In Sololo, in the far north of Kenya, GRT is implementing the project Combating Hunger through the Strengthening of Agro-Pastoral Production and the Child Protection Network in the Sololo sub-county, northern Kenya.
The Sololo area, which covers over 5,000 square kilometers and borders Ethiopia to the north, is one of the driest and most isolated regions of the country. The region suffers from severe infrastructural underdevelopment and limited access to essential services, with direct consequences on the well-being and growth opportunities of the local population. Here, 70% of the inhabitants still live well below the poverty line. The sub-county’s economy is based on pastoralism, which, due to several interrelated factors — including global warming — is no longer able to meet the population’s food needs. This is compounded by a 68% illiteracy rate among residents.
In Sololo, GRT thanks to its long-standing experience in child protection and psychosocial support, work hand in hand with its local partner, CIPAD (Culture Information for Pastoralist Development). Together, they promote healthy nutrition for children and vulnerable adults across eight villages by strengthening and connecting existing systems for food security and child protection.
The project focuses on improving food security by expanding and enhancing agricultural production for the local market, helping to meet the needs of the community as well as those of the children living at the Obbitu Children’s Home — a shelter for children in vulnerable situations. The initiative also includes home visits to families in six villages nearby, while providing socio-economic support and regular health screenings for children at risk of malnutrition. Also, the project highly invests in strengthening the skills in the child protection and psychosocial support sectors for CIPAD staff and local actors, ensuring that procedures, protocols, and techniques align with international standards.
We are currently working to reach 305 orphaned or highly vulnerable children and 108 families — widows, widowers, and grandparents living in poverty — who are supported through project activities to help them maintain the ability to care for children within their own communities.
Through this project, we are contributing to the well-being of the rural community and helping to build a self-sufficient and safe environment for all children and their families.
Some photos from the field:
Obbitu farm and e agricultural projects
Home visits and health screenings for children at risk of malnutrition
The project is financed by the Prime Minister’s Office through the state-allocated “8X1000″ share of the personal income tax (IRPEF).
