How Rising Prices Are Affecting Be Social Project’s Nutrition Programme
Weekly purchase of fruit and vegetables for the Mokowe School nutrition programme, part of the Be Social Project initiative.
Hello everyone!
Today we want to talk about an issue that is affecting many countries around the world, but which—due to limited resources in our case—is having a major impact on the development of Be Social Project’s nutrition programme at Mokowe School for the Mentally Disabled.
As is happening globally, food prices are rising, and Lamu is no exception. The reasons are not exactly the same as in Europe, but the increase is pushing the local population into a severe crisis. Kenya, located in the Horn of Africa, is not self-sufficient in seeds and cereals. With the rise in fertiliser prices, the prolonged drought of recent years, and the locust plagues that devastated maize crops in 2020 and 2021, production has fallen far below the levels it once covered. Neighbouring countries are facing the same situation, meaning there is an almost total dependence on cereals coming from Russia and Ukraine—which, for obvious reasons, are no longer arriving.
We are facing one of the most serious crises of recent years. The United Nations World Food Programme has already warned about this situation, as can be read in the article we share.
In Lamu County, as in the rest of Kenya, the prices of all food products have increased—especially oil and flour, whose prices have risen by 125% and 50% respectively. Both are staple foods in the local diet, and this sharp increase means that now more than ever we are living in a subsistence economy, where access to daily food has become a constant struggle.
Within Be Social Project’s nutrition programme, fruit, vegetables and milk play a key role, and the increase in costs for these products has also been particularly significant. Here are a few examples:
Comparison using data from February (before) and May (after) 2022
Lourdes, our field coordinator, gives us more details about the situation caused by rising prices in the following video:
At Be Social Project, we are facing a difficult moment. Currently, all the monthly funds we receive from our members are allocated entirely to the nutrition project, in addition to the €50 monthly fee for administrative services in Spain. Until now, this had been sufficient, but with the recent rise in prices, we are no longer able to cover these costs.
How to collaborate with Be Social Project
If you would like to collaborate with Be Social Project and help ensure that our children can continue to enjoy proper nutrition, there are several ways to do so:
That’s why we would like to share a few ways you can support us:
Become a member – Choose the amount you would like to contribute each month.
Fund a project – Make a one-off contribution, for example through nutribonds or chickens.
Take part in our crowdfunding campaign – Remember that you can deduct up to 75% of your donation from your taxes.
Bank transfer to our account ES72 3096 00019 220 8326 5021, indicating NUTRITION as the reference.
Another very important way to support us is by following us on Facebook or Instagram, sharing our posts with your contacts, and helping us reach as many people as possible.
We know we can count on your support during this time of crisis.
Asante sana!!