Facing the threat of Hunger

UC Davis team members Sarah Ashley, Sara Walker
and Quyn with WEEP coordinator Gladys

A while back my friends were having an argument about Kenyan food. One side of the argument was that there was no food that is particular only to Kenya and the other side was off course of the contrary opinion. They sited 'Githeri' a meal made out of corn and beans, 'Mokimo' mashed potatoes, pumpkin leaves and corn, 'Omena' fishlings, Chapati e.t.c. The faction that had it that these still could not be regarded as Kenyan food as they had no country wide acceptance.

Anyway, fast forward five weeks ago and I had the pleasure of visiting The Kibera WEEP centre with the UC Davis team for a medical clinic. Lunch was served and the students couldn't help but praise 'Kenyan food'. Laura O'Neill one of the UC Davis Medical student even posited that if her folks would have made veggies into Mokimo when she was younger she would've always make sure to make her plate happy As the conversation ensued my thoughts drifted to the current food security in East Africa.

According to WFP, 'around 9 million people in the horn of Africa need humanitarian assistance as severe drought combines with high food prices and conflict.' (http://bit.ly/lLwrdE). In Kenya, where over half the population leave with under a dollar a day, most households cannot afford a plate of the most basic meal (ugali and sukuma), leave alone a 'Kenyan cuisine'.

The effect is so severe that even the populace that can afford a decent meal, are affected. A packet of Unga (maize flour) was one dollar last year now the packet goes for 2 dollars and you are not allowed to buy more than two packets. This translates to hunger for the majority who survive with under a dollar a day and strains nutrition even for those who can afford it.

James Laiti (KFS benefiary) in Manga with his
food donation from the Bayside church team

HEART - with the support of partners - has been providing food donations to beneficiaries of our programs. With every visit we make to communities we serve we make sure to remember to carry food stuff.
 

Valor Team with food donation
for the Kibera WEEP ladies

Exciting Handmade WEEP Creations

Fight Against Malaria

Despite Kenya's metropolitan capital and stable international reputation, malaria remains the cause of death for children under five years here, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health.

HEART is contributing towards the fight of malaria by distributing treated malaria prevention bed nets that are made by ladies in our WEEP program to pregnant mothers and children under five.

Sabina Kamau

HEART Administrative Secretary

Children's Ministry

Greetings, My wife Tammy, myself, and Kathy Jurgensen (Mission Staff) went to the Mabroukie Feeding Program today. We served Gatheri (Beans & Maize) to over 200 children. These children, whose parents (or parent) work in the Tea Field from 6 AM to 6 PM, six, sometimes seven days a week, leaving these children alone day after day. This hot meal is provided two days a week by Pastor Peter and his wife Ruth. They are assisted by the youth group at their church. Before the hot meal is served, Bible Stories are shared with the children and games are played. Also the children are requires to wash their hands, with soap before eating. We hope that this teaching will be carried home to the family. The children are told the importance of washing their hands to prevent sickness. Over the past years, we have provided shoes, a wool cap, and a blanket to these children, as this program is located in Limuru, which is a very cold place, especially in the winter. Just seeing the smiles on the faces of the children as we arrive, knowing that they will go to bed with a full stomach, makes us glad we are involved in this project. Pastor Bob and Tammy

Video of Africa HEART WEEP Center

Just watched "Africa HEART WEEP Center" video by Allison Reynolds: http://vimeo.com/13447279

Notes & Photos from a Traveler

Visit http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/yogakathy/1/tpod.html to read about a traveler's experience with WEEP women. She has photos. too!

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It's wonderful to see contributors join the blog. Please also "follow" the blog (the link is up at the top left) and recommend that your friends and others associated with HEART also follow it.  Thank you!

Welcome to the new HEART Blog

We've just started this new feature...a GROUP BLOG for HEART.
Webmaster Stewart Feldman is the administrator, but we have many members of the HEART family (past and present) who will be adding their insight and experience to this blog. Visit www.africaheart.com to learn more about HEART and our work.

Please excuse any glitches while we get familiar with this new feature.
To contact Stewart, send a message to aex@garlic.com.