The1st Food Parcel – Keeping Hope Alive

When the covid-19 pandemic cases began to rise in Kenya, the government issued a stay-at-home lockdown notice. In the most affected regions, there were movement constraints being enforced. Mombasa county was also affected and this meant that the pupils, staff, and their families would also have to bear the consequences of the lockdown in order to stay safe. An inquiry from one of our concerned sponsors and subsequent appeals to the rest of the sponsors through the DCC led to the plans and preparations for the first drop of food parcels.

The DGS had closed a week early for their 5 weeks April holiday, as did all Kenyan schools. It was unlikely that they will return in May, so the teachers were busy preparing lessons that can be done at home, via WhatsApp as most families don’t have computers, but most do have simple mobile phones. DCC was diligently continuing to send funds to enable the school to continue to pay the staff salaries, but something had to be done for the children and parents who were now ‘locked indoors’. For most of the parents and guardians of the pupils being locked in was a very difficult situation as it meant limitations to their going out to look for casual jobs.  It was therefore a great relief to see concerted efforts of DCC, Sponsors, and DGS directors and management being able to distribute basic foodstuffs to the families affected.