Mother of 3 Fights Food Insecurity in Kenya Community

Meet Eunice, a wife and a mother of 3.

Eunice and her husband live in the Western part of Kenya. They are a part of the CHE (Community Health Evangelism) program there. By looking at her age, you may be surprised to learn that she is caring for young children. Eunice’s story is one that truly reflects what a healthy home is like… one where Jesus lives.

Eunice has a beautiful and productive garden, one of the many things she has learned from being part of the CHE program. However, what really stands out about her garden is that it is relatively large compared to those of her neighbors. When she first started her garden it was very small. She was content because it would provide the needed vegetables for her family. Later, Eunice realized she had a great resource around her. Her farm touches the edge of a seasonal river that passes through the community. She realized she could upscale her farm produce, and more so during the dry season when food insecurity becomes a problem in her community.

With the knowledge she learned from CHE, she expanded her garden and diversified her farm produce. The expansion provided extra income for her family as she began selling crops in the market. All this change was motivated by the need to take care of her children and to help others in her community. Her older daughter has a disability. The younger one was rescued, having been abandoned at birth.

Eunice said, “I learned from the CHE lesson on worldview that we cannot base our beliefs on the harmful cultural norms of our community. If your home is peaceful, and God has provided for you, then extend your hand to those around you with compassion.”

Eunice’s story is an inspiration. It’s a true reflection of the vulnerable restored and joining in the mission of restoring others. It’s a testimony of the love of Christ manifested in our daily lives.

Food insecurity exists in many areas of the world. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations gives the following report in regard to food scarcity.

“After remaining virtually unchanged for five years, the prevalence of undernourishment increased from 8.4 percent in 2019 to around 9.9 percent in 2020, meaning that between 720 and 811 million people in the world faced hunger in 2020 – as many as 161 million more people than in 2019. Beyond hunger, the outlook is also discouraging. For the global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity, the estimated increase in 2020 was equal to that of the previous five years combined. Thus, nearly one in three people in the world (2.37 billion) did not have access to adequate food in 2020 – an increase of almost 320 million people in just one year. In the last ten years, the frequency and intensity of conflict, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns have increased significantly. The increased occurrence of these major drivers, often exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a rise in hunger and has undermined progress in reducing all forms of malnutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.” ¹

1.https://www.fao.org/3/cb4474en/online/cb4474en.html#chapter-3_0