Healing the Desert with Trees in Darfur

Thanks to your donations, Kids for Kids trees are providing shade and fruit to families in 110 villages where temperatures are rising over 38c to 50c, and food and water are scarce. Trees take two years to grow, so trees planted in 2023 and before, are currently providing essential relief to families who are suffering the consequences of the ongoing conflict. Just this week, the UN reported: “The situation is particularly dire in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, which has witnessed some of the worst episodes of the ongoing conflict between rival militaries. Those remaining in El Fasher are facing 'extreme shortages' of food and clean water, with markets repeatedly disrupted.”

We are so proud to report that our trees are planted outside of our Kindergartens for children to have fruit during the school day, outside of individual homes to provide shade and cool down the temperature inside the straw huts, and all around the villages as shade for both animals and people. Families can plant crops under the shade of trees – food to eat that is essential in subsistence farming communities, especially now as inflation soars. And not to mention trees increase rainfall, which is so needed in the desert. Releasing water vapor into the sky, trees encourage clouds to form, and the result is more rain!  Please know that every day the trees you have planted continue to benefit families and fight back against climate change.

And this is why we are so excited to share plans for a community tree nursery in Um Ga’al Village, our furthest north and therefore safest village right now as conflict continues. You all know how focused we have been on providing urgently needed emergency aid – food items and medicine when we can – to save lives right now in Darfur through our Emergency Appeal. But climate change is at the root of the conflict and disastrous circumstances across Sudan. At its core, Kids for Kids is not an emergency organisation, so we must continue to progress our sustainable projects wherever possible, alongside providing urgent aid where no other organisation is.

You may remember Ibrahim, the little nine-year-old boy who’s walk for water was the reason Patricia started Kids for Kids back in 2001?  Well Ibrahim’s best friend, Abduallah, has been a dedicated Kids for Kids volunteer for many years and has put together an amazing project plan for a Community Tree Nursery in the village of Um Ga’al for 5,000 seedlings in the first phase. Abduallah says, "We know the importance of trees in our village. With the rains coming, we must plant them as soon as possible." Seedlings will be cared for in a nursery for the first few months to keep them safe, watered, and ensure they are healthy before being placed in their forever homes around the nearby villages.  In fact, as an organisation that is built up of dedicated volunteers, paying for a community forest guard is the only job we have ever had to employ someone to do! This is how important trees are.  So please donate for seedlngs and help us bild our Um Ga’al Village Community Tree Nursery! We can’t wait to share the progress.

The perfect time to donate? This Wednesday, 16th July at 10am EDT (3pm BST)! Your donation goes further thanks to the GlobalGiving JULY BONUS DAY which runs for 24 hours. A fantastic chance for your donations to make an even greater difference as GlobalGiving is boosting donations between $100 (£73) and $1000 (£730). So set a reminder now and tell your friends to donate between 10 AM EDT (3PM BST) Wednesday 16th July to 10AM EDT (3PM BST) Thursday 17th July! Thank you.

Links:

• 16th-17th July Bonus Day Details!
• Emergency Water Delivered to Families in El Fasher

We are very happy to share that it is because of the trees and other plants we have provided that many families have fruit and vegetables to eat during the famine that is currently being experienced in Darfur. There is famine declared in five regions of the country and acute malnutrition throughout. But because of your generosity, and the seeds you provided for planting, 2,883 Children from 400 families will have fresh Tomatoes, Okra and Watermelon - in Abu Degeise, Majdoub (A), Um Hagalig, Kulkul, Hillat Hassan, Mugabil, Um Ga'al, Amar Gadid and Tikailat Villages. By teaching water harvesting to families in our villages through our sustainable projects, they have been able to contiue cultivating, growing more fresh fruits and vegetables, even during a time of famine and the ever-present threat of violence.

But water is scarce. This video was taken on 8th March, Kids for Kids 24th Birthday, in Um Ga'al village and it shows families rushing to the hafir to collect as much water as they can before it dries up. Thank you for continuing to support Kids for Kids and recognising the importance of our life-saving work. Please help us to keep providing families with the basic essentials.

Our 2024 Achievements Document (attached below) explains everything we have provided during these terrible months, and to whom. We have focused heavily on our Emergency Appeal, and have been able to reach 49 of our 110 communities - providing an astonishing 11,276 Children with Kids Kitchen Kits. But there are 61 more villages that we must get help too - and urgently. And we have just the opportunity for your donation to make an even bigger difference than usual...

The Little by Little Campaign is next week from Tuesday March 25th - Friday 28th, where donations of up to $50 per person will be matched at 50%! 

Please will you help us feed 200 more starving children by donating to our Emergency Appeal on GlobalGiving?

With $50 per person (= £39, 80 AUD, 72 CAD) matched at 50% - your $50 becomes $75! Please do let your friends know and set a calendar reminder now for the 25th! $25 of FREE money can make a world of difference to a starving child - so let's not miss out! More details can be found on the link below. Thank you!

Links:

• Little by Little Campaign Details, March 25-28
• Provide Emergency Aid For Families in Urgent Need
• Water is disappearing by the hour in Darfur

• Full List Of 2024 Achievements (PDF)