Planting a Better Future

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a major threat to the economic security of everyday families in Kenya. Partial lockdowns and travel restrictions have impacted various sectors of the economy, including agriculture, transport, tourism, and the entertainment industry—resulting in job loss, increased food prices, and slowed markets. Add to the challenges of the pandemic, the impact of changing weather patterns that have resulted in periods of drought, more and more Kenyans are finding themselves pushed into food insecurity.

Through World Renew, Chrispinus Omoit, a father of seven, has been part of Canadian Foodgrains Bank Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture (SUCA) project. In its mission to end global hunger, the Foodgrains Bank recognizes that communities struggling with food insecurity need long-term solutions. With this in mind, Canadian Foodgrains Bank provides vulnerable farmers training in conservation agriculture so families can sustainably grow food.

Before joining the program, Chrispinus annually harvested two 90kg bags of grain. After implementing conservation agriculture practices he began to see a gradual increase in productivity. By September 2020, in the midst of COVID, and the fifth season of Chrispinus using conservation agriculture methods, he had increased his harvest to fourteen bags of grain!

Buoyed by the knowledge that trying new things can yield rewards, Chrispinus explored additional economic opportunities. He invested in a sewing machine and fabrics for around $130 USD, and used his free time to make reusable face masks. Because many in his community could not afford to purchase surgical masks, he sold his masks at $0.20 USD and trained others on COVID-19 guidelines. He yields a monthly income of $300 USD from his masks.

He also ventured into liquid soap making, earning a monthly income of $80 USD.

Because of these economic opportunities, Chrispinus has been able to feed his family amidst the pandemic and pay for his children’s school fees. He has also shared the mask making opportunity with other members of the training program and they too are now engaged in mask production as an enterprise. Chrispinus sharing this blessing with others is a true sign of God’s transformative work in this community!

Join us for Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday. With your gift you can help more families to journey away from hunger and share Christ’s hope in more communities like Chrispinus’. And, because of World Renew’s unique partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank, your gift towards ending hunger can be matched up to 4X!

To find out more about Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday, access our church resources, or watch our newest “Ending Hunger” video, go to worldrenew.ca/food.

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