NECOFA Kenya

 

 

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Empowering local communities to achieve food and nutrition security in a sustainable way and with social dignity is one of the key missions of Necofa.  Household food security requires that a household has access to enough quality and culturally acceptable food for all people in the home throughout the year. The right to quality food is a human right. 

While many Kenyan families are struggling with challenges of poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, families affected by HIV/AIDS are more prone and vulnerable. They are faced with extra responsibility of taking care and feeding the infected person(s) who also require even more nutritional attention. Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS are synergetic and together create vicious cycle that additively weakens the immune system. 

Necofa and Slow Food Central Rift Convivium thus decided to conduct a survey in Molo  district to better understand the food and nutrition security situation of families affected by  HIV/AIDS, and identify ways to improve their current situation.  The survey team was led by Pascale Brevet Student of the Master in Food Culture and Communication, University of Gastronomic Sciences, Colorno (Italy).

Nutrition and HIV/AIDS is not only about the impoverishment of affected families resulting in the decline in food security. Food and nutrition interventions are critical components of a comprehensive response to the HIV pandemic. HIV compromises the nutritional status of infected individuals, and malnutrition in turn can worsen the effects of the disease. Nutrition interventions can help break this cycle by helping people living with HIV manage symptoms, reduce susceptibility to opportunistic infections, improve nutritional status, promote response to medical treatment, and improve overall quality of life. 

The impact of diet on medication is complex. Food can enhance or inhibit the absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion of medication. Sometimes it is a matter of when the food is eaten, other times it is the content of the food itself. The type of food can also influence the effectiveness of a drug. Some foods will decrease the absorption of a given drug; others will increase it. The same is true for dietary supplements, including herbal remedies and tradional medicines.

A strategy  to accelerate mainstreaming of nutritional interventions in HIV/AIDS policies and programs is required. This translates in the following two-folded approach: 

• Sensitizing policymakers about the critical role that food and nutrition security plays.
• Advancing nutrition and HIV/AIDS as a priority on the health agenda; identifying nutrition interventions for integration into HIV/AIDS policies and programs, and incorporating HIV/AIDS in food and nutrition policies and programs. 

Through agricultural  training, food preservation, value-addition creation, and business management skills, we  believe we’ll be able to provide the tools necessary to these families to improve their food and nutrition situation, as well as livelihood in general. “Don’t give me fish, teach me how to fish” remains the most sustainable, as well as dignifying, answer to the problems families affected by HIV/AIDS are faced with.

After the Molo River survey was completed, and the lead organizations discussed the outcomes, they decided to invite like minded stake holders to a two days planning workshop  to  brainstorm on a campaign project to save Molo River. The main objectives of the workshop were;

• To provide participants with basic campaign skills, identify roles and responsibilities they will undertake during the campaign to save Molo River.
• To facilitate participants develop a plan to undertake a campaign to save Molo River.

At the end of the workshop the participants had acquired skills in campaigning and they understood individual and collective roles and responsibilities during the campaign to save molo river. They also developed a comprehensive plan to save molo river.

 

One of Necofa’s thematic area of interventions is environment and biodiversity conservation. Intervention on environment has been necessitated to evolve local conservation measures that are sustainable, respect and consider local potentials and abilities including social and cultural issues. 

It is on this background that the Molo River survey initiative was identified as a priority intervention area.

NECOFA in collaboration with Maendeleo Endelevu Programme (MEAP) and Friends of Kenya Schools and Wildlife ( FKSW) conducted Molo river survey. 

The survey was carried out by two University students (Wilson Mwangi, Maseno Univerity in kenya and Gabriel Olson, Gonzaga University in USA)  who were on attachment with Necofa. The survey was carried out in June and July 2009

The survey objective was to undertake baseline survey for Molo River to establish status in terms of challenges faced on environment and livelihoods.

The survey identified key challenges facing Molo River along upper, middle and lower catchments, which includes;

•  Massive destruction of water catchment area and river riparian.
• Encroachment of the river riparian.
• poor perception on farm forestry.
• Prosopis invasion.
• Planting of Eucalyptus trees.
• Charcoal burning among others.

Having completed the survey successfully,  the conducting organizations laid down strategies on how to deal with the challenges arising.

In late September the staff of Necofakenya took students from  Michinda Primary School For Boys in Elburgon to spend a day with students at a school in Kisumu for children with hearing impairments and physical disabilities. Like Michinda, the Kisumu students have a school garden project, and the Michinda boys learned how students with disabilities participate in garden project activities. Afterwards, all students were treated to a boat ride and fishing lessons on Lake Victoria, and then enjoyed a fish lunch. The purpose of these visits was “to provide students with opportunities to meet children from other ethnic communities and to broaden their horizons of knowledge through intercultural dialogue and interact with youth from different social-cultural backgrounds.” These goals are achieved by students sharing their knowledge and experience in school gardens and celebrating the benefits of their gardens by eating together; by  learning that disability is not inability; and  by integrating sports in fostering interactions. In another exchange visit, students from Kiambiriria and Mukinyai Primary Schools in Molo visited  Michinda to learn about their school garden activities, including their chicken project supported by FKSW. They watched a video and ate lunch together after which they were entertained and played a rousing game of tug-of-war. For students who may not have many opportunities to visit other communities and meet students who share the same interests, these exchange days are most memorable!

The Director of Necofakenya  was invited by their partners; Friends of Kenya School and Wild life, (FKSW), from Eugene ,Oregon as a special guest during the Swahili Soiree, FKSW’s first ever celebration and fund raiser. He was there to talk about the situation in Africa and the ways in which FKSW and Necofakenya work together to address the challenges.

 

“I thank the organizers of this event for according me the opportunity to participate and to share our experiences. Before talking about our work, I wish to briefly explain what the African person is. He is a product of many historical injustices including slavery,  colonialism, an education system that despised our traditional knowledge systems, religion that demonized African culture, including food culture,  and post colonial mismanagement, conflicts and turmoil. The resultant product is a disoriented and disorganized people vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.”

“To many ordinary people in Africa, including Kenya, gaining independence from colonialists and making the transition to African leadership only marked the change of  “The Master” from white domination and exploitation to black leaders doing the same or worse.  The colonialist introduced political and governance systems that ignored local communities’ leadership and governance systems and structures. Post independent African leaders adapted and  continued the colonialists approach to leadership and governance and after independence their allegiance has been to the colonial masters and their own greed, thereby denying citizens the opportunity to define themselves and their priorities. Many of these leaders were sons and daughters of collaborators to colonial rulers (chiefs, religious, etc.) and had access to education. To these leaders, independence meant ascent to the coveted position of Bwana Kubwa (Big Man) and amassing wealth.”

“In Kenya for example, the colonial constitution meant to “tame the servant” still rules and guides the country after over 40 years of independence. For ease in governing, the leadership controlled people’s access to information and perfected the divide and rule (on ethnic lines) policy that denied people knowledge of their rights, responsibilities and what to expect of their government and leaders. Representatives of Western governments and remnants of colonial families have been comfortable with the status quo and the message to the outside world has been Kenya is a haven of peace amid turmoil in rest of Africa. In the period after independence more Kenyans and Africa generally gained access to education and interacted with outside world and gradually the clamor for more democratization and equitable distribution of resources gained momentum. Civil society movements grew and people became more knowledgeable on their rights and responsibility and demanded more accountability of their leaders. Unfortunately this almost sudden realization of themselves, how much they have been exploited and considering they are young and inexperienced in democratic governance have been overwhelming. Hence the disorganization and confusion during electioneering and the rich ruling elite continue clinging to power. These are the teething problems and price of long-abused society eventually emancipating itself.” 

 “Partnership between Network for Ecofarming in Africa (NecofaKenya) and Friends of Kenya Schools and Wildlife (FKSW) aims at empowering communities to rediscover themselves and their rich social, cultural and ecological heritage and to reclaim their confidence, dignity and pride. This approach emphasizes to the target community that they are responsible of their own development and destiny. It respects people’s cultural heritage and integrates science with indigenous knowledge. It is site specific and unique in each situation. We don’t believe in “copy” and “paste” prescriptions or the notion that what works in one part of the world must work in another. Every situation should be analyzed and options for intervention assessed and decided on with the target. The initiative is holistic in approach recognizing that in addressing education we need to think about food and nutrition for students and family etc. It is slow process that calls for patience and does not involve “quick fix” solutions.”

 “My appeal to you good people of America: Please don’t just donate your money, get involved!  If you come to Kenya or anywhere near East Africa, please make a point of visiting us and our projects to ascertain that your donations are utilized for intended purpose.” 

As part of UNISG’s unique educational design, students participate in a series of study trips, or stages,taking them out of the classroom and into direct contact with the people and places where food is made. Because gastronomy incorporates science, theory, and human relations, this learning experience is key to a complete, contextualized understanding of the subject.
Study trips give students the chance to learn about food production—from scientific theory to traditional techniques—directly from farmers and producers, processors and chefs. The innovative model is a key moment in the UNISG education, during which facts and practice are synthesized into knowledge.
This format also incorporates learning about the wide range of material culture and food systems of the world, of the traditions and history connected to food, and of how value is added to primary ingredients through their transformation into high-quality products. Within this context,  numerous issues around culture, health and well-being, and biodiversity are addressed, as well as environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

In September, Necofa hosted 14 students from Unisg  together with their tutor who arrived in Kenya geared for their study trip on Kenyan food culture, food production environment,  lifestyles, etc. The students spent 10 days, travelling around the towns and villages in Kenya. They visited the Kenya meat commission where they learnt all the stages of meat processing from the slaughtering stage to packaging, they travelled to Kiambu  to visit a farmer who practices sustainable Agriculture through organic farming, while in Kiambu they had the opportunity to savour the popular nyama choma goat ribs, kikuyu traditional brew which they all liked very much. They visited Keroche Industries one of the local kenyan breweries, where they  learnt about the summit beer production, they visited Kiptagich tea factory, they learnt about tea production, processing, packaging and marketing, they had lunch together with the community members living around the area and they were very happy to mingle with the locals. Homabay was their next stop, they visited Clepp  organization where they learnt about peanut butter production and value addition of different food products. They also got an opportunity to visit Kisumu city,  ndunga beach, and discuss about fishing in Kenya with the fishermen, they danced to traditional luo dances. Having come from different parts of the world, most of the students didn’t know the primary material for sugar, so they were excited when they got to Muhoroni sugar factory, where they learnt about sugar cane growing, harvesting and processing. 

Kenya is known for its beautiful wildlife and parks, so the students also got  a break from their usual program to visit the Maasai mara national park before their return journey to Italy.

Dear Friends, Collegues and Well wishers,

Check out the following link, and kindly donate towards our cause for a  better environment and an informed young generation.

PLANT 19,500 TREES IN 6 SCHOOLS IN MOLO KENYA – GlobalGiving

 

Dear  Collegues, Friends,

We the Necofa team are inviting you to join us in voting for our initiative  as we compete on the changemakers competition among other finalists. We would like to raise awareness about our work and get an opportunity to be recognized as a changemaker winner by investors, thought leaders and enthusiasts. So, join us now in voting!!!

Online voting to select the three competition winners begins on 5 August 2009 and closes on 19 August 2009. The three finalists to receive the most votes will be declared winners on 26 August 2009, and each will receive a prize of US $5000.

 Let’s vote now!!!!!  

http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/node/20705/finalists

They say all work and no play makes one a dull  person, hence Necofa decided to offer its staff and two American students on attachment with the organization an adventure trip to the Maasai Mara national reserve. It was awesome to watch the animals in the mara fields, the carnivores feeding on the herbivorous, the American friends  were eager to see the big five group of animals, and they finally got a big six the elegant lady giraffe. What was suprising though is the state of the mara river. We   did realise that this year’s migration across the near dry Mara River has once again reaffirmed the need to conserve ecological processes that sustain our ecosystems; their aesthetics and economic value . The low water volume in Mara River is ostensibly due to the prolonged drought.  However it’s also due to continued destruction of its main catchment in the Mau Forest in Central Rift over which there has been vicious debate without concrete action from the government. We need no other sign of what the country stands to lose should we lose this forest. This has implied less drama and thrill for thousands of safari enthusiasts booked in the mara this season mainly to watch the migration.

 

On a philosophical note, is crossing the river of any advantage to the wildebeests? Might they be having a field day crossing a dry river bed.

“Watching great herds of wildebeest “cross” the Mara River without even getting their hooves wet really brought home the imminence of the tragedy this country is facing.” Gabe’s quote.

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