The chief of Kaiwa Ganwo village in Niger is experiencing an emotion about food that has been in short supply in recent months – joy.
Months of drought had left his remote community running out of supplies and hunger was becoming widespread.
But an emergency distribution of food by a Tearfund partner has transformed the outlook for villagers: ‘Thank you for the blessing of food that you are bringing us,’ said the chief.
As a mark of gratitude for the help received, villagers wrote a letter to Tearfund saying, ‘We have never seen a food supply which has been as well distributed as this one.
‘The people of Kaiwa, large and small, male and female, thank you with pleasure for this aid which we will never forget. This aid has filled our hearts with joy and pride – thank you. May God bless you.
‘We are very satisfied and happy with your unforgettable offerings for the people of Kaiwa village.’
Appeal generosity
The food supplies mean residents of this agriculturally-dependent community won’t have to eat their recent harvest, which was better than last year.
But many face selling their crops to pay off debts they accumulated during the height of the drought when they needed to borrow money to buy food, which rose significantly in price.
However Tearfund’s help for the village will continue when we help set-up a grain bank there.
Grain banks enable people to buy food at reduced prices in times of shortage. After each harvest, a family will put a sack of grain into the bank, plus extra by way of ‘interest’.
Generous giving to Tearfund’s West Africa food crisis appeal means we can help people support themselves.
We’re now able to establish more grain banks, supply more seeds and tools, set-up more market gardens and operate more cash-for-work schemes.
Appeal cash also means we can reduce people’s vulnerability to climatic disasters by extending the introduction of drought-resistant crops, improving farming techniques and water sources.
