Counting on El Niño

According to our old friend and colleague Tiff Harris, Kenyans are eagerly -- and anxiously -- awaiting the arrival of next month's rains following one of the worst droughts in recent memory. The problem, he writes, is likely to affect all Kenyans, both rural and urban. Harris is based in Nairobi and writes widely on the subjects of agriculture, environment and development. He can be reached at t.harris@cgiar.org.

Millions of farmers and pastoralists in Kenya are counting heavily on El Niño rains that, according to meteorologists, should arrive in October. The projected rains are desperately needed to stave off further widespread hunger in rural areas across the country, but especially in the exceedingly dry north and northeast zones where crops have failed completely and livestock have dropped to about 30% of their usual numbers. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 10% of the country’s population – about 3.5 million Kenyans – is already at risk of starvation because of drought over the past few years.

At the beginning of 2009, the lingering effects of the persistent drought were made much worse by major social unrest caused by a disputed presidential election. Many farmers in the Rift Valley, Kenya’s traditional breadbasket, missed an entire planting season, and the government now projects that its stores of maize are sufficient to last only one more month. WFP is struggling to meet the rapidly growing needs for emergency food in the region and, if the rains fail again in Kenya, starvation could threaten as many as 6 million people in the coming months, an estimated 70% of them women and children.

Ironically, in the midst of the worst drought in decades, recent headlines in local papers are trumpeting the government’s swift actions to prepare for severe floods expected in October. Those actions are no doubt necessary, but steps to “harvest” as much rainfall as possible should complement them. Three days ago, a small article appeared in local papers alerting Nairobi residents that, if the October rains fail, they can look forward to continued water and power rationing until April of next year – at which point the reservoirs that supply the largest city in East Africa with water and hydropower will run dry.

Time For School: Must-See-TV

The award-winning documentary Time for School returns to Public Television in the United States on Wednesday, September 2 at 9 PM Eastern time with visits to classrooms in seven countries, including the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Statistics provided by the filmmaker are chilling: more than a hundred million children are currently out of school, two-thirds are girls, and one in four children does not complete five years of basic education. As a result there are nearly one billion illiterate adults - one-sixth of the world's population.

Are Women’s Rights the Cause of Our Time?

The New York Times Sunday Magazine seems to think so. Yesterday’s entire issue was devoted to women in development. In an excerpt from their new book, Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn say that the liberation of women could solve many of the world’s problems, from poverty to child mortality to terrorism. The African Childrens Haven board agrees with that sentiment and places a high priority on programs that benefit women and girls. Read more:

What Should We Do About Sticking?

An African Childrens Haven Associate recently returned from Africa concerned that teachers in one of the schools we support routinely hit the children. The school’s policy prohibits corporal punishment, but the policy is openly ignored. As we understand it, so-called sticking is mainly confined to a wrap on the hand and is a standard practice across larges parts of the Continent. African Childrens Haven does not have a policy on corporal punishment, but our board will discuss the matter at its September meeting. The question is how far do we go? Should we deny funding to schools where corporal punishment is practiced or should we find a middle ground? Cutting off funding to a school that is otherwise doing a good job seems extreme and would hurt the children. Is there a middle ground? Ideas?

MSNBC Highlights Plight of Nairobi Slum Kids

Andrea Mitchell’s recent report on the plight of kids living in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum, is a must-see for anyone interested in the well-being of African children. The story focuses on a primary school for local orphans, nearly 40 percent of whom are HIV positive. African Childrens Haven support a similar school in Mathare, Nairobi’s second largest slum. The plight of children in Mathare is all-too-similar to what Mitchell describes and the need is equally urgent. See a video about the work being done at St. Phillips.

Texas Journaling Group Supports Tanzanian Orphans

Dody Stovall

A local women’s journaling group, the Flamingos, is supporting orphan girls in Tanzania who have shown a talent for science and math. Thanks to the Flamingos, five girls will receive a Twirligirli gown in recognition of being selected for a secondary school science scholarship.

“The idea is to make sure that the girls know that someone cares about them,” says Twirligirli founder Cathy Stovall. The gowns were donated in memory of Stovall’s mother, Dody Stovall (pictured here on her 57th wedding anniversary).

“She loved my Twirligirli business and encouraged and inspired me to continue my mission of bringing cheerful twirls to girls through colorful, playful gowns.” Stovall adds. “Many times, she sewed finishing touches to the gowns with her loving hands. They carry her goodness and sweetness and are dedicated to her.” Learn more about Twirligirli.