HOTLINE - week of January 21, 2008

"This has been the worst experience for young people," says Jacob Ogodo, 24, who watched his neighborhood in Mathare, a slum area of Nairobi, erupt in violence after the disputed December presidential election in Kenya. "We have never seen such a thing."

While the inter-tribal violence has abated somewhat, CWS staff in Nairobi report that "things remain tense and many offices downtown are closed."

Ogodo says members of different tribes were living together in Mathare for decades, but now they are fighting. "Women and children are innocent and suffering," he says.

Ogodo and other young adults who are members of a community working group that promotes empowerment spoke about the pressure they were under to join the violence. In part because of his involvement in the working group, Ogodo resists the pressure and encourages his peers to resist as well. "I advised them not to take part in looting," he says.

The working group is coordinated by GROOTS, a local partner of the Church World Service-supported "Giving Hope" program, which works in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda to assist orphans and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. CWS has been working with GROOTS in Mathare since before the election, and now CWS is exploring ways to work with them to address some of the psychological and social issues that have arisen because of the violence.

"We should be living together as neighbors," says Ogodo, adding that this is especially true in this time of crisis.

Ogodo sees young people as part of the solution. He says they are still young enough to remember living and attending school together and need to remember how they got along before their tribal differences became something to fight and kill over.

"I try to preach peace," he says. "After all, we are still brothers, we are still sisters, we are still neighbors."

Read about Church World Service responds to post-election violence in Kenya

Some 45,000 people are displaced by floods in central Mozambique and up to a million are in some way affected. Many roads are inaccessible. Levels of water-borne diseases are rising. Particularly hard hit are families that depend on agriculture and fishing for their livelihood.

Church World Service is working with partners in Mozambique to respond to needs in coordination with government efforts.

CWS is expecting to support a long-term response in community rehabilitation work; food security programs, including seeds and tools distribution; and housing reconstruction.

"We are thankful to CWS-Pakistan/Afghanistan for their timely help," says Mr. Jarveed, a resident of Khanian. "Although we have constructed a shelter, it is barely sufficient against the biting cold of Kaghan valley. We have no source of income. These blankets and the food package will help us cope with the winter and feed our families."

CWS-P/A distributed winter supply packages among the most vulnerable families in the earthquake- affected region.

The packages consist of four blankets, flour, rice, oil, and legumes. A total of 896 winter supply packages were distributed in Kaghan valley, and 600 packages are being distributed in Kala Dhaka (Black mountains) and Hillkot.

Meva Jan is a resident of Pattan Des. After receiving the package, she said, "I am a widow. My husband died in the earthquake. He was the only breadwinner in our family; now I have to take care of five young children. Under such difficult financial circumstances, this winterization package is a blessing for my family."

CWS plans to distribute a total of 2,000 packages among the vulnerable families residing in remote and difficult terrain of the northern region.

Persistent rains and heavy winds have spread a path of damage from Wisconsin through Mississippi in these first few weeks of the new year. For example, 300 homes were destroyed and another 1,200 affected by flooding in Indiana. Parts of Arkansas and Missouri also suffered major damage.

CWS is in contact with government and faith-based emergency response people in all affected states, and is closely monitoring those communities that do not receive federal assistance.

On Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 21, as we celebrate this person of peace and justice, we pray for all communities and nations suffering through violence and war.

Your prayers and support - and your participation in CROP WALKS and the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program - make possible these and other life sustaining programs. For information on how to get involved, please call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free at 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

For information about free loan videos, please call 1-800-297-1516, ext. 338, or e-mail us at: videos@churchworldservice.org.

Back to top