On Tuesday morning, January 9th, 2018 Africa Thriving delivered over 2000 pounds of food and 10,000 liters of clean water to Risa Primary school in Kenya. This much needed nutrition will go a long way in helping the nearly 500 students at the school continue in their education.

There is plenty of food and water in the world to go around, yet millions of people struggle to obtain these life providing essentials. Risa is a community that has been devastated by the most severe drought that has hit East Africa since the 1940's. The community depends entirely on livestock farming as a source of income and livelihood. The lack of rains during this past October and November which are typically the months with highest rainfall, has resulted in lost livestock and wildlife in the area.

The Elephants in the area are even struggling to find the water they need to survive.

Photo provided by James Musukeri 

Africa Thriving exists to bring life providing essentials to communities just like Risa. The 501-C3 non-profit, based in Escondido, California has been assisting the community of Risa since they first visited the community in 2013. 

The Principal of Risa Primary School is James Musukeri. "I'm happy that the Risa community is now embracing education." Musukeri added, "Due to the increase in population, parents have employed 2 new teachers to empower our current staff. The school has also improved tremendously in both academics and in co-curriculum activities. All of this has been achieved because of the unity between the Risa community and Africa Thriving".
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The food that was delivered included six 200 pound bags of maize, 4 200 pound bags of beans, three 45 pound bags of rice, 20 liters of cooking oil and 25 pounds of salt. The 10,000 liters of clean drinking water was brought in by a water trunk and pumped into the water tanks that the school uses to catch rain water. The Director of Africa Thriving for Kenya, Bonniface Kinyanjui and Regional Director, Daniel Soope made the trek to Risa to fulfill the goal of helping Africa thrive. "When we arrived on the school property, the children ran out of the classrooms to greet us because they where so happy to have food." said Bonniface.

After unloading the food, they made sure that nothing was wasted.

This delivery was entirely made possible from the support of the Upendo Team. Upendo is the Swahili word for love. Africa Thriving encourages people from around the globe to join their Upendo Team to help provide life to communities that are fighting for survival.

Africa Thriving is also planning on bringing a permanent water source to Risa this year. You can learn more about the project and even join us in Kenya to give the gift of life first hand. Upendo Begins with U!