In Kenya, severe and frequent drought triggered by climate change is devastating rural families. People whose livelihoods depend on the land are left with nothing as their animals perish and their crops wither away. Families are going hungry. MADRE and the Indigenous Information Network are training Indigenous women to confront the impacts of climate change by conserving resources and adapting local ways of life.

Challenge

Climate change has wreaked havoc on the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous women in Kenya. Frequent climate disasters, including severe drought and famine, are pushing already struggling families to the edge of survival. What's more, women and girls are often tasked with securing water for their families, a heavy burden. Few homes have the means to collect and store rainwater during the ever-shortening rainy season.

Long-Term Impact

Women with families on the brink of starvation will learn the resource conservation methods they need to sustain their families and communities. What's more, by installing clean water pumps, we're decreasing the risk of waterborne disease and increasing women's time available for income-generating, educational and other productive activities-instead of hauling water. Not only will women learn to adapt to climate change, but they'll have more time to invest in themselves and their communities.

References

1. http://www.MADRE.org

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