Category: Global Footstep Blog Post

Picture this: it’s late summer and the harvest needs to be gathered. Among your small patch
of farmland are a few proud and bulbous ears of wheat, but most of them are stunted and
without any product to gather. You kick the dry, almost sandy soil as you prowl through the
site of your labour, and curse the cloudless sky above. The price of wheat is at a record high,
but you can’t make the most of it. You don’t know why the weather is so poor for your
usually successful crop, but bad conditions, in drought or flood, seem to be evermore likely
each year.

At the same time, your neighbours, more small-scale farmers, seem to be better off. They
may not have much wheat to show for their efforts, but they are loading plenty of root
vegetables into bags and taking them away. It wasn’t the husband in this family whom you
saw managing these, but his wife, and as a result of her work, the family can sustain
themselves and improve their fortunes. Out of curiosity, you visit their home and they
explain how they’ve managed to achieve such success in a challenging year.

This hypothetical scene would happen is Western Kenya, an area of the world likely to suffer
disproportionately from the effects of climate change. As is becoming better understood,
those who rely on agriculture are likely to struggle with the increasing threat of drought and
floods as we head deeper into the climate crisis, but even within a community facing these
challenges, some will struggle more than others. In Kenya, for example, women are faced
with greater difficulties than men, and when climate change is combined with other societal
issues, the problems are exacerbated.

Global Footsteps are pursuing climate justice in their efforts to support those facing an
uncertain future, and are working with a local women’s group in Seme, Kisumu County, near
the shore of Lake Victoria in Kenya. The Aniga Women’s Initiative is a society of women local
to the area, who are taking a strong lead in their efforts to change the trends of farming,
and help women to see a strong and resilient future. They and Global Footsteps have a close
relationship, and we’re delighted to help in their push to increase the resilience of farming
and farmers in their community. The essential, vitally impactful main aim of the project is to
spread the popularity of sweet potatoes, a climate resistant crop, among farmers in Seme.
Achieving this is Global Footsteps’ shared aim, and is where we are applying ourselves, both
in effort and funding.

The problems of the less well off are our problems, too. As one member of the Aniga
Women said: “as the disadvantaged population, we are in it with no choice and with limited
support for adaptation.”

Written by Anthony Rowett.

In January, our associate, Benter Ndeda, the CEO of the Aniga Women successfully delivered sanitary pads to local schools and reported back with some curious findings.

Last year, for a “period poverty” project, Global Footsteps contacted Ethical Giving, a charitable trust that contributes to good causes in Gloucestershire.

We received £2,000 to fund the project.

The purchase of large quantities of sanitary pads is not available in the rural county of Kisumu, which led Benter on a return trip to the capital Nairobi. Weather and road conditions made the trip challenging and delayed, and time engaged with the school and the girls resulted in the project taking three days.

In the report written by Benter Ndeda, dated the 28 January 2022, a total of 2,050 pieces of sanitary pads were purchased at KSh102 each. The number of pupils reached was 670, in 10 schools.

Benter highlighted in the report the challenges faced in the delivery, emphasising that a high number of girls were considered vulnerable. With exams in March, the number of pads provided per girl made sure that  every one of them had enough for at least three months.

The visits to the schools also exposed vulnerability in boys, who reportedly complained of feeling neglected. The number of dropouts seems significant among them, as boys often only have tattered shorts and feel self-aware and ashamed when they don’t have underpants.

Health concerns were also raised as schools have little affordability to invest in suitable disposal of sanitary pads. Most schools in the region use pit latrines as toilets, which quickly fill upon disposals. In the report, it was recommended that schools use an incinerator to help dispose of the pads and reduce any unnecessary risk of diarrheal diseases in pupils, a current risk affecting pupils’ enrolment as well as health.

As part of the programme, the Aniga Women set a mentorship engagement to connect with and teach young girls about sanitary pads and mental challenges.

In Kenya, there are significant cultural taboos around menstruation, which pose an additional challenge to access and afford sanitary towels. Many girls in Kenya tend to miss an average of four days of school every month, an equivalent of a month per year, due to embarrassment and lack of guidance. These indices leave girls with a high likelihood of falling behind and/or dropping out.

The dropout rate among female students in primary and secondary schools is a tremendous existing problem in Kenya.

In addition to educational drawbacks, girls’ health is also endangered by the absence of support and guidance on menstruation. Problems such as unhygienic ways to dry menstrual materials or dispose of them appropriately are commonplace. Girls also need to worry about leakage and lack of resources (e.g. soap, clean water).

Consequently, many girls grow in isolation and with low self-esteem, afraid of prejudices and negative attitudes.

The report highly encouraged the involvement of boys during mentorship and discussion of health and personal concerns to help bridge some of these existing problems.

The delivery of sanitary pads and the mentorship engagement had the objective of helping ensure girls between the ages of 10 and 17 years old:

• have their school attendance improved,
• have information promoted on menstrual hygiene management and risk awareness of HIV & AIDS,
• are provided with documented lessons and options,
• are able and incentivised to increase their self-esteem.

Read more on the topic here:

FSG-Menstrual-Health-Landscape_Kenya.pdf (menstrualhygieneday.org)

UNFPA Kenya | Period Poverty: The Weak Link in Ending Gender Based Violence: Dr Olajide is UNFPA Representative. Ms Mbugua is a Gender Equality Champion, author and Media Personality with the Inua Dada Foundation

Physical, Social, and Political Inequities Constraining Girls’ Menstrual Management at Schools in Informal Settlements of Nairobi, Kenya (nih.gov)

Reports on Empower & Educate the Girls of Rural Kisumu – GlobalGiving

A new year is often seen as a time for reflection and new beginnings. As we start to think about the many things we need or could be doing to improve our every day life, I would like to propose twenty-two suggestions of ways to adopt mindful thinking into your routine.

1. Consider sewing, repairing or getting second-hand
   Now with Christmas sales on, it is very tempting to replace something rather dear or useful that is now considered too old. Perhaps, however, there is still opportunity to salvage it.
2. If not, consider donations
   Rather than throwing everything in a big black bag, why not try giving some of your things another chance by donating them to a charity shop instead? Many possibilities can become available when there is opportunity for them.
3. Look out for environment-friendly apps
   The battle against waste is becoming so predominant in everyday thinking that apps such as the two below are now growingly popular!
   • On the donation topic, Olio allows anyone to share something they no longer need, inviting the possibility of someone sharing interest. The interested party can then schedule a pickup, free of charge. The app recently updated and now extends to Free, Borrow, Made and Wanted sections, for food and non-food items.
   • Fighting food waste, Too Good To Go is an app where shops subscribe to make their leftovers available to the public under as little as £3-£5! The app has grown in popularity and is now used by common shops like Soho, Pret a Manger, Greggs and supermarkets. Customers can buy a ‘magic bag’ in the app by registering their payment and are identified by a randomised code. The contents of a magic bag are a surprise, as it depends on the sales that day.
4. Recycle small everyday items
   Do you wear contact lenses? Do you use pods in your coffee machine? Do you use memo cards for to-do notes? Do you recycle these? Try having a designated area to throw these in, rather than a general bin. This way, you can recycle all these without much time or effort put into it. Consider having a decorated small pot or bowl where you can place these, and once full that can be emptied into your recycling bin.
5. Look out for biodegradable
   Consider switching some of your tea bags to biodegradable options, or using biodegradable bin bags for the room, bathroom or your pet’s needs.
6. Consider adopting online note-taking
   As part of the new year, calendars and agendas are a new fashion. I am also guilty of that. However, notebooks do occupy space, both at home and in our bags. Consider adopting an online platform for your routine and calendar, that way you can take your reminders anywhere with you without much effort.
7. Consider digitalising your photos and documents
   Now, with cloud systems like OneDrive, iCloud and Google Drive, it is much easier and clutter-free to keep documents – and photos – together online. Photo albums are a beautiful and sacred thing to have and share, even today. However, sadly, these take an incredible amount of space and also pose a risk as to losing single-copies.
8. Consider long-term investments
   It is easy to get tempted by affordable and even cheap items, without accounting for how they are going to fit into your life or how long they will last. Instead, try to invest your money – and your time – in long-term use. For example, when buying someone a present, consider how well you know they need and desire that item. In many instances, unexpected presents are donated or become clutter. Instead, consider gifting a gesture or perhaps a gift card.
9. Look out for more eco alternatives
   Energy bills are due to increase, and winter makes it harder to avoid it. However, there may be alternatives to be investigated that could help improve your living. Solar panels are well known by now, but how about smart meters? These replace both existing electricity and gas meters and send regular readings to your suppliers, and show your energy use in real time, creating a more accurate overview of your bills and providing an incentive to turn off unneeded use!
10. Turn off your wall plugs when not in use
    If you are leaving the house or simply not using the oven at the moment, how about turn the power off? These little actions do not really hurt your everyday routine and instead save on your energy use.
11. Fill the kettle only enough for that cuppa
    Did you know that a lot of energy is used to boil a full kettle, as the heat needs to work through all that weight of water? That energy level is also doomed to increase if limescale increases inside the kettle. According to The Guardian, the energy consumption by incorrectly filling a kettle can even cost more in energy bills than using the hob or the oven.
12. Mind your laundry
    We probably heard before about how much water goes into a laundry cycle, and also about how we should stick to our holiday towels for at least a week before asking room service. But how do we behave at home? Certainly there are the colours and the whites wash, which makes two cycles, then bedding, then housekeeping with clothes and towels. There are many ways in which to save energy when doing laundry, for one, use lower temperatures to reduce energy usage. Also, consider letting your laundry dry naturally – helps with folding!
13. Make the best of daylight
    Alright, granted that during winter there are not many bright days. Though, there may be that odd one day when daylight breaks through the window and reduces the need to light all bulbs in the house. Enjoy those. Soon, as we enter warmer seasons, fingers crossed that this resolution will be more consistent.
14. Be creative in your workout
    Now that Christmas has passed and the new year is here, many of us are looking to get back in shape and also work towards our mental and physical health. Although that is a perfectly good plan, gym workout demands energy use and hardly any reflection. Rather, consider a long walk or a hike. We are privileged here in Gloucestershire to have the Cotswolds not so far from us, and plenty of hills to climb in Cheltenham. These, alongside lighter exercises such as yoga and pilates are great ways to regain touch with your body and mind.
15. Choose reusable products
    The reusable market has been growing from a few years, with reusable nappies, tissues, beverage bottles, cutlery and straws, and storage/shopping bags. There are now numerous ways of saving on expenses and helping the planet by buying something once and keeping on using that with good quality.
16. Stick to one or two bottles
    In 2020, Statista recorded that approximately 2.54 billion litres of bottled water were consumed in the UK alone. We are long due to stop buying supermarket bottled water. As we invest in reusable bottles, hopefully there is reduction of the cycle of buying and disposing plastic water bottles. To help with that, a new app called Refill invites individuals to find venues where they can refill their water bottles with tap water free of change.
17. Clean, reuse and decorate
    A while back, one of my housemates would clean, decorate and reuse olives, pickles or sauce jars to put sugar, pasta, or nuts. These choices are not only limited to food storage, but these could also be crafted into candle glass, pen holders, spare change and any other ideas.
18. Buy local and refills
    Have you explored your local market or a refill shop? Why not make use of reusable containers to buy plastic-free or help the local economy thrive? On that note, visit our Global Footsteps’ building where FoodLoose is based, and find sustainable options such as pasta, rice, nuts, chocolate, as well as home and personal care.
19. Create an edible garden
    There is something therapeutical about doing something hands-on, and gardening is one of the greatest pleasures in the UK. Although not everyone has a personal garden, there are ways to plant something beautiful – and maybe useful. Consider decorating your window sill with a basil or parsley plant, or sharing an apple tree with the neighbour. A friend recently decided to use wooden pallets to create a pallet herb garden, an amazing idea to accumulate possibilities! The Royal Horticultural Society has created a free portal for those keen to learn more about plants and gardening.
20. Attract some bees into your life
    There is a lot of fear over the health and safety of bees, as climate change and habitat loss continues, bees have been a subject of consideration for environmental communities. Bumblebees, specifically, help with the polarization and fertilisation of wild flora and plantations. This year, why not plant some bee-friendly wild flowers?
21. Reconsider your car
    For those who drive to work, or their kids to school, not having a car would be impractical. However, as remote working becomes more normalised, this need may start to become a consideration. Yet, for those who do not commute too often, perhaps reconsidering their need to own a car may be applicable. A car has very high and consistent costs, varying from tax, insurance, repairs, parking and fuel, as well as being polluting. Instead, consider using public transport or a bicycle, and perhaps renting – or sharing – a car, rather than owning one.
22. Be curious about the environment
    Read. Talk to others. Join charitable causes, or organisations. Donate money or your time. Participate in groups. Start new activities. Observe nature around you. Recycle. Choose fresh food. Subscribe to information. Invite change. Improve.

2022 is now here, full of possibilities. Change is always coming, consistently happening, even if slowly, and we now have new opportunities to engage and apply these to our own lives as we become more aware. We hold responsibilities, within ourselves, our families and our communities. Above that, we hold the inspiring fact that we are always growing and developing as individuals, and therefore we also are a greater part of that change.

Our partner, Little Footsteps (LFS), would like to say hello!

Cal, a Global Footsteps member and co-founder of Little Footsteps (with former Global Footsteps’ trustee Zuzana Neil), manages Little Footsteps, an international parent and children’s group (0-4 years old).

Since re-opening in June, LFS had a steady stream of new parents and children who have not been able to access such groups since the first lockdown. 

Some parents tell us that LFS has been the first interaction they and their babies/toddlers have had with other families. It is a social experience for both parents and children!

Both parents and us are delighted and relieved to have a regular playgroup to go to as many other groups have been unable to re-open. 

We would like to invite you or anyone you know to volunteer with LFS.
This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in socialising with diverse groups of people, interacting with children and building a sense of fulfilment and community. 

When and where LFS meet?

• Meetings happen every Thursday morning during term time at the Quaker Meeting House, in Warwick Place. The space was recently refurbished, bringing some light into open rooms, and a new spongy surface to the outdoor area, which is much safer for the children to play on.
• The Quaker Meeting House became a local Sanctuary Meeting in 2018, and LFS became eligible to use the building for free. For that, we are very grateful to the Quakers. 

How many families attend?

• We have 15 families attending regularly. 
• The average attendance per session is 6 -10 families, and these figures have not changed since LFS opened in 2016. 
• Pre-Covid, families mostly came from Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Egypt, India, Lithuania and the UK. 
• Since we re-opened in June, families are predominantly UK based.

If you are interested to learn more, attend or volunteer, please contact Cal Anton-Smith at littlefootsteps55@gmail.com

Information provided by Cal Anton-Smith

What’s been happening lately with our partners, the Aniga Women? They live in a very rural area, in Kisumu county in Kenya, on the shores of Lake Victoria, and many of them are farmers. We were excited to hear that they want to set up a farming co-operative to grow crops resistant to a changing climate, thereby increasing the resilience of the community.

This sounded like a great idea, but we didn’t know how it might work in practice. So, to start with, we have been working with Professor Kenny Lynch and interns from the University of Gloucestershire, who did some research into the local situation and what crops might be suitable. Following the women’s suggestion of cassava and orange fleshed sweet potatoes, the research indicated that sweet potatoes would be most suitable.

Global Footsteps secured funding to pay local experts in Kenya to work with the women on a feasibility study and project proposal to confirm whether and how the project would work, and of course, how much it would cost.

That work has now been completed, and the reports we have had from the local consultant have been excellent, confirming that sweet potatoes would be the best crop to concentrate on. The feasibility study found that:

• Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) are a suitable crop for a changing climate, being resistant to drought and heat.
• Farmyard manure is the only fertiliser needed, and only the vines will need irrigation.
• There is demand for sweet potatoes, both as food for the farming community and for sale locally.
• Sweet potatoes can be processed into flour or purée, therefore bringing “value added” benefits and increasing the shelf-life and flexibility of the crop.
• Equipment for farming and processing is relatively simple and cheap.
• Health benefits for local families are considerable, notably to address vitamin A deficiency.

The project proposal details how the project will work. It aims to:

• Train smallholder farmers who have agreed to use part of their land to grow sweet potatoes, in partnership with the Kenyan government local agricultural office.
• Set up community nutrition groups to support families to grow and understand the health benefits of sweet potatoes and how they can be used.
• Establish vine multiplication sites to produce the planting materials for the smallholders and families in the community nutrition groups.
• Establish demonstration sites to showcase best farming practice.
• Set up marketing groups to work co-operatively to sell and process surplus crops.

In addition to growing crops resilient to a changing climate, thereby producing food for their own use and for sale locally, the project will increase the income of participating families, as well as reducing infant mortality and malnutrition. This small scale but co-operative farming is kind to the environment. A total of 960 families will benefit directly over three years. The project particularly targets households led by women.

In round figures, the total cost of the project over 3 years is £73,000, with £53,000 to be raised in the UK by the charity, and £20,000 contributed by the Aniga Women towards staff and admin. The funds we raise will be for staff and training costs, and equipment. After three years it should be self-sufficient and sustainable.

This is an important project, helping one of those vulnerable communities that has contributed the least to climate breakdown but is on the frontline of its effects. It contributes to 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals https://sdgs.un.org/goals. So the next step is to raise the money! We are hoping to use a variety of methods – applying for grants, crowd funding, corporate sponsorship, fundraising events. Let us know if you have any ideas.

Written by Alison Crane

Recently, Global Footsteps trustees met up with Councillor Max Wilkinson to share ideas on how the charity can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Max is Cheltenham Borough Council member for climate and communities, and lead member on the “Cheltenham Zero” initiative which includes the commitment for Cheltenham to become a carbon neutral borough by 2030. 

We showed him what we were doing already, with our highly insulated building in Portland Street, which uses renewable energy for lighting, heating and power. As well as generating electricity, we hope that we can generate ideas amongst businesses, community groups and households in the town, showing them how they may reduce their dependence on fossil fuels as well.

Global Footsteps undertook a major eco-refurbishment of our building about 10 years ago. It was in very poor repair, and we wanted to show how we could make the necessary improvements as environmentally-friendly as possible. 

It is a typical building for central Cheltenham, of Regency appearance although built slightly later. The improvements show what can be done with a Regency-style building to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions and improve the environment. This retrofit included good insulation, renewable energy, and low energy lighting.

The side and back walls at first and second floor level have 200mm celotex insulation and panel cladding on the outside.

The front walls and ground floor are insulated on the inside, with insulated plasterboard, so that the appearance at the front isn’t changed, and so that the side path isn’t too narrow.

Windows were previously aluminium framed and badly fitting. Now they are mainly sash windows with double glazed secondary glazing, more in keeping with the building, as well as being much less draughty.

The roof was in very poor repair, so was completely replaced with a well insulated flat roof, giving space for solar panels and an air source heat pump.

The four solar PV panels generate electricity, and the display in the shop above the door to the stairs shows how much has been generated, and how much CO2 saved.

The solar thermal panel heats the water and stores it in a well insulated cylinder.

The air source heat pump provides central heating using renewable energy, extracting heat from the air. It provides underfloor heating, with controls in each room.

The lighting is a mixture of LED lights, with dimmable low energy lights and automatic lighting to the stairs and toilets.

The Global Footsteps charity can arrange tours of the building, as we did for Max Wilkinson. There is access to the roof, which offers great views as well as close-ups of renewable energy. We hope to be arranging showcase events, as well as offering individual tours. We can also answer questions and give more details on energy savings if you are thinking of improving your own home or business using some of this technology. Contact Alison on alisoncrane57@gmail.com