Right now, people everywhere are suffering because of COVID-19 and in my home country, Kenya, kids are going hungry every day. The nation is in semi-lockdown, and with schools and businesses closed, and strict social distancing rules in place, many families are finding themselves with literally no way of earning a living. 

My colleague Zoe is a co-founder of Nakuru Children’s Project — an NGO that in ‘normal’ times helps vulnerable children in Nakuru, Kenya to receive a quality education. They provide free school meals, build classrooms, and sponsor children to attend school. But right now, the families they work with are severely struggling. 

Ann is one of the girls who usually receives free school meals from their kitchen — and is now going hungry at home without food. Ann's father is a stonemason, and usually works on construction sites to earn a living — earning as little as R45 (250 KES) per day. For Ann's family, even 'normal' times are extremely tough, with the family living day-to-day.

Ann used to spend her lunch break begging other children for food as there simply wasn't enough money at home. And now — if it's possible — the situation is even worse. All building jobs are on pause, leaving Ann's father with no work at all, and the family completely without an income. This means they have no money to buy food, soap or other basic necessities.

Nakuru Children’s Project has been providing emergency packages, including food, soap, and other hygiene essentials, to Ann and the other families they work with to make sure they don’t go hungry, and to reduce the spread of coronavirus. But they need more funds to keep going. 

That’s why I have gathered five fierce colleagues — Carina, Didi, Thato, Refentse and I — to help on this initiative. Together, we’re going to run 300kms this month to try to raise R30,000 (approx. 171,500 KES) towards the basic needs of Ann, her family and others affected at this time. If we hit our goal, this will be enough to feed at least 120 families. 

It costs R235 (KES 1,300) to provide one family with enough supplies to last around two weeks. Any contribution would be enormously appreciated, knowing this is a tough time for everyone. 

Thank you for your participation in this cause.

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Nakuru Children's Project is managed entirely by volunteers, so 100% of public donations received go to our projects.