Build 152 Resilient Villages in Horn of Africa

As you celebrate thanksgiving this year we wanted to share why we are thankful both as HODI and the communities we work with in Marsabit. With all your support we have been very innovative in how we reached out to the communities to help build resilience! Today we are sharing with you the stories of 2 mothers whose children are not able to have a normal life because the mothers cannot provide even one meal a day. The next 120 days they do not have to worry where to get the food as it will be provided.

Despite the numerous challenges like drought, ongoing conflict, climate change, violent extremism & political instability! Northern Kenya region offers significant potential to address the issues affecting it and transform. Sharing with you a story of how small little steps can make a huge difference in building resilient communities! GlobalGiving was so impressed with HODI's work that they did an article about it! Take a moment to read, learn and share! Only together we can amplify our little voices!

https://medium.com/globalgoodness/when-you-can-see-the-drought-coming-3014f426724f

Links:

• HODI website

Thousands of families are facing starvation in Marsabit County, northern Kenya. Every day, we hear stories of people who faint as a result of hunger in areas not far away from where our own office is located. These are heartbreaking stories, considering many of these individuals are mothers with children. With the resources we have so far received, we are supporting 80 of the worst affected families for four months, beginning September 2017.

The 80 families were identified and selected by communities in which they live, and also through our own list of most vulnerable persons and families which our staff updates every month. The selected families were then vetted to ensure only the most needy receive this assistance.

Instead of buying and distributing food to these families, we are sending money directly to the heads of these 80 families, 82.5% of which are headed by women. Every month, these families will receive $30 to buy food and water. The first cash transfer was sent to them on September 26, 2017. Cash transfers give these families the choice to decide on the most essential food items, and prevents other people taking advantage of these vulnerable people. 

We have also distributed 250L water tanks to each of these 80 families in the last one month. They do not have storage facilities for water, and these tanks give them the ability to buy and save up some water using the money they receive during the cash transfer. 

One of the persons benefitiing is a 79 year old grandmother, who heads a household of 19 persons. They are very poor and seven of her adult children have mental health problems and she is the one who cares for all of them. Without a father figure, they all live in a small room with few belongings. The grandmother goes out everyday at lunch time to wait outside restaurants in town and when they throw out left over food, she collects it and goes home to feed her children and grandchildren. With the $30 she receives every month through this project, she will be able to provide at least one meal every day for her family for four months.   

The 250L water tank she received from the project will increase the family's water storing capacity from 20 litres to 270 litres. The family is now able to buy and store water for more than a day with the money they received. 

Links:

• HODI's website