Long-Term Food Security for 4000 Samburus in Kenya

We have been very busy over the last few months here at Sadhana Forest Kenya.  One focus has been caring for our youngest trees as they are most vulnerable during dry times such as these - but we are happily anticipating some big rainfalls predicted to come soon!  Meanwhile, we have been full of energy and productivity with nearly 20 outreach team members planting daily in the surrounding communities.  We have usually been planting within 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) of Sadhana Forest during day trips, but at the end of July the team spent two weeks on the road and visited multiple far off villages.

We began increasing the number of moringa seedlings planted.  For this we needed to get a higher quantity of seeds.  Thankfully, many of the moringa trees we have planted in the past are now readily producing plenty of seeds!  This means we are now purchasing seeds directly from the people who, only a few years ago, planted the seedlings with us.  How nice it is to see these trees come full circle and give back to their caretakers in so many ways.

We are so happy to have welcomed back, and hosted for two weeks, a travelling high school from South Korea.  The school has been a regular visitor.  A group of local Samburu students joined the Korean students for a work experience program.  Together, they learned hands-on all about caring for trees in an arid landscape and planted food-producing trees in the local community.  This was also a rewarding cross-cultural exchange - the Kenyan students learned to cook some Korean meals and the Koreans learned Kenyan songs and dance!  Thank you very much to all our Korean friends!

Thank you to our volunteers, donors, and the GlobalGiving community!  If you would like to provide feedback, learn more about our projects, or if you are interested in volunteering with us, please email us at kenya@sadhanaforest.org.  There is also an opportunity to leave a note at the end of this report.

Ashe Oleng! (“Thank you very much!” in Kisamburu)