Posts Tagged ‘Hunger’

The recent famine in Kenya has taught a difficult lesson. Just like the stock market, Kenyans must DIVERSIFY so Fr. Riwa has decided to build fishponds.  This way he will not be totally dependent on grains. Small fishponds have proved very successful in other parts of Africa, especially for raising tilapia.  The process is inexpensive, very productive and the fish provide vitamins critical to a healthy diet.

The Adrian Dominican Sisters organized an Environmental Club at St. Clare and one of the duties of the club members will be the care of the fishponds.  Here the Environmental Club is at Meru University learning the skills necessary to be good fish farmers.

Ever since Jim and Anita Sullivan of Dubuque, Iowa, heard of the work of Father Riwa and the Friends of Kenyan Orphans, they have been avid supporters. That was two years ago. However, now their 7 year old son, Joseph, is involved. Here is the story.

Anita was packing school lunches one day when Joseph remarked “I am tired of Peanut Butter.” Since the Sullivan’s had just received word of the Kenyan drought’s effects on the food supply for the girls at St Clare, Anita felt it necessary to share the situation with Joseph. About 20 minutes later he appeared with his piggy bank and its contents, $61.00. Handing the money to his mom, Joseph said “Those children need food more than I need to save up for a car or college or an iPod. Oh, and Peanut Butter is OK too.”

Over the past month we have informed you of the famine in Kenya and the critical situaiton at the Children’s Village.  Several weeks ago we sent out an email asking for your help in feeding the children during this crisis. We are most grateful for your generous response.  With the money donated  Fr. Riwa is able to feed the children for the next six months.

While every penny donated made this possible we want to especially thank the following people for their very generous and significant donations: Diane and Dan Henry, the Catholic people of Bavaria (Germany), the Church of the Resurrection in (Dubuque, Iowa), Paul Lavins, Susan Montgomery, Jack Horrigan, William and Marjorie Dettlof, Sandra Hagenbarth, Tom and Carol Cracchiolo, Sharon Kress and Mary and Bob Leisure.

A month ago this had all the markings of a tragedy, but through your generosity you have transformed this situation into a miracle. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  We are so very grateful to you. This was an international effort as wonderful people from all over the world responded with love and compassion. I am very confident the Lord will bless you for your kindness.

God love you.

Bud and Sue Ozar

Purity Karega, a  Form II student at St. Clare , provides her insights why everyone is living with hunger in Kenya.

WHY THE FAMINE IS CONTINUING IN KENYA

BY PURITY

During the summer seasons, there normally is a shortage of food, as many parts of the world do not receive sufficient rainfall. This is what is affecting Kenya today. Large numbers of people in Kenya, especially North Eastern Kenya are dying of hunger.

The North Eastern people depend on their livestock for food. When there is shortage of rain, the grass dries and the cattle starve from lack of water and pasture. The people move from place to place together with their animals looking for water and pasture. Some of them die on the way with their animals when no water is found.

The cattle are very important to their community as they provide meat, milk, blood and skin, which they use as mattresses, in their manyattas (homes). They do not grow crops in their area because of the climate and therefore must buy vegetables from farmers of other parts of Kenya.

The imported food from other countries like the U.S.A. to Kenya never benefits all the citizens. Why? It is because our leaders are greedy. They distribute the food among themselves and sell it for personal profit instead of serving the nation.

Instead of planning for water projects to the dry areas like the North Eastern part of Kenya, they sit back and forget about them. This is the cause of Kenya becoming poorer and poorer day by day.

For me here at St Clare, I am focused and putting more effort into my studies to become one of the leading women of Kenya in the generation to come, a leader who will fight this corruption.

Sr. Kathryn is one of the four Adrian Dominican Sisters who went to Kenya to assist Fr. Riwa at the St. Clare Centre a year ago.

She is with the girls everyday and can see the effects on the children.  In an email this week she wrote: “Thank you so much for your effort to raise money for food. We are doing our part here by planting as much as possible in the space that our yard
allows.

The girls are showing signs of malnutrition. Because I am the school barber, I have noticed the hair of these girls has become brittle and actually changes color from the normal blackto a rust color and their hair is actually thinning and falling out. Belliesare distended. We have all noticed this is becoming more prevalent, especially with the younger girls in classes 3 and 4. The girls tire more easily and fall asleep in classes when this rarely happened before. Doctors are sending back reports from hospital when girls are taken there that they are anemic. I know Fr. Riwa is doing all he can. But we are very worried.”

A special Food Campaign has been started to assist the children. ANYONE WISHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPECIAL FOOD FUND CAN SEND A CHECK TO ‘FRIENDS OF KENYAN ORPHANS’ (920 BERKSHIRE ROAD, GROSSE POINTE, MI 48230) or send a donation on PayPal through this website.

The multi year drought in East Africa has resulted in famine in Kenya and hunger is knocking at the door of St. Clare and the Children’s Village.  Fr.Riwa could see this coming and took drastic action months ago by cutting meal portions in half in an attempt to make the little they had last longer and planting every possible inch of land.  When the crops failed to yield the expected amount of food, this week Fr. Riwa reported he has run out of options. “You cannot believe it that these days I have been disturbed because of the food crisis. I have borrowed funds from my friends to buy food as I cannot send the children away. I have a very big responsibility but I know that God will not abandon me. Yesterday I looked at the children and asked myself why I ever started this project. There is not enough food and the children have no clothes. I pray that the Lord touches the people of good will to come to our aid.”

A special Food Campaign has been started to assist the children. ANYONE WISHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPECIAL FOOD FUND CAN SEND A CHECK TO ‘FRIENDS OF KENYAN ORPHANS’ (920 BERKSHIRE ROAD, GROSSE POINTE, MI 48230) or send a donation on PayPal through this website.