Covid-19 and flooding crisis in Kenya

Urgent Appeal! Aniga Women Kenya. Please donate now

We urgently need your help to provide support to our partners the Aniga Women in Kenya as they cope with the effects of COVID-19. They are already most at risk from coronavirus, particularly as they are mainly widows who are HIV Positive. 

The curfew and lockdown in Kenya made it difficult for them to generate income. On top of that, the area has been hit by extensive rain and flooding. They are desperate for your support.

Global Footsteps has already donated to our partners, so please join us in donating.

Although cases of the COVID-19 virus in Kenya are largely confined to Nairobi and Mombasa at the moment, our partners the Aniga Women are facing severe difficulties. With social distancing and a nightly curfew being strictly enforced, their income has dried up. Many of them are widows with a high incidence of HIV infection which makes them vulnerable to the virus. To add to their problems, a prolonged period of heavy rain has resulted in Lake Victoria bursting its banks and severe flooding, leaving many families homeless.

We have launched this appeal to provide urgent help to the families and the community where they live at this time. The charity has already sent £1,500, and is hoping to raise another £3,500 as quickly as possible to help with their immediate needs.

Aniga Women

We aim to build links between our town and communities in other parts of the world, with a focus on sustainability and education. To that end we have a long-established partnership with the Aniga Women’s Community Based Organization in Kisumu county, Kenya. We have provided funding to help them to make energy efficient cookstoves and briquettes made from agricultural waste, ensuring they have more efficient and healthy cooking equipment in their local community, and an income derived from selling the products to other communities.

Current Situation

The women are widows with a high incidence of HIV infection and the sole bread winners for their families. Any exposure to the virus makes them especially vulnerable, and some are not able to go to their jobs because of the curfew. At the best of times, they live a hand to mouth existence but they are currently lacking resources to provide even the basics of food. Apart from social distancing, there is also a requirement to wash hands regularly with soap and water. Of course this is very important, but access to a water supply in the rural area where they live is not easy.

They need hand washing tanks, liquid soap and face masks to help address the COVID-19 situation. In addition, 10 of the women have lost their homes due to the flooding. In due course the community will help them to rebuild, but now they need mattresses, mosquito nets and blankets, as well as food.

The Aniga Women CEO will buy sacks of rice, beans, sugar, corn, as well as cooking oil to support their members made homeless. Our Foodloose customers will recognize those products - when buying your own supplies, why not donate the equivalent to the Aniga Women? They desperately need your help.