Melvin Akaran
Monthly Cost: $36.50
Overview
Biography
Melvin is a sweet and hardworking girl in grade 7 at a local Primary School. She is working hard and does well in her class. Sadly Melvin’s dad passed away several years ago and her mom has not been able to find work so she survives by going out day by day offering to wash people’s clothes etc. It has been a real battle for her to keep food on the table and educate the 5 children left in her care. Because of a lack of nutrition when she was young, Melvin developed a serious limp and it lingers until today. With encouragement and support, we believe Melvin can overcome the challenges she faces and become a woman of value in her community and her generation.
About Melvin's Home: Turkana
Turkana County is a part of Northwestern Kenya located in the former Rift Valley province. Turkana is majorly arid and semi-arid, and the climate is very hot and dry making farming and supply of food a constant challenge. This county is also marginalized due to poor infrastructure. The main diet in these areas is not predictable since they rely majorly on relief food. The main language spoken is Turkana and the primary religion is traditional African beliefs. In recent years, both Christianity and Islam have also been competing for the hearts of the people here. *Because the people of Turkana county largely depend on livestock and relief food, they are still semi-nomadic and though the schools help create stability, there are still times when a family moves and we are unable to trace them.