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Afex ScholarS
“By 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 percent of the world’s youth and account for 75 percent of the those under age 35 in Africa. ”
Friends of Africa Exchange know us as an organization dedicated to a focused, integrated approach to early childhood development in marginalized areas, a foundation for our broader vision of community flourishing. But you may not know that our influence in the lives of children continues even after they leave our ICDC units to attend primary school, and beyond. Each year we select from among a small group of high achievers who are poised to enter secondary school, providing them with scholarship support through to tertiary/university levels. They are known as AFEX Scholars (24 at present) and we take the opportunity to share a few of their stories here.
Escaping Early Marriage - Stellah Cheptiyos, Nakwijit ICDC
Stellah entered the Nakwijit Integrated Child Development Center (ICDC) in West Pokot as a shy four-year-old. She remembers the delicious and warm porridge that was offered each day, and the joy of sweet friendships with the other boys and girls in her class. “Mr. John Lodipo, our teacher, would get down on the floor with us to teach us things and do activities with us. It made us feel loved and his kindness provided stability in our lives. We learned through play and Mr. Lodipo focused on lessons like sharing, taking turns, and counting with songs at circle time.” Looking back, she realizes these days were foundational for her in learning how to be a functioning person in the world.
Stellah was the youngest in a family with 5 older siblings. By the time she completed her primary education at 13 years old, the family was facing serious difficulties in making ends meet. It was decided Stellah would be offered in marriage without her consent to a much older man, a means of earning some income through a dowry. “I felt powerless and completely hopeless when this incident occurred. I felt trapped and that I had no options. I was a child and it felt like my whole future was being decided without my input and towards one I had no capacity to understand. I wanted to run away but didn’t know how I could survive on my own. Mark Okello of Africa Exchange heard about my dilemma and intervened. He was able to arrange for me to attend secondary boarding school at Tartar Girls School, providing a scholarship to finance the endeavor. This removed me from the threat of marriage, and more than that, started me on a path to further education, something I barely dreamed could be possible.”
“Adjusting to Secondary School was hard initially”, Stellah admits, “starting with living in the dormitory. There was a particular teacher of agriculture, Mr. Owon Aaron, who became an inspiration. While he was strict, he was passionate and made the subject come alive with practical skills show casing what the field of agriculture was all about. His teaching laid the groundwork for my desire for further study.
Through the generosity of a faithful donor, Africa Exchange enabled the furtherance of Stellah’s scholarship at Kisii University where she studied Agriculture. “More transition awaited me as I began my university education at Kisii University. I remember the orientation of Fresher’s Week and my nervousness as I tried to find my place and make new friends. I quickly learned the computer labs would always be crowded and the library packed during exam season. But I had to push in and accomplish what I needed for my own success.”
Stellah’s favorite learning experience became the practical lectures where she and her fellow students learned on the demonstration farm. “It was here where theory became tangible, like seeing soil erosion prevention firsthand. I loved the perfect balance of classroom theory and practical work on the university farm. This blending of education and training empowered us to be developers and practitioners, both needed skills in the world of agriculture.”
In 2025, Africa Exchange was able to secure Stellah an internship through Public Service Commission (PSC) where she was deployed to National Addition Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). Posted in Narok NCPB (National Cereals & Produce Board), Stellah is earning an internship stipend as well as experience in the field.
“The learning never stops,” Stellah smiles, when asked how her internship is going. “I am finding it challenging to manage my time when juggling multiple tasks. I have faced a learning curve with new tools and processes which can be a bit overwhelming at times. I’ve even faced some challenges navigating working in a team where communications styles differ which has pushed me to hone my own communication skills. But I’ve also had my confidence boosted by positive feedback from my supervisor which has motivated me to continue learning and improving.”
Stellah says the challenge to network and build relationships with professionals in her field has been invaluable for her career development. Her internship setting in Narok is a new environment for her on many levels. She has found it a place of natural beauty and warm and friendly people. She has made new friends and shared recently, while at the market, she met a woman who was surprised to hear she was from West Pokot. They chatted a while, building connections and learning a bit more about one another and their home places.
“Africa Exchange is the reason I am where I am now,” Stellah reflects, now a 25-year-old woman. “Were it not for them, I would have been married long ago, had several children, and never have had the chance to further my education. I am grateful beyond words that the little girl who started in the Nakwijit ICDC so many years ago, is now an educated woman, well on her way to making a difference in Kenya with her own vision and dreams for a better future. And one who can model that life for girls back home.”
Student to Teacher - Elias Kakimon, Longewan ICDC
When you’re 4 years old and live in Longewan in Baringo County, much of your life is spent outside. That was true for Elias. Even his first experience of childcare was a small gathering of children under a shade tree. So, when he was accepted and entered the classroom of the Africa Exchange Integrated Child Development Center (ICDC), he felt like he was in a dream. “It was so comfortable and modern to us. It felt very special. The porridge snack and lunch we were given served as our only meals for the day. Our family just couldn’t manage providing more than that for us.”
Elias remembers Sam being the first white person who had ever visited his place. “Now, it’s funny to think of the impression that made on me at the time but truly, because of being somewhat remote, it was highly unusual to see an “mzungu” (white person). Soon, it became evident Sam and Africa Exchange were not just visiting to see how we lived. They had a commitment to our community for basic education, clean water, agricultural projects, nutrition, and malaria prevention. They became our friends. They became a familiar presence and came along side us over the long term.”
After the ICDC, Elias proceeded to primary school and then, with the assistance of Africa Exchange, Marigat Boys Secondary School. When he was 14, he was returning home with his parents after attending his sister’s wedding when they were involved in a serious road accident. He survived, but his parents sustained critical injuries, and both passed away. That was a turning point in his life as he realized everything going forward was going to be up to him. He carried on at Marigat Boys with his elder brother as the adult presence in his life.
“Marigat Boys was good for me. I see now it was the place I was able to transition from being a boy to becoming a man. Our teachers were attentive and gave us valuable talks about life. I also remember it as a place where you had to study smart to succeed and, since it was located in town, there was a sense of freedom. I learned early on that self-discipline would be required to not be tempted by wayward behaviors in which one could easily get entangled.”
Africa Exchange continued to play a pivotal role in Elias’s life and secured a furtherance of his scholarship to attend the University of Embu. “My years at the university were not easy. I often faced financial struggles, especially having enough money for meals and for personal items. I worried about job opportunities after graduation. And of course, I felt the challenge of making new friends since I was not originally from this environment or community. Mark Okello of Africa Exchange followed me closely and supported me from year to year in my Education degree. He always paid my fees on time which allowed me to fully focus on my studies, without worry.”
Elias was posted as a teacher to Mogotio Junior School in March of 2025. “My transition to being a teacher has been fulfilling. I have taken fully my responsibilities managing classrooms, understanding different learners' needs, developing confidence, and inspiring and guiding learners. The workload can be challenging at times but I’m managing. I’m very lucky to have found my colleagues to be good and welcoming people, always ready to assist where possible. We often talk and share constructive ideas that help us both personally and professionally.”
Elias’s hope is to enroll in a master's degree next year. “At times I think back to being a little boy at Longewan and the way that was made for me through Africa Exchange. If I can be that kind of hope for someone else in the future, then all that has been invested in me will not be lost.”
Scholars enjoying a recent annual retreat
Radio Journalist, Women’s Advocate - Sheila Cheruto, Sisit ICDC
Sheila’s story is a little different than the rest. She did not have the opportunity to attend an Integrated Child Development Center as a child, though she lived nearby. With the death of both of her parents, Sheila and her 4 siblings became orphans and had to rely on one another to survive, her grandparents standing as pillars of support in her life.
In her secondary school years, Sheila was pressured by the community towards FGM (female genital mutilation) in preparation for an early marriage. She refused and began to be mocked and stigmatized. “Girls would call me names, sing awful songs, and tell me ‘If it won’t be cut then it will grow and sweep your way as you walk.’ They also would hold their noses as I walked by saying I smelled. I held this suffering in my heart until I finally told my Grandmother what was happening. She told me these were all lies and to stick to my Christian faith.”
Sheila finally had a chance to attend a seminar by World Vision about FGM. It confirmed her Grandmother’s words and not only boosted Sheila’s confidence about her decision, it also rooted in her a commitment to champion resisting FGM and to help other young girls be educated and have tools to make their own choices.
Still, the pressure in the community continued. Sheila also had become pregnant and now had a baby to raise. During a community exercise with a visiting Kutana group, Africa Exchange learned of her plight and began conversations with her about her story. She shared she had held a dream for a long time to become a journalist. The timing seemed right to provide her a scholarship to attend Elgon View College. She enrolled for a 2 year course and graduated with Diploma in Journalism and Mass Media.
“My course at Elgon View was so good, though not without challenges. I felt I had moved beyond village life and that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I felt alive. I was crowned Miss Elgon during my time there. A beauty queen, imagine that! I also was able to participate in the Power of Humanity walk across Kenya (organized by the Red Cross). With the permission from the administration, I taught fellow students about reproductive health, financial literacy and child rights, a training I did over 6 months alongside my course work.”
“One of the most difficult things was facing sexual harassment from a lecturer at the college. He hated me because I resisted his advance and wanted me to fail my final exams. All of that together was hard. But the thing that bolstered me was that learning journalism and mass media was a dream come true. I was driven by passion and vividly remember the rush I felt at learning about photography, broadcast at large, microphone techniques, public relations and how to be a professional journalist. I could see myself in the field.”
From there Sheila secured 2 internships at North Rift Radio (Kapenguria) and Ayok FM (Turkana). She is currently employed at APERIT FM in Makutano.
“I feel such deep gratitude to Africa Exchange for believing in me and making a way for my professional future. Because of you educating me, I am committed to educating other girls in various communities through radio. It’s a wonderful platform for sharing important words, having honest conversations, and having a far-ranging reach for positive messaging towards the thriving of girls in Kenya.”
Aspiring Scholar, Born in the Path - Naftali Kibet, Sisit ICDC
You could say Naftali was linked to the Sisit Integrated Child Development Center (ICDC) before he was born. His Grandfather Charles was a key leader in the community and his family embedded in the beautiful scenic hills of Sisit, West Pokot. Naftal’s entry into the world is one that holds a special place in our hearts.
His mother, at 16 years old, pregnant against her will, was strong and determined. When the day came that she went into labor, her father Charles approached Sam who was busy building a foot bridge for the community, and asked if he could provide her a ride to the local clinic. Charles didn’t communicate she was in active labor, and Sam, preoccupied, assumed the appointment was for a mere checkup. He agreed but said he first needed to complete the 2 hours left of tedious construction on that side of the river, then they could go. Charle’s confusion didn’t register with Sam as Charles said “Ok”. When 2 hours was up, Sam jumped in his truck and asked where the girl was. “Oh, she has already started walking”, Charles said. “You’ll find her on the way.”
Sam got in his truck and began driving down the bumpy “almost” road. Soon he approached a group of women on the path, holding up a circle of colorful kangas, obviously shielding something that was going on inside. In seconds, Sam heard the women shrilling and trilling their exclamations of joy! And then, a baby’s cry. Naftali was born!
Mortified that he had misunderstood the situation, Sam cried “Lets get her get in the truck, quick! Let’s go to the clinic!” “Why?” the women asked. “The baby is here. Now she can walk.” Naftaili’s mother gathered him in her arms and began walking with the group of women the rest of the way to the clinic.
Naftali joined the Sisit ICDC in 2018 at age 5. He lived nearby and walked a mile to and from school every day. Quite a daily trek for a little tyke!
“I remember the hot porridge we were given every day at school for snack. It was warm in my belly and tasted delicious. I also remember the fact that at the ICDC, Africa Exchange made a water project, making water available in our community. That was something that had not always been the case. It was quite amazing to have access to a tap where we could fill our jerry cans instead of having to walk 30 minutes down the mountain to the river and 30 minutes back up the mountain, sloshing a heavy jerry can of water on our backs. That is what my family had done for years before that.”
Naftali’s best friend was Dominic Pkiror and they played soccer together every chance they got in their free time. They didn’t always have a soccer ball but made perfectly adequate balls by wrapping banana leaves tightly with twine. And they learned to swing for the first time on the first swing set in the entire area, at the Sisit ICDC!
“I was happy in those days. I loved school and my friends. I felt at home in my community and that I belonged. I hardly realized at such a young age all the things Africa Exchange made possible. Now that I’m in Standard 6 at Sisit Primary School, I can see those ICDC years were the foundation in my development.”
Naftali’s favorite subjects to study these days are English and Math. “I’m not sure what I might study after Secondary School but could imagine doing finance or technology. We’ll have to see how my marks are as the years go by.”
Naftali is only 12. Who knows what the future holds for him? But his life is precious and his potential as a thriving member of his community evident. As he says, one of his favorite hobbies is helping his parents and grandparents with daily chores. What a sweet young man! Africa Exchange has been a lifeline for his development and growth.
In 2022, at our 25th anniversary celebration, through matching funds from a generous donor, an endowment fund was launched specifically to advance our Change for Children program’s Scholar’s Endowment Fund. We invite you to make a donation that will help us realize our goal of consistent, long-term support of this vital opportunity. Click the Donate button above and select “Scholars Endowment Fund” in the drop down menu.
Teachers are Makers
When he said it, I knew it was true. “Teachers are Makers.”
By Melody Harrell
When he said it, I knew it was true. “Teachers are Makers.”
Yes, they are! I thought to myself, Simon’s words immediately buzzing in my mind and heart. As our Change for Children Coordinator, Simon Lokurchana sees firsthand what that looks like in our centers across Kenya.
We were meeting with our Africa Advisory Group in May. Much of our meeting was business. SWOT analysis. Reports and Goals. Wonderful to be able to share in person (which is rare) but a bit tedious as well. So, when these 3 words came out of Simon’s mouth, I recognized THERE is the story of Africa Exchange!
Teachers make classrooms, lesson plans and teaching aids. They make relationships with children, colleagues and parents. In the context of our Integrated Child Development Centers, they make it possible for children to get their mid-morning fortified porridge snack and their nutritious lunch. They make sure children have clean water to drink and wash their hands, preventing diarrheal illnesses. They facilitate the distribution of treated mosquito nets, so the children are spared from potentially life-threatening illnesses in their young lives. They literally make holes in the ground in which to plant trees. Which become shade. Or fruit. Or soil stabilizers.
Teachers tell the story with their own lives. They make it possible for children in our centers to imagine a future. A future perhaps, where children become teachers themselves one day. Or doctors, or nurses, journalists or agriculturalists, or whatever might spark imagination within them. They make clear the connection between personhood and community. They make it possible to close the gap between what isn’t yet and what could be.
With our current focus on arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) regions in Kenya, teachers are making resources accessible in locations that are more isolated. Three new Integrated Child Development Centers in Ola Boji, Ola Rangi, and Olom in the Chalbi Desert in Northern Kenya are now places Gabra children are learning, being fed, kept healthy and flourishing. These ICDCs are tailor-made for children ages 4-6 and the children know it! The chairs and desks are “kid” sized, and the blackboards filled with teacher-made drawings illustrating the letters of the alphabet. Mothers rest assured their young children are thriving.
Just as teachers are makers, it follows that the Africa Exchange community is as well. We see such proven evidence over more than 25 years the difference this work has made in communities across Kenya. The initiatives that have led to better lives for children. The trajectory we can see in the lives of Shelah, Dennis, and Stella, among others … children who began in our centers who have then completed university and gone on to start careers.
With the development of two new integrated child development centers in progress, along with the partners who will be investing in them, Africa Exchange is still making. If making is bringing about change that benefits the whole, then let the makers march on! Along with our teachers, we gratefully accept the challenge.
What would be missing?
Our friend and now retired pastor, Bob, recalled during his final sermon a recent interview process in hiring their now well-loved minister of children and families. When she was invited to ask her own questions, the staff were stunned when she asked, “What would be missing in this community were you as a church, not here?” What a thought-provoking question! It led them all to reflect both corporately and privately on what exactly would be missing in their corner of the world, were they not involved in being a place of worship as well as service to the community around them.
My mind went immediately to Africa Exchange and our work in Kenya. What would be missing were we not in the now 14 communities in which we work? Do we make enough of a difference that not being a resource in the lives of children, families and communities would mean a direct impact of some kind of loss in their lives? I know beyond a doubt, the answer is a resounding YES!
Children enjoying mid-morning uji (porridge) in Makutano, West Pokot
If a child in the Lochor Esekon Integrated Child Development center in Turkana were asked what would be missing in their lives with the absence of their Integrated Child Development Center, I imagine they would say “My porridge!” We ensure the children at our centers are given a fortified porridge each day to guarantee sound nutritional support, knowing this is the first building block for learning. The families who populate these centers love their children but can’t always ensure consistent nutrient based feeding which is dependent on their own subsistence income, a sad reality when you live in harsh, arid and semi-arid lands. Can you imagine the relief it is, knowing your child will be fed each and every day at school?
If a parent at Sisit ICDC in Pokot were asked what would be missing, I imagine they would say “Water! We wouldn’t have water and would have to return to walking the 30 minutes down the mountain and back to carry it on our backs from the river. And the suspension bridge over the Wei Wei River that allows access to medical care, the community center, and school for our older children”. These resources have taken years to develop and maintain but are commitments we have made to the community, in response to their requests, knowing the difference it makes in their quality of life.
If a committee member at the newly opened Ola Rangi Integrated Child Development Center in Kalacha, home to the Gabra people, were asked what would be missing were AFEX not committed to working in their community, I imagine they would say “Education! Our new center ensures our children can learn in their own space, supported with the current Kenyan curriculum for ECD, trained teachers, and dedicated focus to the healthy growth of the minds, bodies, and spirits of our children.”
My pondering continued and led me to consider all those who support all the good work of Africa Exchange across Kenya. What would be missing were they not so generous? What would be missing for our secondary and university scholars where there not key people committed to the future of these teenagers and young adults? What work could not occur if there weren’t those who believe in what we do and love to see children and families thriving in their own communities?
There is always more to which we are called. Always more to the invitation to participate in one another’s lives, lifting up those who are disadvantaged, and more to learn from those who know what it is to suffer. May we answer our calling faithfully and with clarity about what would be missing were we not there. May we continue to embody our vision together with communities across Kenya so that our partnerships make a tangible difference in peoples’ day to day lives. And may those who participate with us be strengthened in their resolve that there is too much to be missed to not take up the calling to care.
Kalacha Reflection
by Dr. Nathaniel Robinson, Board Chair - Africa Exchange
Kalacha oasis, Chalbi Desert, Northern Kenya
I recently traveled with Sam, Mark, Simon, and a close friend to Kalacha, a small town on the edge of the Chalbi Desert in northern Kenya. Africa Exchange is currently developing three new ICDC sites there, and this visit held special meaning for me: Kalacha is where my father conducted his Ph.D. research. He documented the Gabra people’s oral history and ecological knowledge—insights that have enabled them to survive in environments many would consider impossibly harsh. During some of the most severe droughts of the 1970s and 1980s, the Gabra not only survived but thrived, even as neighboring communities and their livestock struggled.
My oldest sister spent her earliest years in this community, and throughout my childhood, we often made the long, dusty trek to Kalacha. My father led university field courses here, exposing students to these arid conditions and to a culture built around constant movement in search of water and pasture. From an early age, this taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, adaptation, and openness to change.
When we left Nairobi, I had few expectations for our journey north. Many parts of Kenya have grown and transformed at astonishing speeds—cities and towns turning into bustling hubs and fenced-off plots. But as we descended out of the central highlands into hotter, drier regions, beyond popular tourist destinations, I caught a glimpse of a more familiar Kenya. While the small centers and towns we passed were somewhat larger and busier than I remembered, they still felt rooted in local traditions rather than overrun by modern sprawl.
With paved roads and the ban on plastic bags, these centers felt cleaner than in the past. Between them, the dry scrublands appeared relatively intact, shielded by their remoteness from the agricultural transformations seen elsewhere. Driving through the rugged lava fields of northern Kenya and across the Chalbi Desert, I felt relief at seeing Kalacha largely recognizable. The tiny house where my parents lived in the late 1970s still stands, and the extensive Acacia tortilis woodlands remain, offering the same shade they did decades ago.
Despite this apparent timelessness, “progress” in other forms has reached the area. National policies and government services often marginalize nomadic pastoralists like the Gabra. Many still maintain mobile huts and settlements, but their ability to move freely is rapidly diminishing. Climate change compounds this challenge—erratic rainfall, harsher droughts, and sudden floods undermine the once-reliable cycles the Gabra have followed for generations. In my father’s more recent interactions, elders report they can no longer predict rains or droughts in the way they used to, eroding traditions and oral histories tied to seasonal rhythms.
Meanwhile, key resource areas once held in reserve for drought periods are increasingly settled by agriculturalists as land across Kenya becomes privatized. This trend is also impacting the Gabra as they try and farm the desert fringes around Kalacha. The process reduces the Gabra’s freedom to relocate and fundamentally challenges their way of life.
In this context, there’s a dilemma: do new ICDC sites unintentionally encourage permanent settlement, further eroding mobility? Or do they enhance the likelihood of improving livelihoods in a context where settlement is inevitable. Communities around Kalacha have already made the decision to settle. These are the places where Africa Exchange, in partnership with the Catholic Mission in Kalacha, the Northern Kenya Fund and the Marsabit County Education Dept., is working. Balancing the need for services with the preservation of traditional livelihoods is complex, but it’s also essential if we hope to support a resilient future for the Gabra and other pastoralist communities in the region.
Looking ahead, we believe that community-driven education can be a cornerstone for the Gabra’s future. While their traditional pastoralist lifestyle may be changing, an ICDC can serve as both a safeguard and a bridge—preserving cultural knowledge while providing practical tools for today’s realities. This approach acknowledges the challenges brought by shifting climates, policies, and settlement patterns, yet also honors the Gabra’s resilience and adaptability. Through collaboration with local leaders, we hope these centers will offer not just survival, but the foundation for children who in turn w create a vibrant and sustainable way forward for their communities—even as we lament the loss of certain traditions in this ever-evolving landscape.
Not Loud . . . But very Busy!
“The majority of positive change and good deeds in the world happen "under the radar," meaning they are not widely publicized or recognized, but instead occur quietly through the everyday actions of individuals in their communities, often going unnoticed by the larger public. “
Krista Tippet, On Being
This resonates deeply with us because we have observed it to be true. The impact of hard, everyday work done together with communities is often difficult to communicate, certainly beyond the description of raw statistics. This is particularly so with work that is done among those trying to survive in the margins. And yet, what a privilege to be able share how your support has enabled so much good! For us, 2024 was undoubtedly one of our busiest ever and we’re thrilled to share with you our progress, program by program.
Everything begins with “KUTANA,” here meeting together in the Chalbi Desert with the Ola Rangi community
KUTANA
And meet together we did! Under trees, interacting as groups in seminars for capacity building, cross-culturally between partners and communities and with our board to chart ways forward. Our chosen method of participatory community development takes time and is hard! On the one hand we’re asking communities who are already stressed to bring what they have to the table, to recognize that even they have gifts to share; on the other hand we’re inviting individuals and partners who are blessed with abundance to share of themselves and their resources in a manner that uplifts and honors while remaining open to being changed. We’re asking communities that are enduring conflict with neighboring groups to bridge the gap by bringing their young children to learn together.
Change for Children
A Year of WASH!
WASH refers to Water Sanitation and Hygiene. Our challenge was to bring all of our Integrated Child Development Centers into “Wash Compliance.” And we’re 90% there! Handwashing stations everywhere, water filters where needed, plus oral health pilot projects to name a few.
New Curriculum
Simon, our Change for Children Coordinator, introduced educational resources in the form of curricular materials consistent with Kenya’s new Competency Based Curriculum. The “CBC,” provides our teachers with current and relevant methodologies for early childhood education and development.
Scholars Retreat
At the other end of the spectrum, graduates of our programs gathered in April under Mark Okello’s guidance for an impactful annual Scholars Retreat with the theme “poverty alleviation through leadership and entrepreneurship.”
Our nine TVET (technical/vocational education and training) and university scholars received laptops for the first time thanks to a generous gift from a very special donor!
Development Initiatives
Facilitating our WASH compliance efforts involved upgrading two kitchens and a water source
Integrated Child Development Center Expansion in Arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) regions
Ola Rangi, under construction
We have an ambitious goal to add three Integrated Child Development Centers in the Chalbi Desert region by the end of 2025. The first one is nearing completion and is slated to open in January! Ola Rangi ICDC will serve 45 households in this Gabra village by providing early childhood education services for 40 children. Stay tuned for more!
Keeping Earth
As part of our Trees for Life project, we added three new tree nurseries this year. Each nursery facilitates the growth of seedlings that supply a respective Integrated Child Development Center with trees for community planting each term.
The projects highlighted above represent but a fraction of the good work being done in communities across Kenya. We maintain support and guidance in 14 communities, providing nutrition, education, WASH, malaria prevention and other health related services in each community. Our focus on capacity building in Arid and semi-Arid Lands is critical to scaling integrated early childhood development as we provide a critical “proof of concept” for county education departments in each location.
WILL YOU BE A PART of enabling us to continue these services in existing and new communities in 2025?
Life in the Desert
Shade is sparse on the edge of the desert, so isolated trees become important places for congregating. During our recent site survey to Kalacha, on the edge of the Chalbi Desert in Northern Kenya, Acacia (Vachellia) Tortilis trees provided what was required as we met three incredible communities that we now look forward to working with. Years of experience has taught us to look beyond initial impressions to discover the remarkable resilience that is so often a feature of people who live at the margins of existence. Certainly that is the case with these Gabra pastoralist communities that have endured recent historic drought, followed this year by unprecedented rains. Despite loosing 80% of their goat and camel herds to a climate in destress, remarkably they press forward.
Signs of life and initiative are very evident as each of these communities strive to facilitate the development of children under six in preparation for their eventual matriculation to primary schools that are some distance away. Whether under the shade of a tree or a temporary classroom built with assistance from the local Catholic mission or County administration, these three communities are moving forward with what is available to them. Hearing of our interest in joining together with them in partnership in this endeavor, we were welcomed with copious amounts of camel-milk tea and even a little dancing!
We sat and listened to the challenges articulated by each community:
“The camels keep eating the palm fronds from the roof of the classroom!”
“Hyenas endanger those (women and children) who walk long distances to collect water in the very early morning”
“A single 12x12 classroom cannot accommodate the numbers of children we have, now that we are forced by circumstances to settle closer together.”
Interacting with the community to understand and respond to concerns
Over the next two years, we plan to construct three modified Integrated Child Development Centers in the region surrounding Kalacha. We will also endeavor to pipe water from nearby wells to store at each location, enhance the capacity of available teachers and work with local partners to ensure the adequate provision of nutritional supplements, education materials and tree shade.