Volunteers with Farmers Helping Farmers are grateful to be back in Kenya, after the longest travel break in the organization’s 40+ year history. The first trip in November 2022 was the organization’s first trip to Kenya since March 2020 when travel was restricted because of COVID-19. Farmers Helping Farmers volunteers Judy Loo, Wendy MacDonald, Ken and Teresa Mellish visited partners and projects, along with the group’s staff who have been supporting the work of FHF on the ground in Kenya through the pandemic.

They witnessed firsthand the impact of the worst drought in decades on the women’s groups, farmers, dairies, and schools that are the partners of Farmers Helping Farmers.“It was tough to see hungry children,” said Teresa Mellish, one of the founding members of the PEI-based nonprofit.

“However, it was great that we could help them over Christmas, by keeping the school feeding program open during the holiday period.” FHF president Judy Loo said it was a moving but important testimonial to the realities of life in rural Kenya during the drought.

“It brought home the importance of FHF’s work as we saw the difference between those we have been working with, and those with whom we have not yet begun,” Loo said. “We are making a difference, and we can improve the lives of many more people by providing water tanks, grow bags, seed, fuel-efficient stoves and solar lights, as well as training, to more women and their families.”

Farmers Helping Farmers has won awards for its work in Kenya. The group’s goal is to assist Kenyan farmers in becoming more self-reliant in agricultural food production, and work with dairies, women’s groups, schools and farmers. Their recent 2022 Holiday Campaign raised almost $90,000 in support for FHF projects in Kenya. A poultry program offered by FhF is getting fresh eggs to Kenyan families. A donation of $85 provides five chickens. Another donation was milk for 10 school children for three months, for $150. For some children, the porridge and stew that they have at school will be their only meals for the day.

More delegations of FHF volunteers will travel to Kenya in 2023. The Donkey Project is an exciting new FHF project underway in Kenya. They are trying to develop a prototype harness on one donkey. The harness will balance the load and make the donkey teams more efficient and comfortable. The project is being led by Dr. Martha Mellish, a volunteer veterinarian with Farmers Helping Farmers.

Read the blog here. Learn more about them at farmershelpingfarmers.com. Follow them on social media at #peikenya2023, they can be found on Facebook (FHF channel, FHF Kenya channel), Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.