Stories from the Global Food Crisis
KENYA
Country Update
Our team in Kenya reports that excitement is building as community members are coming together to discuss the work that’s about to start in new 40 Hour Famine supported project. The main focus will be on providing families with the skills and support they need to grow more food and generate a reliable income.
World Vision's solutions* in Kenya:
- Emergency food aid and nutritional supplementation for those at risk of starvation
- Establish community organisations to fight hunger
- Provide livestock and education on how to care for them
- Establish market gardens
- Provide seeds, tools and training for growing vegetables
- Build irrigation pipes and waterways
- Provide a reliable supply of drinking water
- Generate livelihoods through market gardens and livestock breeding.
Their Stories...
Eight-year-old Beatrice
The first things you notice about Beatrice are her beautiful long eyelashes. The second are the eyes behind them, which are distant and tired.
Eight-year-old Beatrice often goes to bed hungry, sheltered only by the branches and junk her family calls home. Together they live in the dusty desert of northern Kenya, where hot winds have dried up the grass, rivers and hope.
With no men around, many women work all day collecting firewood. On a good day they will make $1. But food prices doubled last year and it’s no longer enough.
Beatrice’s mum is so malnourished she can’t make enough breast milk for her baby sister. The little one cries a lot from hunger. We’re talking about a two-month-old baby!
With just one meal a day, Beatrice is also showing signs of malnutrition. Her hair is faded and her teeth decayed. Very slowly, her small body is wasting away.
Seven-year-old Tomas
Tomas’ mum is a real trooper. She really loves her family. Most of the day she collects firewood in the bush then walks into town, selling it all for about one dollar.
She buys as much food as she can with that one dollar.
Today Tomas’ mum has spent all day out in the bush but she still can’t buy enough food. Her one dollar buys only half what it did last year.
Tomas is only seven and doesn’t understand things like "the Global Food Crisis". He just continues with school and his chores. Malnourishment is making him tired, though, and he can hardly concentrate in class, let alone help his mum carry water.
But you know what? Thirty percent of the kids here are just like Beatrice and Tomas. That’s thousands of hungry kids.
Why are Beatrice and Tomas hungry?
Food prices doubled in northern Kenya last year because of:
- climate change = more droughts and floods = less good land for growing crops and pasture for animals = less food production
- price speculation and demand for biofuel = increase in global food prices
- less investment in agricultural research = less food production
- increasing cost of fertiliser and fuel = higher food prices
CAMBODIA
Country Update
In Cambodia, many people are affected by HIV and AIDS-related illnesses. 9% of kids are orphaned and others are trying to support parents who unable to work. From October, 40 Hour Famine funds will be used to provide monthly rice, oil and salt so that kids don’t become malnourished when their families don’t have enough food to go around. World Vision is also working with community groups to support families in other ways, like ensuring kids have decent access to healthcare.
World Vision's solutions* in Cambodia:
- Emergency food aid and nutritional supplementation for those at risk of starvation
- Establish village-based support groups to fight hunger by developing home gardens and income generating enterprises
- Skills training and business loans for the poorest of the poor to assist with the establishment of small, income-generating enterprises
- Improve food production by providing seeds, tools and training
- World Vision Community Care teams will visit the most severely affected households to assist with medical care as required.
Their Stories...
Ten-year-old Kak Da
Kak Da was just six years old when he started working as a cowherder. Everyday he heads into the fields to look after eight cows in return for $2.50 a month – and he is only 10!
Not so long ago, his meagre income was still helping his family to stay ahead. Lately, though, it's just not enough. The last two years have seen the price of food double and this poor farming family is feeling the squeeze.
"Now we can afford far less," says Kak Da's mother. "Today we have no breakfast, because we have to choose between breakfast and lunch.”
"We take it one day at a time. The minute we earn something, it is gone on food."
Ten-year-old Klooun
"I go to school hungry every day," says Klooun. "Sometimes I go to bed hungry too. It makes it hard to sleep."
Klooun’s had it rough since his parents died. Yesterday he got up early and went hunting for small birds, frogs and fish because his aunt had no money to buy food.
Their house has gaping holes in the roof and walls and, though they live next to a truckstop, they have no money to buy the food it sells.
"I would like to go to school every day," says Klooun. In reality, the rising cost of food means he endures a daily hunt instead.
Ten-year-old Chanra
From early morning till midday, Chanra’s working outside in the fields. Her family is one of the poorest in the area.
Chanra’s father is blind and so he does what he can to help feed his family. The price of rice and vegetables is rising and sometimes this family only eats one meal a day.
In the afternoon, Chanra goes searching for fish in the local irrigation pond with her stepmum, instead of going to school.
"I am the only one in my family who has been to school," says Chanra proudly. "I go when I can."
The rising cost of food means Kak Da, Klooun, Chanra and thousands of other children in the area will continue to struggle for survival.
Why are Kak Da, Klooun and Chanra hungry?
In the last two years, food prices have doubled in Cambodia because of:
- climate change = more droughts and floods = less food production
- price speculation and demand for biofuel = increase in global food prices
- global financial crisis = inflation = higher food prices
- the increasing cost of fertiliser and fuel = higher food prices
INDIA
Country Update
The Child Labour and Prevention of Trafficking project teams in northern India have been busy talking with children, community groups and local authorities to gain a deeper understanding about what’s behind child labour and trafficking in these communities and what are the best ways to prevent it.
They’ve heard so many harrowing stories, including one girl who'd been sold and trafficked three times before she turned 16. By taking the time to learn more about the complex issues involved, and to hear from the community what they think is going to be best. The World Vision team in India are confident they now have a road map they can use to help bring lasting change to children’s lives.
Among other activities, the 40 Hour Famine projects are:
- supporting the rehabilitation of children rescued from child labour and trafficking
- helping parents to find employment and income sources so kids don’t have to work
- promoting education amongst working children
- advocating on the issues of child labour and trafficking to the Indian Government and wider Indian community.
"The people we met in the 40 Hour Famine project were so excited to know that young Australians cared enough to do something to help end child labour and exploitation in their communities." - Brett Woods from Vision Generation, travelled to India this year and visited a 40 Hour Famine Child Labour Prevention project in Kanpur.
* There can be situations where we are not able to use funds raised for the purposes that we originally intend or have to delay use of funds, due to reasons outside our control. If this occurs, we will use the funds for similar projects in the same or other countries.
