Africa Drought and Famine Fund

Across eastern Africa, droughts worsened by climate change, political turmoil, and economic unrest have all contributed to critical food shortages. In some areas, malnutrition levels have climbed as high as 30%. 

The youngest members of society are the ones who are most impacted by the effects of acute hunger, and about 14 million children throughout Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Somalia are struggling to get enough to eat. As their hunger increases and energy wanes, they’re often forced to stop attending school. The potential consequences of these absences extend far beyond a few missed classes: the loss of potential leaders and entrepreneurs could impact the region for many years into the future. 

Thankfully, community-focused organizations throughout East Africa are providing kids with the resources they need to stay in school. With the help of over 5,500 generous donors like you, we’ve raised $252,302 in support of their vital work. 

Here’s how two of our partners are getting kids both the meals and other support they need to not only stay in the classroom but to successfully contribute to their communities. 

Seed Programs International provides much needed nutrition for students and promotes education and  by building school gardens. Not only do the children attending these schools benefit from homegrown lunches, but they’re also able to learn valuable life skills by participating in garden maintenance. 

Mr. Mbugua has been working with Seed Programs International for more than two years. As the Valley Bridge Primary School Headmaster, he’s witnessed firsthand the incredible impact proper nutrition has on his students. 

“As a teacher, my goal is to teach my students to not just merely exist, but to be part of the change we need. When children are not hungry, they are able to exercise their right to receive an education in school and beyond.”  

Makindu Children’s Program is helping children and adolescents in rural communities throughout eastern Kenya to thrive by providing nutrient-dense meals and developmental support. 

Their food basket delivery program provides the most vulnerable households with enough healthy food to sustain the entire family for weeks. This steady source of food has already ensured the continued education for 46 children in rural Kenyan communities. 

Makindu Children’s Program also offers vocational training to students who aren’t able to attend traditional colleges, helping young adults build successful futures and break free from cycles of poverty and deprivation. 

With your committed support, our vetted nonprofit partners are able to sustain long-term projects and create opportunities for future growth. In the coming months, we’ll continue sending updates so you understand how your money helps build resilience in communities throughout East Africa. 

With gratitude,

Nicole Gieselman + the GlobalGiving Team

Across Africa, nearly 72 million people struggle to find secure sources of food. South Sudan has been the hardest hit, facing a combination of climate change, economic unrest, and armed conflicts. These difficulties have already led to mass displacement: an estimated 2.8 million people will be forced to leave their homes by the end of 2019. 

Thanks to the generosity of 4,861 GlobalGivers like you, we’ve raised $232,652 to help communities across East Africa build long-term resilience in the face of these challenges. Here’s an update on the support our partners are offering to some of the most vulnerable populations in the region:

Increasing unpredictability in the rainy season has caused food prices to rise, forcing many people in Kenya to migrate in search of aid. As the traditional herding lifestyle becomes less sustainable, groups like Child Rescue Kenya work to ease the transition. Across the country, they’ve enrolled children in school, reunited families, and trained small business owners in order to help people adapt to new lifestyles in the face of increasingly impactful climate change. 

Decades of conflict and drought have led to mass displacement in Somalia, forcing refugees into the capital, Mogadishu. At Banadir Hospital, Concern Worldwide U.S. operates in the midst of this insecurity and displacement. This maternal and child health facility provides crucial support to Mogadishu’s overstrained healthcare system, caring for approximately 1,000 inpatients at any one time. Under seemingly impossible conditions, dedicated staff deliver up to 15 babies a day, provide stabilization for children suffering from acute malnutrition, and perform life-saving surgeries. 

Beyond protecting mothers and their children, Concern Worldwide U.S. fosters long-term financial stability by supporting payments and providing specialized training to hospital staff. 

In villages across Darfur, women are often left to fend for themselves and their children while their husbands travel in search of work.They face extreme inflation, harsh climate conditions, and traditions which place women in the background of the community. Kids for Kids offers these women with the opportunity to generate their own income by providing goats and cultivating an atmosphere of female empowerment within villages in Darfur. After an incredibly successful International Women’s Day campaign this spring, Kids for Kids hopes to reach 3,347 women in 8 new villages over the course of the year. 

With your support, our vetted nonprofit partners can continue building resilience in communities throughout East Africa. In the coming months, we’ll continue sending updates so you understand how your money is making an impact. 

With gratitude,

Nicole Gieselman + the GlobalGiving Team