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The people of Turkana, Kenya have endured a prolonged drought. Hunger and scarcity are on the rise and so too are feelings of hopelessness – especially for those living with a disability.

Wheelchair-bound Simon Lochor Amojong, a married father of three children, was born and raised in Shanti Village in Turkana South. A self-taught beader, Simon relied on what he earned making and selling shanga (necklaces) to support his family. But he did not earn enough to meet his family’s basic needs–and as the drought grew worse, so too did his financial woes. Eventually, Simon’s family left him and he began to depend entirely on his neighbours for survival. He shares, “I lived hand-to-mouth as the little I got from my beading was not enough for my very basic needs … my shanga-making business would barely bring me 100 KES ($1.10 CAD) per day.”

When World Renew implemented a food distribution program in Turkana, with funding from Canadian Foodgrain Bank, Simon saw this as God sent. The program, focused on supporting people living with disabilities, the elderly, orphans, and the most vulnerable, provided beneficiaries with 50 kilograms of sifted maize flour, 10 kg of beans, 3 litres of vegetable oil, and 0.5 kg of table salt monthly for a period of 9 months.

The food support was what Simon needed to lift his spirits and restore his hope for the future–there was enough to feed his family and he rejoiced when his children and wife returned home. Then, with the guidance of the program staff, Simon began to focus on his potential. He began to grow maize, tomatoes, cowpeas, and other crops on a half acre of irrigated land that he had left unattended. And he revived his shanga business. Now, with the money he earns from farming and shanga sales he is able to support his family, including paying for school fees for his children and buying school uniforms and household necessities. Simon says, “This project brought hope to my life.”

• Thank God for the gender and social inclusion workshop which was conducted in Tanzania in late 2022. It was a great opportunity to learn and test the gender and social inclusion tools in the communities that we work.
• Pray that 2023 will bring the calming of weather systems so farmers can experience more bountiful harvests across East Africa. Pray too that food prices will stabilize and hunger levels will decrease.
• Praise God that World Renew programs are proceeding well in spite of the long drought in Kenya. We are finding new opportunities to strengthen our current programs and make them more integrated, holistic, and with long-term impact.