Kitchen for Under-the-Tree School

Kalongolomoe Friends Church, in Turkana, is the newest Friends church in Kenya. The church, which meets under a tree, was established during a revival service held in June, 2021.This church has attracted lots of children and project partners from different walks of life.The Quaker pastors in Kalongolomoe community started an informal teaching programme under the same tree that hosts church meetings. The teaching programme has attracted children who live in this community and its surroundings.The presence of the children and the classes under the tree attracted the attention of the non-governmental organization Mary’s Meal. Their purpose is to provide food for nursery schools, in order to reduce rising malnutrition rates in Turkana County, which is often faced with famine and drought. Mary’s Meal began to provide meals for the children under the tree, but needed a kitchen and a food storage area to provide their full range of support.In November 2021, friends from North Valley Friends Church in Newberg, Oregon, were visiting Shawn and Katrina McConaughey (FUM Programme Officers) during the Turkana Friends Mission Board Meeting and learned about the classes under the tree, the nutrition program, and the need for a kitchen. After returning to Oregon, they sent funds to support construction of a kitchen and storage area. The kitchen was recently completed, and has given the children of that area assurance of continued nutritional support from Mary’s Meal.