Drought and Famine in Kenya

Well, it has been a long day here at Tumaini.  I feel a little bit stupid because until last night I was unaware of the problems that Eastern Africa is experiencing and it is where I have been living for the past two months.  In case the rest of you are following the news in the U.S. which has not chosen not to inform people of the drought and famine being experienced by some of the world (from what I have seen), I will debrief you.  In Northern Kenya there is always some problems of drought and food scaricity, but eventually the problem works itself out the best it can.  So although it is rainy season, the weather here in Africa has been very unpredictable this year and therefore the crops are not harvesting when they are supposed to and some people are losing lots of maize and beans because of either experiencing too much or too little rain.  I am not really good with how the whole farming situation works in Kenya, so bare with me.  With the combination of the change in weather everywhere in Kenya and the worst drought that has been experienced in 60 years in the Northern region the food supply is scarce and the price of maize has sky rocketed.  Long story short the famine being experienced up north is making the price of maize in places like where I live unaffordable and people are having to go without.  I am lucky enough to live in a home where we are still able to have food for ourselves and the children at our orphanage but I can't say the same for all my neighbors.  As soon as the Dutch girls and I realized what was going on right under our nose we immediately wanted to find out what we could do to help.  We have been told by experienced workers in 3rd world countries that the best way to end a famine is to start with your immediate areas and those needing food most severely.  So that is what we have done.  Eline found enough funds to buy 6 big bags of maize today and we began by giving to the elderly who are unable to work but still have many orphans they care for.  I cannot describe to you the overwhelming emotions you feel watching people line up in front of you holding out a single grocery bag to be filled with maize and they plan to feed a family of five or more off of that amount for weeks. While we were handing out the bags to the people of our area a community leader was reading names of people off who were allowed to get the maize first, so that the people with the most need were taken care of first.  When a name was called a boy from our 5th grade class walked up to receive the bag for his grandmother.  Talk about hitting home. When you realize that a boy you have been trying to educate by day is going hungry by night.  We also took bags to those people in the community who are too old or health conditions made them unable to come to us.  The first place we walked was immediately across our street to an elderly lady that I wave at everyday.  Her three sons and their wives have all died of AIDS and she now is the sole caretaker of ten grandchildren.  When we handed her the bag of maize she thanked us and said she couldn't count how many days it had been since she had eaten food.  This woman had been surviving off of tea.  We walked around distributing the bags to people of similar situations, and when we returned home the word had spread that Tumaini was giving food out so there was a line of people waiting.  We gave all that we had and then had to shut the gate to the orphanage so that more could not come.  Rose said there will be another line of people waiting in the morning hoping we will be able to give them some.  I came to Africa because I wanted to help people in need, but until this day I don't think I comprehended what it is REALLY like to be in need. 

There is a team from International Sports Federation here right now and we are all wanting to spread the word of what is going on here. We see an urgent need to help with this crisis developing right before our eyes.  If anyone is interested in helping/donating for food for the community you can go to the ISF website[2:43:05 PM] ashley cosby: http://www.sportsmissions.com/take-action/support-isf  and use their paypal so that we can use the money immediately for food.  On the website you click that you want to make a general donation and there either my name or Kenyan Drought in the subject line and we will get the money.  If you have any questions please contact my amazing sister, who already had donations coming in within the hour of me calling her devastated.  Thank you so much to those of you who have already donated (especially my nephew Cory that happily forked over his birthday money), and those praying for the Kenyans going to bed with empty stomachs.  The Dutch girls are going to town in the morning to get pictures online so you can see firsthand what is going on.  I know I have said it before, but I promise I will get these pictures up! 

Also, for my wonderful Sal's family that I know misses me so much :)  If maybe someone could spread the word and everyone give a dollar or two at the end of each shift it could really add up!  Whoever wants to be in charge of that just contact me.  Love you guys!