Kenya: real lives

During Kenya's prolonged drought conditions, ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Kenya supports children in the community through its Early Childhood Development Centres. These monitor the health of children, mothers and the elderly in 60 communities in the eastern and Rift Valley Provinces.

Due to the lack of food, many children suffer from weakened immune systems as a result malnutrition. In addition to supplementary feeding, ChildFund in Kenya provides deworming and vitamin A supplements, and gives parents training on providing a balanced diet.

When ChildFund in Kenya met three-year-old Dorcas, she was suffering from third degree malnutrition; the most severe stage. After participating in ChildFund's emergency response feeding program, her malnutrition decreased to second degree. Previously, she could neither stand nor walk on her own - now she can do both.

But second degree malnutrition means that Dorcas has a long way to go. Along with other children, she has continued to receive Unimix - a high-protein porridge made from soy, maize, millet, wheat and water provided by ChildFund in Kenya. Dorcas also attends the district hospital clinic for check-ups, and ChildFund has given food rations to the family on a monthly basis, including beans, maize, milk and locally prepared Corn Soya Blend flour for Dorcas and her younger sister, Angelina.

ChildFund in Kenya also helps families to establish alternative livelihoods, so that they are not completely reliant solely upon crop production and animal husbandry - both activities that are rain dependent. Establishing alternative sources of income will better prepare them for the inevitable next drought.