World Relief Kenya in Elections Crisis

WR Kenya in the Elections Crisis

Reach
In the midst of the chaos precipitated by results of the Kenya 2007 National Elections, World Relief was involved in the daunting task of assisting victims of the violence. World Relief was required to move promptly but strategically to enable help to reach as many of the affected persons as possible. More than 300,000 people were displaced and over 1,000 people lost their lives in the violence.

Respond
Within the four or five days of the beginning of the crisis, the National Alliance of Churches (NAC) was formed for a better and more coordinated response. Jean Paul was appointed 2nd chair of the NAC after two weeks.

Invest
World Relief embarked on the food distribution process, which catered to all who were in IDP camps and those in slum areas but “locked” in certain geographical zones of the slums because of prevailing ethnic hostilities. World Relief was assigned Dandora and Kibera slums while other partners catered to the Korogosho and Mathare slums.

A total of 2,897 tons of food were distributed to 97,191 families of an average of 6 persons each. The orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly and those living with HIV/AIDs were given first priority.

• The World Relief family regionally and internationally, in solidarity with the Kenya office, assisted in various ways. The World Relief Rwanda team, led by Country Director Phil Smith, came to assist with the emergency food distribution.
• In addition, Mark Smith, the WR International Disaster Response Director, arrived and trained 18 persons from different Nairobi churches on Disaster Response.
• Recently, WR trained 12 more pastors from the Nairobi Pentecostal Church. Karura Chapel's members have likewise received training which they have used as host to more than 200 IDP’s.

Peace Building
World Relief is working on Peace Building and Reconciliation initiatives together with other Christian agencies. Much money and effort have been invested in bringing together senior pastors and bishops for healing first nationally, and progressively more into the provinces.

• Meetings have been held in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. More will be held in Kakamega (Western Province), Eldoret and Nakuru in Rift Valley Province.
• To date 250 pastors have been reached in Mombasa, Kisumu, kakamega and Nairobi.
• World Relief is also working on a curriculum (together with other Christian agencies) for Healing and Reconciliation.

Mobilizing Youth for Life: " The Multiplier Effect"

Alex joined the World Relief MYFL program in 2005 as a volunteer with our partners in western Kenya, the Anglican Church of Kenya(ACK). When he signed up as a volunteer, he indicated that his strength and addition to the team would be to "help young people constructively abstain." Alex had just completed a course in Small, Medium Enterprises (SME) which is a micro-finance course that gives instructions on how to start small income generating activities.

As part of the Mobilizing Youth For Life (MYFL) program requirements for volunteers, Alex was trained by World Relief to use the Choose Life curriculum to engage youth in interactive sessions on issues of sexuality, abstinence and faithfulness in marriage. Eager to incorporate what he had learned, and with his own motto "I’ll never tell you to do something that I haven’t tried myself," Alex decided to use part of his $50 stipend (given to volunteers by the program for transport and meeting their needs). He bought chicken and maize seeds which he planted in his half-acre plot. Two years later, with proceeds from the chicken and the maize, he was able to buy a cow that produces milk.

Armed with this successful experience, Alex has shared with the youth he trains using the Choose Life curriculum. He realized that most of them were jobless and had no regular income. During the lessons, some of the concerns from the youth were that many engaged in irresponsible sexual behavior because they were idle. So they decided to get involved in income generating activities. After each lesson, they would discuss ways to start up something that would assist them. They all decided to contribute one chicken each. One of the parents donated land where they could start the chicken rearing activities. The group of 22 members now has plans of expansion and is working on different activities as individuals and as a group. The group is currently looking for more land to engage in farming activities. They have begun planting kale, which they project will earn them an income of slightly $1,500 dollars every three months.

The group is likewise keen on individual progression. They have begun what they call ‘table banking.’ This is a form of small loan service, which enables the group members to borrow start up capital for their business ventures. Alice is one of the beneficiaries of the table banking. She has started planting yams which she projects bring an income of $300 per quarter. She intends to pay school fees for herself with this income. Mary and Jane have begun a retail shop where they buy sugar and cooking oil in bulk to sell to the villagers in small quantities.