At Hope to Live Kenya, we believe that access to nutritious food is a basic human right. However, many vulnerable and marginalized communities in Kenya face significant challenges in accessing adequate and nutritious food, leading to poor health outcomes and chronic malnutrition. That’s why we work to improve food security and nutrition among these communities by providing education, resources, and support to promote healthy eating habits and sustainable food systems. Through our programs and partnerships, we aim to empower communities to take control of their food security and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families.
The ability of Kenyan government to manage food security has been welcomed by many challenges crippling its capacity to deal with impact of the ongoing climatic change results. Article 3 of National Food and Nutrition Policy has stated the assurance of the Government there shall be a safe and high quality food available to all Kenyans.
This has become a challenge and unfulfilled as there has not been sufficient creation of public awareness on relevant food security issues by setting, promoting and enforcing appropriate guidelines and regulatory frameworks.
The vulnerable population have mostly been affected by the the high food prices, for example the price of maize has risen significantly by 30 – 90 percent in most regions in Kenya – IPC Kenya Acute Food Insecurity 2022 reports.
As the country continue experiencing poor rainfalls, the production of food has been low rendering the vulnerable communities at the mercy of the Government to provide sufficient food.
Our Response
Smart Agricultural Interventions
Introducing smart agricultural interventions, such as vertical gardens, is an effective way to improve food and nutrition security among vulnerable elderly persons and their families.
Conduct a needs assessment to understand the specific needs and challenges faced by the targeted households. we do this through conducting surveys, focus groups, or other forms of community engagement to gather information about their current food and nutrition situation, as well as their knowledge and capacity to implement smart agricultural interventions.
We develop a training program to help households learn how to implement vertical gardens and other smart agricultural interventions. The program is be tailored to the specific needs and capacities of the households, and is delivered in a way that is accessible and engaging.
In addition to training, households may need access to resources such as seeds, soil, and other materials to set up their vertical gardens, which we provide. As always, we work with local partners to provide these resources, and also provide ongoing support and guidance to help households maintain their gardens and overcome any challenges they may face.
Smart agricultural interventions can help elderly persons and their families to produce their own food, increase their income, and improve their nutrition and food security, while also promoting sustainable and resilient agricultural practices, as such we intend to promote the following practices in our target households, bearing in mind that the are majorly to be done by the elderly persons
- Vertical gardening
- Container Gardening
- Composting
- Raised bed gardening
- Agroforestry among others
Educating on nutrition
Educating the community on nutrition is an important step in improving food and nutrition security.
To do this, we developed a nutrition education program that is tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by the targeted households. The program is evidence-based and culturally appropriate, and takes into account factors such as food preferences, cooking skills, and local food systems.
We work with local partners such as community health workers, to deliver the nutrition education program. These partners can helps to ensure that the program is delivered in a way that is accessible and engaging, and can also provide ongoing support and guidance to households as they implement the nutrition recommendations.
In addition to providing nutrition education, we see the need to address underlying challenges that may be preventing households from accessing and consuming nutritious foods. These challenges mostly include lack of access to markets or transportation, high food prices, or limited availability of healthy foods in the local food system.
We however strive to work with local partners to address these challenges
Climate Change Advocacy
Advocating against climate change activities is also an important step in improving food and nutrition security
We raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on food and nutrition security among vulnerable elderly persons and their families. This involves sharing information about the effects of climate change on crop yields, food prices, and food availability, as well as the increased risk of natural disasters such as droughts and floods.
We mobilize stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society organizations, and the broader community, to take action on climate change. This involves advocating for policies and programs that support climate resilience and adaptation, as well as raising public awareness about the importance of addressing climate change.
We as well promote sustainable agricultural practices that help to mitigate the effects of climate change. This is through promoting agroecology, which is an approach to farming that emphasizes the use of ecological principles to design and manage agricultural systems. Agroecology can help to build resilience to climate change by improving soil health, conserving water, and increasing biodiversity.
We support target households who are small-scale farmers. They are often the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We provide training and resources to help them implement sustainable agricultural practices, as well as advocating for policies that support small-scale farmers and their communities.
Food donation drive
Implementing a food donation drive is another one way to improve food and nutrition security among vulnerable elderly persons and their families.
We work with local partners, such as community organizations, to identify the specific food needs of vulnerable elderly persons and their families. This involves conducting a needs assessment to determine the types and quantities of food needed, as well as any specific dietary requirements or preferences.
We then develop a food donation program that is tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by the targeted households. The program is designed to provide a regular and reliable source of nutritious food, and should take into account factors such as the availability of local food resources, the capacity of local partners, and the preferences of the beneficiaries.
Our target
- Improve good eating habits and combat malnutrition
- Improve household income to enable the targeted households afford proper meals
Periodically feed vulnerable households through food donation drive
Other programs