As part of the emergency project funded by Tzu Chi Foundation, on 10 July 2024, CADIS Kenya conducted food distribution activity in Mathare slums where a total of 140 selected families received the assistance. This was the second lot of food distribution in Mathare. The first one was conducted on 28 June 2024 helping 42 families.
The beneficiaries from Mathare slums are selected among flood-affected families, targeting the people living with disabilities, women with children and vulnerable people affected by the flood.
CADIS Kenya informed the selected beneficiaries on time about the distribution to facilitate the operation.
The meeting began with a prayer from one of the beneficiaries , followed by an introduction of the CADIS team, reading of the letters from Tzu Chi foundation founder Master Cheng Yen and CADIS respectively, which restored hope and encouraged the individuals, ensuring them that they were together in this.
The food distributed included 10 kg of rice, 10 kg of beans, 2 kg of sugar, 4 kg of maize flour and 3 litres of cooking oil. Thereafter, the whole project team held a debrief meeting to evaluate and share challenges, achievements and lessons learned from the day’s activities.
Despite the difficulty of the CADIS team reaching the designated distribution site on time due to heavy traffic, operations were carried out according to schedule.
The delay attracted the people who were not part of the food beneficiaries. The team managed to control the crowd for a moment since the church compound was gated.
This is a lesson for future projects to have some extra food items so that after the beneficiaries receive their planned share, others present and not on the beneficiary list can share small quantities. We realized that where resources are scarce, there is a tendency to struggle for what is available.
The Mathare victims of floods appreciated the donations by Tzu Chi Foundation and CADIS. The next step is to conduct home visits to all the beneficiaries. So far, the relief activity program is successful and the coordination is bearing fruits.
Big appreciation to the entire team/staff of Tzu Chi Foundation, top management and the Founder for trusting in us as collaborators in serving the most vulnerable in the society; to the CADIS International for offering guidance and directions at all times and to the CADIS Kenya team and our beneficiaries who act as partners in this project.
