A Kenyan aid worker has visited a church in Newtownabbey to inspire 80 churchgoers to raise money to help reduce poverty and malnutrition in her country’s capital, Nairobi.
Purity Osumba, Programme and Partnership Coordinator at Christian Aid Kenya, was the guest of honour at a Christian Aid Ireland supporter conference at Carnmoney Presbyterian Church on 14 March. At the conference, Purity described the impact of a project she manages which is helping low-income families to grow food in ‘kitchen gardens’ – enough to feed their families and surplus to sell for an income.
The Christian Aid supported project takes place in the Dagoretti neighbourhood of Nairobi where almost 300,000 people live in makeshift corrugated tin huts, often without running water, toilets or waste disposal. Most people in the area earn less than a dollar a day and many families struggle to properly feed their children. The kitchen garden project allows families to grow vegetables on rooftops and in small city plots.
The Christian Aid supporters at the conference were drawn from churches across Northern Ireland where they coordinate fundraising events such as coffee mornings, bake sales and sponsored walks. The conference was held in preparation for Christian Aid Week, which runs from 10-16 May and is the charity’s main fundraising campaign.
One of those to benefit from Christian Aid’s Nairobi project is Fridah Moraa, a widow who is the sole breadwinner for her 13-year-old twin boys, her adult daughter and her 4-year-old grandson. Since joining Christian Aid’s project, Fridah is making the most of a small space in the city to grow a steady supply of fresh produce that she can cook for her family or sell on her market stall. Fridah said: “Urban farming has changed my life.”
Purity Osumba thanked everyone who came along to Carnmoney Presbyterian Church to hear about the impact of their fundraising. She said: “I’m so grateful to Christian Aid’s supporters across Northern Ireland for the fundraising they do. It’s because of them that mothers who once struggled to put food on their children’s plates are now cooking healthy meals, filling hungry tummies and even putting a little money aside for their children’s education.”
Jennifer Cairnduff of St John’s Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church in south Belfast was among those who attended the event. She said: “It was wonderful to hear directly from Purity about the work she’s doing to help people who struggle every day to put a meal on the table for their children. It’s shocking to hear that so many families live without running water or toilets, but we feel encouraged to know that our fundraising is helping parents to grow healthy food – enough to cook and surplus to sell for some extra money.”
For more information or to make a donation, please visit caweek.ie
