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Welcome to the May 2009 edition of the Eat So They Can newsletter!
Those of you who have been following the ESTC blog will know that the last couple of weeks have been full of adventure, happiness and hope for the ESTC team in Kenya. Laura and Julie, the Grand Prize winners from the 2008 ESTC, arrived in Nairobi on April 21 to begin distributing the funds with Lauren and Irene.
They have been busy making donations of rice, flour, beans, maize, cooking oil, and school supplies to the different orphanages and centers we work with. In exchange, Laura and Julie have been taught Swahili, sung songs, and they are already becoming attached to the children and projects.
In a recent blog entry, Laura reminds us that "through your donations we are helping make these childrens dreams come true... this food will help them grow and succeed in whatever path they choose". Lets hope that this year even more hosts will sign up and we will be able to help even more children.
Thank you to all of you for making this possible.
Best,
Courtney
ESTC Co-Founder and GVN Foundation Director
African Recipe - Chapatti
Why not try Lauren's favourite Kenyan treat - chapatti! It's cheap and easy to make, but be warned - if you eat too many, you may get a chapatti belly!
Ingredients
2 cups of Flour
1 teaspoon salt
Water
Serves 4
- Sift the flour and the salt into a mixing bowl.
- Add some water to make a fairly stiff dough, moistening your hands frequently to ease off the bowl.
- Shape dough into a ball, cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let it stand for at least half an hour.
- Divide dough into 4 or 5 balls and roll each out into a flat, round disk.
- Heat a large creased griddle or frying pan over medium until it is hot. Cook each chapati until golden; when you see tiny bubbles it's time to turn them over. It should take about a minute for each chapati.
- Press them down with a wide pancake turner or a clean towel to cook evenly. Serve hot.
Tip: You can try different combinations of flour. For example one and a half cups of whole grain flour and half a cup of all purpose flour OR one and a half cups of whole wheat flour and half a cup of low-fat soy flour....
Day 6 in Kenya - By Julie
Today we made a visit to two IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps. The camps were not on the ESTC distribution list, but their need is so great that the GVN Foundation is going to allocate a portion of funds there and Laura and I dropped off our personal donations that we received from co-workers and friends (thank you so much). As well as dropping off donations we spent time with GVN volunteers working there and the people living in the camp. The IDP camps were created during the post election violence that displaced residents from their homes.
In the first camp in Gilgil more than 14 000 men, woman and children are living in tents. These tents donated by the UNHCR were made to last for 6 months. They have been housing one or more families now for over a year. Flooding of tents often occurs at this time of year as rains are heavy. Food aid was just stopped as of April by the government and there is no access to clean water. As a result of living conditions and lack of resources health risks are high, especially those with HIV/AIDS. Three GVN volunteers are currently at the camp which is called 'Shalom City'. One of the volunteers called the living condition 'a crisis situation'. This inspiring group is working to mentor and empower the community through counseling, forming women's groups and youth groups, and raising moral by organizing concerts and performances to showcase their talents.
While the conditions at the camp were bleak, the smiles of the people there were so bright and a spirit of hope was very much alive... I will never forget these people and I hope all of us together can continue to support them as they rebuild their lives.
Read Julie and Laura's blog at the Eat So They Can Blog.
Action and Advocacy
World Fair Trade Day - 9 May 2009
Do you want to support the Fair Trade movement? There are lots of things you can do! Here are a few ideas:
- Celebrate World Fair Trade Day - to find out more visit the official World Fair Trade Day site.
- Get in touch with Fair Trade Organizations in your area
- Buy Fair Trade Products
- Look out for Fair Trade campaigns you can join - go here to find out more.
International Mothers Day - 10 May 2009
This mothers day, take a minute to think about all the children who grow up without mothers. Give the gift of hope by purchasing a GVN Foundation gift certificate to help orphans in Kenya, Uganda, Peru, Vietnam or Nepal.
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development - 21 May 2009
Why not take this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the values of Cultural Diversity and learn more about UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.