Giving George a brighter future

Five-year-old George is destined for great things. Staff at the Pamoja Child Support Feeding Program in Kenya, believe so. They get to see first-hand the results of healthy and nourished children, just like George, doing well in school. 

And success in school leads children to better opportunities for becoming self-sustaining adults who one day may become leaders.

But life wasn’t always so positive for George. George is the youngest of five children. His father died in 2003 leaving George’s mother, Mary, to look after them. But with no source of income, Mary found it difficult to provide a stable home, nutritional food and regular care. Eventually, these circumstances left Mary with no choice but to move in with her parents and hope that somehow she would be able to feed her family.

Life in the parents’ home was unfortunately no better – with a daily income of less than 50 cents, cramped living quarters and two small meals a day that consisted mostly of starchy vegetables and lacked essential nutrients – George was at the edge of starvation. He struggled to grow and learn. 

But hope came to George when he was enrolled in the Pamoja Child Support Feeding Program.

At the local Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD), George and his siblings receive two nutritious meals, making it easier for their mother and grandparents to afford a nutritious dinner. The children also received de-worming and vitamin A supplements. 

As a result, George grew nearly half an inch in four months. Today George continues to grow, is participating in school activities and is a happy and healthy boy. 

With her children in the care of the ECD, Mary had more time to find work to support her family. Today she works in farming and also as a casual labourer. 

Both Mary and George’s grandmother received valuable education and support from ChildFund on health and nutrition to improve the quality of food they eat. And with ChildFund’s encouragement, George’s grandmother joined a savings and loan association to help boost the family’s economic capacity.