Community Development

Christian Mission Aid

Community Development

CMA focuses on improving the quality of life through sustainable development. Our areas of work include environmental food security, water resource development, and preventative health care among others.
If you have a broadband connection you can watch a video showing our STEP program in Maasailand by clicking here.

Students Areas where the STEP program has been instituted are a real oasis in this Rift Valley area As far as you can see, there is no vegetation where the STEP program has not been instituted

Teachers

Environmental

Program

Program Location: Kenya

Program description: STEP exists to contribute to agricultural development and environmental conservation in dry, arid districts of Kenya. Its aim is to improve food security fight poverty and increase access to formal education for all children.

Promoting food security: “ An empty stomach has no ears!” (African proverb) Every day many children in the arid and semiarid areas of Machakos and Maasailand of Kenya miss school as a result of hunger. A dry climate, combined with overgrazing and misuse of land has led to serious environmental depravation in the areas and constant drought that call for constant food relief aid. Sixty four schools in Machakos and Kajiado districts benefit from STEP and have established and are maintaining agroforestry demonstration plots and gardens for food production.

Students in a tree planting ceremony Education & environmental conservation: While training teachers and enlisting the participation of students in environmental and agricultural projects, awareness is created on dangers of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse while stressing the importance of formal education particularly for young girls who would traditionally not continue with their education.

Water: STEP is teaching communities new ways of conserving water – a rare commodity- through introduction of drip irrigation system to community groups, and supporting bottle-feeding irrigation and rainwater harvesting in schools, water is being used to its maximum effectiveness.

A new school starts a STEP program Fighting Poverty: According to government reports 54 % of Kenya’s population is living in poverty with arid and semi arid areas being the worst hit. STEP supports 16 community groups teaching them innovative ways of fighting poverty by conserving the environment through: food production, agroforestry, income generation, and participation in savings and credit activities. Financial stability in homes has ensured thousands of children continue to receive formal schooling, as the nomadic people construct permanent homes.

Environmental rejuvenation: Learning innovative techniques in agriculture and agroforestry have reduced the reliance on indigenous vegetation that is now rejuvenating. With only 1.7% forest cover Kenya faces a bleak future unless we continue teaching people ways to conserve the environment while fighting poverty & illiteracy and improving food production. And it’s all one tree at a time!

CLICK HERE TO READ "STEP..LET'S GO PLANTING"

Drip Irrigation Program:

Massai woman with Drip Irrigation bucket Drip irrigation is an appropriate, efficient, and inexpensive means of watering gardens. The system maximizes water while minimizing time. Water is simply poured into the bucket which is suspended from poles. The water then flows through drip tape (plastic tubing) that runs from the bucket and along the length of the garden. Tiny holes along the tape deposit water exactly where the vegetables are planted.

The system has been successfully used where water is at a premium, and home-garden food production is essential to survival. This includes a large portion of East Africa. Women's groups, schools, and individuals have used this system to generate income for their families and communities.

For more information on our Community Development Programs,
contact us at: Africa@CMAid.org
If you would like to support us financially, you can do so by visiting our Online Donations page.