Food Security Kenya Project #9842

Feed 200 Children Living in Kibera Slum

by The Turning Point Trust

Project Report | Jul 2, 2024
A Balanced Diet Boosts Energy and Well-being

By Mildred Murai | Feeding Programme Manager

Lunch time at Fountains of Hope.

I am pleased to report on the successful implementation and positive impact of our school feeding programme. Over the past two months since I joined Turning Point as the new Feeding Programme Manager, I have observed significant improvements in student participation, energy levels, and overall well-being. The provision of daily breakfast and lunch has resulted in increased attendance and engagement in classroom and outdoor activities.

Parents have been commending the good food we give at school because the kids are always super active and jovial when they get home from school. This is very encouraging, considering that the children don’t find proper meals while at home due to financial instability. Feedback from teachers, who often observe the children’s behaviour, has been overwhelmingly positive highlighting the importance of this initiative.

Since the last growth monitoring results, I noticed an increase in weight in most of the learners who were malnourished from the previous growth and monitoring exercise. They now wear glowing faces that are a testimony to the balanced diet we give to all our learners.

Moving forward, my goals include ensuring the consistency of meal quality, addressing any logistical challenges, and expanding our reach to benefit all the students we support. I am committed to working closely with all stakeholders to sustain and enhance the programme's success.

Lilly at Kianda drinking her cup of warm milk.

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Mar 1, 2024
A Double Delight

By Marilynn Akinyi | Communications Assistant

Lunchtime at Fountains of Hope School

In the rhythm of daily life, there exists a simple pleasure that often goes unnoticed because it’s the norm – the delight of having food to eat. It’s perhaps taken for granted by some, but for the children in our education programme, it is considered a major thing. As they come in every morning, anticipation fills the air. The prospect of not one, but two meals lie ahead, a promise of sustenance and satisfaction that uplifts their spirit.

Their first meal, breakfast, welcomes the day with warmth and familiarity. A comforting cup of tea and a donut sets the tone for what lies ahead of them. But as the day unfolds, hunger returns, a gentle reminder of their shared humanity. And so, the children eagerly await the arrival of the second meal – lunch.

Lunchtime often holds a special place in the children’s hearts. It is a time for laughter and conversation with classmates and friends as they share a meal and exchange stories. It’s also a chance to slow down and savor the simple pleasure that life has to offer while feeding their stomachs, after feeding their minds for most of the day.

As the final crumbs are cleared away, a sense of contentment settles over them. With grateful hearts, their bodies are now fueled and prepared to face the challenges and adventures that await them. For in the delight of having two meals daily, the children find sustenance, satisfaction, and a profound appreciation for the abundance surrounding them.

The school feeding programme is a testament to the transformative power of a simple meal and the unwavering commitment to nourishing minds, one child at a time.

In 2023, we served over 47,000 meals to children attending our education programmes, contributing to regular school attendance by the children. As we look towards the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to nurturing not only the minds but also the bodies and spirits of our students.

Lunchtime at Turning Point Children Centre

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Nov 6, 2023
Sustaining The Gains

By Brenda Kaloki | Programmes Coordinator

According to UNICEF, (2020), investing in children’s nutrition, health and education during middle childhood, and sustaining this into adolescence, will help children become productive, reach their full potential, and break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. The Turning Point Trust shares this same belief and this year we embarked on an activity to start building data that showed how our students are impacted by the feeding program.

One bright morning 30 of our Kindergarten children went through a growth monitoring activity. They lined up with expectation and curiosity, each one stood on a weighing scale with no shoes and was asked to stand upright so that their height too could be measured. They obediently did as they were told. The outcome of the activity? 14 out of the 30 children were found to be in good health, while 16 were found to be malnourished and below the recommended B.M.I for their age.

In order to improve the children’s diet and ensure they grow healthy and strong, Turning Point unveiled a new menu in May. It consisted of Fortified morning porridge,a glass of milk three times a week and an additional day of fruits. In addition, the 16 children who were found malnourished started receiving nutritional porridge from our partner Shining Hope For Communities (SHOFCO).

5 months later, the second round of the growth monitoring activity showed improvement in their nutritional status in that 10 out of the 16 malnourished children from the previous activity, were found to have improved in their health. These wins truly amplify the importance of partnerships. SHOFCO, our partner in this activity, gave us an opportunity to see gaps and you, who generously give to this programme, ensure the resources needed to fortify the feeding programme at our Kindergarten are available.

In an effort to sustain these gains while the children are away at home during the long November and December school holidays, and to avoid nutrition loss among the children, The Turning Point Trust has embarked on a campaign to raise funds towards feeding 150 households during the time that the children will be at home. You can support this initiative by giving towards our holiday feeding programme through GlobalGiving - https://bit.ly/ffdhkibera

We are truly grateful for your support all through 2023, we couldn't have achieved this success without you.

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