“Snapshots of Hope: A Volunteer’s Journey in Kenya” by Nonie Kingma

What Was It Like?

It was hot. The sun at the equator is direct and intense.

It was exhausting. Our days were full and long going from school-to-school checking on water catchment tanks and handwashing stations. It was the end of a long dry season and some of the tanks had run dry which meant that sometimes children had to stop at water sources along their way to school and carry their own water each day. With an application to P4P it was possible that schools in need could be afforded more tanks. This information was relayed again and again at various schools.       

The children were a delight! Our arrival was generally a big disruption to their school day. They were all excitement, smiles and greetings, “Mzugu! Mzugu!”, they’d yell, (this is the Swahili word for white person) and then, with the English that they were learning in school, they would follow with, “How are you?”. They loved having their picture taken and would get goofy for the camera just as any child in any part of the world might do. It was fun!

Throughout the week we also checked out water holes, boreholes and pumps to see if the communities had access to a safe and reliable source of water.

There were meetings with community members out under the trees and at water holes. The community leaders were gracious and skilled communicators. After standing to speak they would introduce themselves, state their position in the community and then always begin by thanking P4P for the help it had provided over the years before clearly conveying their current issues and needs. Wayne was particularly adept at looking at problems with pumps and water sources and explaining how they might be fixed or improved. There were always lots of “Karibu” (welcome), handshakes and smiles which reveals the warm and friendly relationship P4P has developed over the years with these folks.

Then there was latrine day – tromping from one to the next to assess their availability and condition. For the most part they were functional but nothing more. Many were in serious need of repair and there is a real need for more of them.

Every day, lunch was prepared by the wives of one of the staff members. The food was truly delicious and plentiful. Afterwards we’d sit out under the trees for a short while and this was when I’d need a nap – so full was my stomach and so pleasant the breeze.

My favorite day that week was when Patti and I spent time at the clinic where P4P’s POM program is administered. Here we met with a group of women (mostly, though there was one grandfather) who brought their babies and grandbabies to the clinic for nutritional assistance. The children are weighed and measured each week and the families are given a meal and some food to take home. Some of the children there were dangerously malnourished and I saw with my own eyes how this organization actually saves lives in a very direct way. The women are also counseled and assisted with the various other challenges they face in providing for their families.

Our group made a few visits to the homes of nutritionally at-risk children in the villages. I was so impressed with Patti’s skill at getting her assessments done with such gentleness and respect that the children allowed it without protest. It was a privilege to be there.

Interspersed in all these days we visited so many farms that I lost count of them. P4P’s work with helping families farm in such a way as to increase the yield from their small plots is also life-saving and enables people to not only care for their nutritional needs but also to bring in more money from their crops. At one farm we were given a demonstration and a hands-on opportunity to participate in setting up a plot using the “Farming God’s Way” methodology. David and Patti planted seeds in that plot. Someday soon the plants grown from those seeds will make a difference. On the evening of our last day, after our evening meal, we were asked to talk about our impressions of the week. Each person stood and spoke about the important work being done by the incredibly skilled and knowledgeable staff and volunteers who live in and around the villages where P4P is established.

When it was my turn, I started by recalling that there was a poet who said, “If I can ease one life…” then I became tearful and could not finish. I was exhausted. But here is what I would have liked to have conveyed had I been able to keep my composure: The poet said, “If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain…I shall not live in vain.” The people of P4P (especially the dedicated field staff) do this – easing life’s aches and cooling life’s pains – day in and day out in a very real, substantial way and they do it with amazing professionalism, knowledge, skill and grace. Certainly, they have met the standard to not have lived in vain countless times over.

It was inspiring.

Exciting News!

Nereah Obura

We’re thrilled to share that Nereah Obura, our esteemed Program Coordinator, will be travelling from Kenya to speak at the Auction. She will offer valuable insights and captivating stories from Kenya, enriching our understanding and connection with her experiences. Nereah last attended the Auction in 2018.

The Grant Drummers and Dancers

We are also thrilled to reveal that the Grant Drummers and Dancers will be performing at this year’s Auction. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, they continue to foster cross-cultural understanding and creative expression. 

The group was designed to celebrate African music, culture and traditions within the community. Over the decades, it has performed at hundreds of events including the Martin Luther King Jr. march, parades, Chase Youth Awards and NAACP events and have been asked to perform in the Expo ’74 anniversary celebration.

Access to fresh water is a fundamental human right, together we can make it happen!

Thanks to the generosity of P4P Supporters, new rainwater catchment tanks have been successfully installed at both Machicha Primary and the Secondary School.

Collecting rainwater is an effective way to obtain fresh water in rural areas, particularly during the rainy season. 

Rainwater is generally cleaner than surface water, using harvested rainwater can lead to improved water quality.

Implementing rainwater harvesting systems in rural areas can lead to greater community self-sufficiency and resilience, empowering local people to take control of their water resources and fostering a greater sense of ownership and responsibility for water management.

Rainwater harvesting systems can also provide a reliable water source for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes, which can be especially beneficial during water scarcity or drought.

Harvesting Hope . . . P4P’s Farming Programs Transform Power of Milk Families!

Millicent’s Story 

Meet Millicent Anyango, a mother of three, including twins, Irine Akoth and Jeff Opiyo, who are enrolled in the P4P Power of Milk (POM) and farming programs.

Since joining the POM program, Millicent’s babies, once malnourished and sickly, are now thriving. Then, Millicent and her family enrolled in the P4P farming program. The P4P Kenyan staff recognizing the need for comprehensive support, also helped Millicent adopt kitchen gardening and hygiene practices to enhance her family’s health and wellbeing.

Millicent’s words reflect a sense of hope and determination. She says, “As a young mother, I am torn between working in the neighborhood or continuing with farming, as the cost of farm inputs has skyrocketed, making farming a challenge. The harvest we get is not sufficient for my family for the season, leading us to buy food, which has become quite expensive. My husband and I believe we can achieve more in farming; we’ve leased additional land to utilize all the inputs provided by P4P this season, and we are hopeful for a bountiful harvest.” This
determination is inspiring and calls for support.

P4P Agriculture Manager Joshua Odhiambo talks with Millicent in her beautiful field of maize. P4P’s farmer program provides training, inputs like seed and fertilizer, and ongoing advice. Better crops mean more food for families. Extra crops are sold, providing critical family income.

Nancy’s Story

Nancy Atieno, a young mother of three, struggles as a subsistence farmer, unable to grow enough food for her family. The mountainous terrain presents challenges with rocky soil and low moisture, compounded by monkeys raiding the crops. Typically, her harvest is consumed within two months. “My farm isn’t sustainable; I only manage to harvest a 1050kg bag of maize or less from half a hectare each season. The idea of buying inputs has become unrealistic; the costs are high, and the yields are low,” she explains.

Nancy and her husband had nearly given up on farming, resorting to day labor on others’ farms or making charcoal. However, joining the P4P POM program has been transformative for her son Boniface and the whole family. With weekly nutrition education, Nancy has started a kitchen garden with various nutritious vegetables. This season, with farm inputs from P4P, her farm’s condition has improved. “I’ve changed my perspective on farming. I regret spending so much energy working on other people’s farms, only to fall ill,” she reflects.

The family is thankful for P4P’s support. Nancy is eager to learn more about Farming God’s Way (FGW) after being inspired by a visit to the P4P demo farm. “The FGW technique is effective as it makes the crops look beautiful and healthy. I hope my farm can look like the P4P Demo Farm someday,” she shares.

P4P Program Coordinator Nereah Obura talks with Nancy about her farm.

P4P Farmer Training is Changing Lives – Enjoy these stories.

Alice Atieno

Alice Atieno is a 56-year-old widow and mother of 10. With two acres of land, she is a peasant farmer. Unfortunately her land does not support her family so she also works in the neighborhoods for additional income.

Life has never been easy for her family. She works tirelessly to earn a meager living. “I have so many expenses to meet, food is scarce and our lives hang in the balance every day.”

This year she enrolled in the P4P training and is practicing what she learned to improve her farm. She has even expanded her farm hoping for an even bigger harvest. Alice told us, “After FGW trainings I am now convinced that if we farm and live God’s Way He will provide abundantly beyond what we could hope or imagine, and truly this will pay off.”

Alice is so grateful for the training and quality inputs, noting that the support has restored hope for her family.

David Mambia

“Today, farming has become complex as compared to early days. I used to harvest more than 30 bags of maize on 4 acres just using manure and local seeds. It’s sad that now, because of poor soil and inputs, I can only harvest less than 15bags.” David Mambia said. 

FGW training was very beneficial for David.  This season, in addition to his regular farm he planted 2 plots using FGW methods.

David told us, “Through the P4P training I gained a lot of knowledge on FGW methods. I came to realize that all the resources are with us to make wealth.  It is only that human beings have walked away from God’s original intention of how to farm, and our crops and our lives suffered.”

David lives in Magongo- ribe village with his family.  He hopes to harvest more this season and improve his income. “Thank you P4P for your support! It made all the difference for me and my family.” he said. 

P4P Volunteer Travelers Share More About Their Trip – By Sue Hansen

On this part of our whirlwind trip we focused on P4P’s farming and other economic development projects.

P4P Farming

Our agriculture programs teach farmers innovative farming methods, like Farming God’s Way (FGW). Twice per year 25 farmers at a time are recruited, trained and provided seeds and fertilizers to plant using the methods they learned during training.  Then, P4P staff monitors their farms, providing advice and support during the growing and harvesting season, helping to ensure the farmers have bumper crops to not only feed their families, but sell at the market for additional income.

We were excited to visit a number of farms, including P4P farmer Joel, who has an amazing farm supporting his family as well.  

Beginning in 2023 P4P made an important strategic decision to add families enrolled in our Power of Milk (POM) program to the farmer training program. These participants, many of whom are single parents or grandparents, are given special attention and training on their often small plots.  The results have been amazing, resulting in much needed available food for their children.

P4P ‘s goal is to add even more POM families – even as many as 85% of the participants – to the program so they can learn sustainable farming that will support their family.

We were delighted to give farming utensils to two of our most successful farmers.

One is a FGW lead farmer, a 65 year old woman named Elsa, who trained with P4P, but now works without P4P support. Elsa has steadily expanded her operation and earns a good living from her farm.

Both Elsa and Joel were thrilled to receive the P4P gift of farm tools.

Notably, Joshua says that he could train up to 50 farmers at a time if we had the resources to do so.

P4P Demo Plot

The visit to the P4P Demo Plot was one the absolute brightest spots of our Kenyan journey!

The P4P Demo Plot is a large, fenced plot that P4P Agriculture Coordinator Joshua uses for a variety of purposes including practical demonstrations of how to plant crops using FGW methods and providing plant starters for purchase by local villagers.

Here we saw a large variety of crops being raised including maize (corn), orange flesh potatoes (known here as sweet potatoes), kale and other greens.  We were thrilled to see that the both monkey plant and Eucalyptus tree planted a year ago by P4P volunteers Sandy Ivers and Stacey Mainer are thriving!

Our group got into the game. Under the watchful eye and instruction of Joshua, Garry planted a Jack Fruit tree, Jeremy planted an indigenous tree and I planted a White Sappote fruit tree.

It was clear that Joshua’s knowledge is phenomenal!  People come from all over the area – hearing about the plot by word of mouth.

In fact one now enormously successful farmer, Charles Juma, got his start by observing what was happening at the Demo plot and contacting Joshua to assist him in implementing the methods at his farm.  While Charles was not a direct beneficiary of P4P’s resources what he learned from Joshua helped him to improve and expand his operations.

As a side note, we visited Charles farm and we were blown away by his impressive enterprise.  From tomatoes to poultry to composting to many other fruits and vegetables, Charles farm is now a model for others to follow, and it started with advice from P4P!

In addition to Charles’ farm, Joshua has a number of other model farms (some of which we visited) that he now sends farmers to – for learning/sharing purposes.

We were really excited by the quality of the P4P staff.  Joshua for instance was trained through P4P funding is working on his certification in FGW methods.  When Joshua completes his certification, he will be able to train trainers – and hopes that he can attract farmers from all over the county to attend FGW training at the P4P Demo Plot.

More projects, more hope!

In addition to crops, P4P supports other types of farming such as poultry and goats.  Our poultry and goat farmers have had some great success stories, and others not so much.

We learned that both have pluses and minuses. Poultry has much higher returns than goats as well as in a shorter time period, but higher risks, mostly from disease. Joshua says that the local breed of goats are not dairy goats – and to get dairy goats would be an extra expense – plus they might not do well in the local farms.  We visited a very well set up and running chicken operation that Joshua uses as a model for others considering chickens.

We concluded that families for both FGW and animal projects must be carefully selected to ensure they are ready to take on the projects.

Clearly there is still a need for our Maendeleo Pamoja (entrepreneurship) programs. For instance, the soapmaking enterprises we funded are having continued success.  We agreed that P4P should continue to see out and encourage innovative ideas for sustainability projects. 

All in all our team was thrilled with the overall success of our Economic Development programs.

Garry expressed what we all felt when he said, “It was incredibly touching to see and feel the genuine gratitude expressed by people touched by P4P programs. We are giving hope and making a difference.”

P4P Volunteer Traveler Sue Hansen’s Update on the P4P Power of Milk (POM) Program

The P4P POM program is running well and is impressive. It is uplifting to see that we are helping many children, but also sad that a few are still very malnourished. It is an important focus of the P4P Health Committee to move from treatment of poverty and the malnourished to prevention – but much work remains to be done!

Our POM Day visit was incredible. Both the US volunteers and Kenyan staff were involved, including serving lunch to the families, assisting with the food basket distribution, and participating in the infant checks.  Here P4P volunteers join staff to serve P4P POM families.

Currently there are 31 families enrolled our POM program, with a number of others on the wait list. The wait list families are attending the nutrition/prevention classes and receive the lunch, but not food baskets or “take home” baby supplements.

On the day we visited 4 babies “graduated” from the POM program.  Data from the POM day shows that in February 7 babies are severely malnourished, with another 11 very malnourished.  The remainder are still considered malnourished but are steadily improving.  The babies are always measured and weighed on POM day in order to assess their progress.

In this picture, P4P volunteers Jeremy Gratz and Melinda Tompkins prepare to hand out these beautiful handmade blankets donated from a volunteer in Spokane.

An important part of the POM program is P4P staff going on “home visits” to the families who are either new to the program, or whose babies are severely malnourished and struggling.

We accompanied staff on a couple of these home visits. Both families lived at least 3 miles from the clinic – both attend the weekly POM program.  Since neither family has transportation, it means they must walk

One of the families is a young woman with twins – who are now 2 years old.  The boy – Bonofos – was very ill from birth, and at one point required a blood transfusion.  He is in the POM program.  The girl twin has had no problems and is not in the program.  Mom also has a 9-month-old that is doing well.  Here is a picture of Mom and children during the home visit.

The other family – parents with 3 children were home and another child was away at Primary School.  Sadly, the father was recently disabled by what we could discern was probably a stroke.  His whole left side is paralyzed, and so it is very difficult for him to work in the field or do much to help at home.  Mom relayed that she wishes someone could help her build a better house, as the roof leaks on theirs. 

It is obvious from our observations that both Rose and Charles are well respected and listened to by the POM families.  They were both able to speak frankly to the families and direct them in taking care of their babies and family.

We are working on prevention! P4P Staff member Rose spent a considerable amount of time with Melinda and me, going over all the elements of the prevention program.  She is well versed in the causes of malnutrition and gave us a very detailed and informative summary of the factors affecting nutrition and the preventive strategies. 

Rose and Charles both acknowledge that the POM weekly food baskets are a short-term solution to infant/child nutrition and food insecurity. 

Fathers are encouraged to be involved in the program, and to increase sustainability, Rose and Charles discuss the following items with families – both at the weekly nutrition classes, and at the home visits.

Family planning and contraception is discussed with new mothers – and they are encouraged to obtain contraceptives from the clinic (for free).

Prenatal visits are also encouraged.  These are free and include supplements for the mother.

New parents can receive mosquito nets and malaria medication.

Food preparation – How to prepare foods and what types of food are good for family members and babies – during home visits, Charles and Rose check on how the food basket items are being used – who is eating them, etc.

Water Treatment Education – Water Guard is available at the local clinics and P4P has helped distribute Water Guard.  Rose said that if this is not available, she encourages families to boil their water. 

As families become more stable, with Joshua’s observation and input, Rose and Charles talk to families about becoming a P4P Farming God’s Way farmer. 

Volunteers in Kenya Visit Demo Plot

P4P Demo Plot Provides Excellent Training Opportunities

Some of our amazing volunteers visited the Kopanga region last month to check on progress and see where we can better help the community.

One of the brightest spots of their Kenyan journey was the P4P Farming God’s Way (FGW) Demo Plot.  FGW is a unique farming method that utilizes composting, mulching and other techniques to preserve water and control weeds.  Both of which are important in rural Kopanga where rainfall can be short. 

P4P Kenya staff developed and are maintaining the P4P Demo Plot to train local villagers in FGW methods that can help them improve their crop yields.  This in turn means they have more food for their families, and can sell the excess at the market, giving them additional income as well.

During their recent trip, P4P volunteers visited all P4P programs, including the Demo Plot. In this picture P4P volunteers Derrik Gratz (second from left) and Garry Morgan (third from left) join P4P staff members Joshua (on left) and Charles (on far right), in touring the Demo Plot.

Derrik and Garry shared that the Demo Plot is amazing and that Joshua – P4P Agriculture Coordinator – has phenomenal knowledge about farming.

People come from all over the area – hearing about the plot by word of mouth.

In addition to training at the plot, starters of plants can be purchased at the FGW demo plot so people can use them at their own farms.

Joshua has a number of model farms that he now sends farmers to – for learning/sharing purposes.

Collins’ Story

Collins Otieno is 14 and is the oldest in a family of 3 children. He lives with his parents in Magongo village and managed to attain an amazing score of 383 on his 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education at Magongo-Ribe primary school.

Collins’ parents are small scale farmers and casual laborers in the neighboring communities, but their income is not enough to pay for Collins’ high school, junior school fees for his two siblings and other expenses at home.

So Collins and his family tried to stay hopeful, but thought he would be unable to go on to high school.

“No one in my village thought that I could go to high school regardless of how high my exam scores were.” Collins said. But he still kept hope that at some point his hard work would pay off and he could achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.

Because of a P4P scholarship all of Collins’ hard work and determination finally did pay off!

“Many thanks to P4P, for you have lit up my candle, I have an opportunity to join Mbita Boys’ High School, one of the best schools in Kenya.”

ASANTE SANA!

Van’s Story

Van Ochieng is 15 and lives with his parents in Mubachi village, where he attended Magongo Ribe Primary school.
His father (Nicholas Okeyo) is a small-scale farmer with a big family, 5 children of his own and 4 other children. Van is the oldest with three sisters and a brother.

“Life has never been easy managing such a big family with the small income I earn” Van’s father said.

Throughout his school years, Van tried his best to get good marks all while balancing school work and challenges at home. Van was motivated by his teachers who assured him that his hard work will pay off regardless of his difficult background.

Pay off it did! Van had an excellent score of 362 on his final exams for his 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. When he applied for a P4P scholarship and got it, he couldn’t believe it, because he knew there were many other deserving students who applied for the same scholarship.

“I am extremely grateful to receive a P4P scholarship.” Van says. Today Van is attending his dream school Kanyawanga Boys High School knowing that his hard work and education will pay off with a better future. Van’s father is also very grateful, saying “Previous years have been really tough for my family. We are all so appreciative of a P4P scholarship for taking a huge burden off of our shoulders in this difficult moment.”

Jackeline’s Story

Fifteen year old Jackeline Vera, is the second born in a family of five. Fortunately, both of her parents are living, but her hopes of joining high school were nearly dashed due to the fact her family cannot afford school fees. You see, Obwato (Jackeline’s father) is a small- scale farmer and the family income is hardly enough to feed the family.

So, Jackeline’s hope for a secondary education was dim, and she was prepared to stay at home to give her parents time to accumulate enough money to pay for the secondary school tuition and fees.

Despite having such a slim chance to go on to secondary school, Jackeline never gave up, worked very hard at her studies, and managed to score 314 on her final Primary School test – a great score. So, with hard work and perseverance she graduated from Primary School and received the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education.

Then, P4P stepped in with a P4P scholarship and Jackeline is on her way to continuing her education.

“Hard work pays!”, Jackeline says. “Now I have the opportunity to join my dream school, Ogada Girls’ High School, through a Partnering for Progress scholarship! Asante Sana!”