Saturday Feeding & Clean Water Program

Dear Friends,

Warm Greetings from St Martins School and the Kibagare community. It is our hope that you all are doing well in your respective countries and the summer break was kind to you all. We are grateful for the continued support since our last update in May, thanks to this support we have been able to continue with the school feeding and the Saturday feeding program.

We have had two school breaks in April and in August and most of our students are back in school and are continuing with their learning. A total of 867 children in our school are being fed everyday Monday through to Friday and we are still feedng on average 1500 children during the Saturday feeding program. This is thanks to the continued support in ensuring that our children needs are well catered for.

During the Saturday feeding programs since our last update we have been able to feed

• 4,303 meal served in June
• 6120 meals served in July
• August - School was closed though the impact was felt
• September 4005 meals were served.

A total of 14,428 meals were served from June to September. Most of the children served during the weekend feeding are forever grateful and always look forward to the same. We are always delighted by the joy in their faces and their sentiments each and every weekend.

The food situation in informal settlements and especially Kibagare where we are located is still worrying. This coupled with the lack of formal employment and high inflation means most families cannnot afford a meal or even a balanced meal and in some instances they are forced to skip meals. Its even had during weekends when parents and guardians have to guarantee their children at least three meals.

Thanks to the support we receive:

• Children are allowed to be children and not worried about where their next meal will come from
• Cases of chidlren fending for themselves are reduced significantly.
• Our children are healthier, happy and have energy to learn and play
• You are providing hope and dignity to the children and this helps them thrive.

Your support gives us the drive to run this program be it through your donations, spreading the word and thinking of us. Together we are making a difference.

Thank you all,

Links:

• School Website

Greetings from St Martin's School and the Kibagare community. All is well here at school, and we hope the same applies to you all in your respective countries.

The weekend feeding program has continued since our last update early in the year. It still serves to guarantee that children do not miss out on a meal over the weekend and also complements the school's daily feeding program. Children from Kibagare slum and the surrounding slums from low-income households are the beneficiaries of this program, where food insecurity is still a challenge. This program addresses poverty, hunger, and the overall well-being of the children.

Meals and children served

February

Total meals served: 4418

February was the second month of the 2025 school term. We continued to serve the children on Saturdays, ensuring they receive a balanced meal even while they are out of school

March 2025

Total meals served: 4157

March saw a slight reduction in the number of children and meals served, though the weekend program continued every Saturday in March.

April 2025

Schools break

School closed for a three-week break in April. Normally, we do not have the weekend feeding program during the breaks. We have two other organisations that step in during the break. Additionally, many families visit their rural homes, resulting in a reduced number of children in the slum.

May 2025

Total meals served: 2823

School reopened for the second term of this year on April 29. We resumed the weekend feeding program. The 2823 children served represent the two weekends we have done so far in May, and we are continuing with the program on Saturdays in May.

Long rainy Season

March to June is the long rains season in Kenya. This is the time smallholder and large-scale farmers plant staple crops like maize, beans, and vegetables. Unfortunately, the long rains have been below expectations and insufficient for food production. This is a significant effect as it leads to poor harvests and increased food prices, making it hard for most of the families that are already vulnerable.

Inflation and high unemployment

The country continues to grapple with high inflation and unemployment. Many of the families in the Kibagare slum are in informal employment, and jobs are scarce. Many families are unable to provide consistent meals, and the most affected are the children, making the weekend feeding program an important part of our work and service to the community.

Program continuity

As a school, we remain committed to feeding the children over the weekend for as long as the school is in session. The number of children coming for the feeding program remains high, and we do receive positive feedback and support from the community here.

We appreciate the continued support, as this has enabled us to serve a total of:

• 4418 children in February
• 4157 children in March
• 2823 children as of the 2nd week of May

A total of 11,398 children and meals were served in the last three months.

Thank you for your generosity towards the weekend feeding program. Together we are making a difference - One meal, One child, one weekend at a time.

Best regards,

Alfred M Aswani.

Links:

• School Website
• Community Website