In recent years, regions of East Africa have endured multiple failed rainy seasons, leaving millions of people facing acute food insecurity. One person navigating the impact is smallholder farmer Kadzo Kenga Safari, a single mother living in Kilifi County, Kenya.

Resilience in the Face of Setbacks

For Kadzo and many other farmers in Kilifi County, drought is only part of the challenge. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kadzo had been diligently implementing conservation agriculture methods she learned through World Renew’s programs. Her hard work paid off, producing bountiful harvests that provided her children with three nutritious meals a day.

When pandemic-related restrictions stalled markets, Kadzo’s progress was undone. With no reliable way to sell her produce, her income disappeared and her family’s situation became increasingly fragile. Ongoing global disruptions—from conflict to rising food prices—have only made recovery more difficult. Today, Kadzo often struggles to provide even one meal a day for her children.

“They don’t get enough food to eat,” she says. “This has affected their health and their performance in school.”

A Small Plot, A Growing Hope

Despite these challenges, Kadzo has not lost hope. She draws on knowledge she gained through kitchen gardening training. While drought has left much of her land dry and unproductive, she has carved out a small area with access to water. There, she grows tomatoes, kale, and okra—providing vital nourishment for her family.

“Long periods of drought really bring pain to communities and reverse the positive effects of the work we do,” explains Jenninah Kabiswa, Country Director for World Renew Kenya. “We will, however, continue to move in hope.”

For many families, that hope also comes through emergency food assistance distributed to the most vulnerable households across the region.

Standing Together for Lasting Change

The challenges facing communities like Kadzo’s are complex, shaped by climate change, economic pressures, and conflict. Yet stories like hers reflect both the urgency of the need and the resilience of those working to overcome it.

You can stand with families in East Africa as they work toward food security and renewed stability.
Please join us in praying for families impacted by conflict and climate change in East Africa:

• Pray for the rains to come and bring an end to the drought
• Pray that farmers will find ways to preserve and enrich their soil for stronger harvests
• Pray for peace in regions affected by conflict and for wisdom among leaders
• Pray for provision for families living with the threat of hunger
• Pray for the safety of those delivering humanitarian assistance

Together, we can nurture hope—one garden at a time.