High Clouders in Kenya are continuing to implement educational projects despite a severe drought. We reported a few months ago that many children have forsaken their education to follow the cattle that constitutes families' livelihoods. Rachel Herbers, High Cloud's liaison to Africa called the situation "a matter of survival for both the livestock and the family."
The UN's World Food Program reports four million Kenyans face hunger because of the drought. The dry conditions cover most of the country, including the Rift Valley where High Cloud is working. The drought is threatening Kenya's economic necessities of tourism and agriculture. Lack of rain has felled crops and forced cattle -- and the families that manage herds -- to stay on the move.
Despite these conditions, the MAGSA Good Salvage Outreach program, High Cloud's partner, has been solving many problems that Masaai children were already facing. These include providing lunch, learning about the environment, securing clean drinking water, and getting kids who lack tuition money into school.
"It gave children from poor families [a chance] to be shown
concern and to learn that they are loved," noted a recent report from MAGSA
Outreach.
MAGSA Outreach reports, however, that scarce transportation and spotty Internet service need resolution. The program is requesting more funding, especially for motorbikes to get food, teachers and volunteers to and from project sites.
With food prices and political tensions rising, these tasks could be harder. High Cloud will continue to send updates on this situation.
To learn more about the conditions in Kenya,
take a look at this article from The New York Times.
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