the market women sit hoping for jobs  just so they can feed their families that day, jobs such as such as taking in washing, carrying shopping etc. One parent sat there all day but got no work. Luckily we had been given a donation specifically for the most needy so MSP was able to help her. Sometimes we provide maize meal and beans, sometimes we give a small loan to help a family over a difficulty and where we can we give jobs to people in our community. 

The people in our community are proud. Their wish is to be able to feed their children and to give them the chance of a good education, which is also a chance to escape from the poverty into which they were born. Education is highly valued. One parent makes juice to sell but many people are Muslim. During Ramadan very few people bought juice so she had no money. MSP was able to give short term help. Our PTA chairman, a parent of five, had a well paid job but was then made redundant. Those parents who can afford to, pay school fees - which are a very small part of our actual costs. They are proud to do so for their children and it gives a real sense of ownership. Our PTA chairman had always paid for all five children at the beginning of term, but of course could no longer do so after he lost his job. He began paying in very small amounts which is how MSP found out about his difficulties. He  felt very humiliated by his situation. He wept with gratitude when he heard about a donor who had specifically given money to help families experiencing difficulties just like his. At that point he admitted that he had been contemplating suicide.  

Every donation is making a real difference to people's lives Sometimes we give short term help so that people can get back on their feet after a crisis but most importantly it is donations that help us continue our feeding programme from which all the children benefit.. There are so many more stories like those above. It is a precarious existence, with buying enough food to feed the family the priority. Very high inflation makes life even more difficult. Please continue your support, or join us if you are new to us. These are real people who do their best, sometimes in unimaginably difficult circumstances.