World Vision food rations give Mrs. Guindo hope
Mali has been facing a security crisis since around 2012, and climate change is also making the population more vulnerable. The centre of the country, which is also at the heart of the insecurity, faces frequent population displacements.
Displaced people remain vulnerable as they leave everything behind to survive. To get back on their feet, they need food aid, money or kits of ustensils. Sometimes they are left to fend for themselves without help, relying on good Samaritans.
That's why World Vision Mali, in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP), is running a series of food aid programs for internally displaced people (IDPs), pregnant and lactating women (FEFA) and host families in the northern and the centre of the country.
Mrs. Guindo is one of the beneficiaries of this food aid project in the Bandiagara region in Mali.
Married with 7 children, she and her husband used to grow cowpeas, roselle, millet, peanuts and potatoes; when the rains were good, they used to have good harvests, which they sometimes sold to meet the family's needs.
Nowadays, because of the insecurity in their community, Mrs. Guindo and her husband have not been able to go to the fields to farm, as she confided to us.
"Since we couldn't farm, we had to buy our daily bread. My husband has no other source of income. Life has become difficult for us as we sometimes struggle to find three meals a day at home and the children hardly have enough to eat.”
As a result of these deplorable living conditions, this woman was forced to take on small jobs, such as selling firewood to neighbours, to help support her family.
"It was selling firewood that enabled us to survive until the World Vision project came to our rescue. For 4 months, I received food rations consisting of 2.5 litres of oil, 15 kg of rice, 10 kg of cowpeas, 4 pieces of soap, 1 kg of sugar, 1 kg of salt and 3 pieces of magic cubes".
These food rations have helped Mrs Guindo and her family, who can now look forward to other family responsibilities. "Today, thanks to World Vision, we buy less food. We can now provide three meals a day in our house, and with the money I earn from selling firewood, I can pay for the children's schooling".
In conclusion, this mother of seven encourages World Vision and its donors to always keep an eye on those in need, as their help plays an important role in the lives of vulnerable people.
"I am grateful to World Vision and WFP for this help, which has given us new hope. May God reward them.