A shopping and recreational centre, Village Market and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have launched an initiative to raise funds through art to feed families affected by climate change in North Rift part of Kenya.
Funds raised through the annual art auction will be used to improve climate change resilience and nutrition for food-insecure families in Baringo County, where WFP is implementing the Positive Deviance Hearth Project.
More than 65 artists participated in the inaugural auction held at the mall’s art gallery in Nairobi, raising Sh3 million ($30,000).
The auction that was a showcase of art pieces also raised an additional 5,000 though individual cash contributions and donations of Safaricom’s bonga points through the “Bonga for Good” campaign.
Village Market’s Managing Director Mr. Hamed Ehsani said the initiative provides artists a platform to showcase their talent while raising awareness on climate change which is to blame for hunger and malnutrition in northern Kenya.
“Climate change is a challenge that requires everyone’s contribution and the auction presents a remarkable opportunity for artists to highlight the impact of the crisis on vulnerable communities and influence people to take action through thought-provoking art pieces,” he said at the end of the two-month long sale.
WFP is also implementing the “Positive Deviance Hearth Project” which aims at equipping women with agricultural skills to reduce malnutrition in their households. The women are also not only helped to access ready market through linkages with schools which buy fresh produce for their feeding programmes, but are also trained on vegetable farming and how to prepare nutritious meals using locally sourced ingredients.
WFP said the partnership with Village Market and local artists will help scale-up the project to reach more households.
The organization also helps the women access ready market through linkages with schools which buy fresh produce for their feeding programmes.
The farmers also have access to a ready market for their produce through the school meals programme. They supply schools with fresh food for the children, which improves their education, health and nutrition. Women are also economically empowered to better support their families.
Last year, Kenya experienced one of the longest and most severe droughts in recent history, hitting hard vulnerable communities in arid and semi-arid areas.
