Shoot to Score for 500 Children in Northern Kenya

Dear Friends of HODI,

This past quarter, HODI has continued to work closely with communities in Marsabit County and along the Kenya–Ethiopia border to strengthen resilience, foster peace, and build sustainable livelihoods. Thanks to your generous support, we have been able to create safe spaces for dialogue, empower local leaders, and promote environmental stewardship.

In May, HODI together with ForumCiv  and other partners co-organized the “Jumuika! Sikika! Mtaani” dialogue workshop in Marsabit. The event brought together diverse voices from the community to discuss pressing challenges such as insecurity, economic hardship, and climate change, while jointly developing solutions for stronger, more peaceful communities.

Capacity building remained at the heart of our work. Sixteen community facilitators were retrained in empowerment and petition writing, enabling them to mobilize their communities and engage decision-makers more effectively. At the household level, 34 families in Butiye Ward received chickens as part of their community action plans under the Mala Marii project, directly contributing to food security and livelihoods.

Through the IPDHE Cross-Border Project, we deepened collaboration with Marsabit County leaders, including the Deputy Governor and Assembly representatives. Discussions centered on legislative priorities that promote peace and inclusion. At the grassroots, 20 community volunteers from 11 locations were trained in advocacy, communication, and lobbying. In Moyale, the Kenya–Ethiopia peace committee met with security agencies and civil society groups, resulting in a joint, community-owned action plan that reflects shared priorities.

Environmental resilience and rights advocacy have also remained a major focus under the Christensen Fund–supported ICPA project. Communities in Teso were engaged in mapping water resources and developing conservation plans, while by-law enforcement meetings raised awareness of the need to protect catchment areas. On World Environment Day, women leaders and persons with disabilities received fruit trees for household planting, linking environmental conservation with improved livelihoods. Training sessions emphasized women’s participation in natural resource management, and women are now more confident in raising their voices to advocate for environmental stewardship, healthcare, and education.

These activities are bearing fruit. Women like Halima Buke from Teso have stepped into leadership roles in water management (once considered a male-only domain) while rangeland committees have adopted new conservation practices to protect communal lands from overuse. Such stories highlight how attitudes are shifting and communities are embracing more inclusive governance.

Challenges remain. Climate change continues to place stress on fragile ecosystems, cross-border security issues require constant coordination, and cultural norms still limit participation for women and people living with different abilities. Yet important lessons are emerging: engaging duty bearers early builds credibility and accelerates support, confidence-building for women and youth reshapes participation, and small but tangible benefits like fruit trees help ensure sustainability.

With your support, we have been able to deliver the following amongst other important items:

• Provided 34 families with chickens to strengthen food security and improve household livelihoods.

• Trained 16 community facilitators in empowerment and petition-writing skills, helping them mobilize their communities more effectively.

• Trained 20 community volunteers in advocacy and communication, enabling them to present action plans to local leaders.

• Consolidated community concerns into 1 joint Kenya-Ethiopia cross-border policy priority document, a community-owned joint action plan for peace and development.

HODI is deeply grateful to you for your steadfast support. Thank you!!!

Sarah

Sarah* comes from a very humble background. Her father passed away when she was very young, and her mother, who has five children, struggles to support her family on her limited income as a househelp. Despite this, Sarah’s uncle took the initiative to adopt her, even though he had several children of his own. The uncle runs a small business selling cereals but the income is not enough to sustain their needs.

Sarah completed her primary education in 2023, achieving excellent marks of over 300, and thereafter joined a high school in Marsabit County. Due to financial constraints, she was unable to report to the school immediately.

A teacher took it upon herself to help as a well wisher. She supported the young girl’s shopping for essentials to help her to school. The well wisher also spoke with the school administration so that the girl was not sent home for non-payment of fees. 

Despite everyone’s efforts, the financial struggles weigh heavily on the young girl. Now in her second year of high school, hearing her name repeatedly mentioned as one of the students with outstanding fees has been very stressful for her and her grades have started to drop.

Through donations received to our projects on GlobalGiving, HODI cleared the young girl’s outstanding fee balance of 48,500 shillings this month. This is part of our efforts to support the education of young girls like Sarah. 

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the young girl.

Safia

Safia* hails from a modest household characterized by love and resilience despite facing significant financial challenges. Her mother is unemployed, spending most of her days taking care of five children while her father works as a temporary driver, earning income that makes it difficult for him to meet the family’s basic needs. With three children enrolled in secondary school, the struggle to afford school fees is a challenge for the family.

Despite this, Safia’s father ensured that all his children had access to education to break the chain of poverty in life and enrolled them all in one school. Knowing his financial limitations, he approached the school administration and asked to pay the fees in small installments.

Despite these challenges, Safia’s determination to excel academically never wavered. Her days begin early, often helping her mother with household chores before heading to school. At school, she is known for her focus and passion to learn and her teachers quickly noticed her diligence and potential. 

One of her teachers said: “I see not only a hardworking student but also a girl with dreams and aspirations. A girl who hopes to make a difference in her family and community”. 

Safia, now in her second year of high school, is worried about her increasing school fees due to small and slow payments. The young girl is also worried that she may be prevented from sitting for her end term examinations. 

Through donations received to our projects on GlobalGiving, HODI cleared the young girl’s outstanding fee balance of 13,000 shillings this month. This is part of our efforts to support the education of young girls like Safia. 

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the young girl.

HODI is very grateful to all our donors, who contribute monthly or less frequently, as their donations helo us make possible all of the work we do, including educating young girls.