New York, April 6 — Classy, a giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with causes they care about, has named Concern Worldwide US as a finalist for the 2023 Classy Awards. Launched in 2009, The Classy Awards shine a spotlight on the innovative work nonprofits are implementing around the globe.
Today, we’re proud to share that Concern’s Lifesaving Education and Assistance to Farmers (LEAF) program, funded by ADM, a global leader in agricultural origination and nutrition, has been recognized for improving food and nutrition security for farming communities in Tana River County, Kenya, through climate-smart agriculture.
The effects of the climate crisis and malnutrition go hand-in-hand. Historically, the semi-arid region of Tana River County, Kenya, has relied on small farming and pastoral livestock to get by on just enough income and food. But climate change has led to the worst drought in over 40 years. With a lack of water, animals had less pasture to graze, and families struggled to cultivate crops at any meaningful scale.
The effects rippled out from there – health clinics in the area began reporting an alarming rise in the levels of malnutrition among young children.
“We aim to connect farmers with the agricultural value chain and establish a more sophisticated and climate friendly farming infrastructure across target villages,” Concern’s Director of Strategic Partnerships Katie Waller says.
In cooperation with the Tana River County Government Department of Health, Concern supported trained community health volunteers and assistants to conduct screenings for malnutrition through monthly house visits and referrals to local care centers. Simultaneously, Concern provided pumps to ensure access to irrigation canals to villages to improve their irrigation capacities and affordable access to water while training local farmers in climate-smart agriculture techniques.
“The ultimate goal is for smallholder farms’ production levels to surpass household consumption so that farmers can both feed their families, but also sell their crops to form a sustainable, stable form of household income. Looking to the future, accounting for the changes in climate, we aim to solarize water systems for more dependable irrigation to support small and large-scale agricultural production through increased private sector investment,” Ms. Waller adds.
Through programming, 18,818 children under five were screened for malnutrition at least twice, 10,947 farmers participated in village-level on-farm technical extension and farmer education sessions, and farmers have gathered 3,115,420 pounds of harvest with an estimated market value of $436,000.
On reflection of the program, Ms. Waller says, “What LEAF has accomplished is replicable across other climate-vulnerable areas in Kenya and within Tana River. Replication of this type of program is critical for increasing food security as it lays the foundation for communities to produce their own food, becoming less reliant on humanitarian aid when climate disasters occur.”
Vote for Concern’s LEAF Program
This year, 11 Classy Awards will be distributed including the People’s Choice Award, which is determined by public vote. Supporters can vote for Concern’s LEAF program from April 6 – April 25, 2023.
Winners will be announced live on June 7 at the Collaborative by Classy conference in Philadelphia, Pa.
For more information on the Classy Awards, visit awards.classy.org.
CONTACT US
If you would like to speak to a team member or organize media interviews, please contact us using the details below.
Media Contact: Candance Patel-Taylor, Vice President of Communications at [email protected] or (212) 557-8000.
About the Classy Awards Started in 2009, the Classy Awards recognize nonprofits for their unique approaches and impact on our world. Decided by a well-respected group of judges, the Classy Awards bring together groundbreaking nonprofits and impact leaders to honor the achievements driving lasting change around the globe.
About Classy Classy, an affiliate of GoFundMe, is a Public Benefit Corporation and giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about. Classy’s platform provides powerful and intuitive fundraising tools to convert and retain donors. Since 2011, Classy has helped nonprofits mobilize and empower the world for good by helping them raise over $5 billion. For more information, visit www.classy.org.
