What to eat? Too many choices.
By Gabriel Stauring
Even here, I have a hard time deciding what to eat for my one “large” meal a day. I brought tuna, different kinds of ready-made soups, lentils, and pastas. I am not that hungry most of the day, and we think it’s the heat. Two out of my three teammates here feel the same, but Felicia seems to eat about us much as all of us combined, and she’s the smallest of us all!
I must say, though, that when I do eat one of my meals, it tastes like heaven. My pasta marinara last night was perfect—for being in Chad, that is. I don’t stop drinking water, and even though I’m in the camp all day, I never have to go pee until after we return to the compound, get out of the sun, and rehydrate some more.
Yesterday, we visited the food distribution center at camp Goz Amer. We followed a young mother, as she received the monthly ration, which often takes thirty-five days or more to come around again. She received small quantities of oil, salt, peanuts, and sorghum. At the end, we talked with her, and she told us that she has two children. The food that they gave her, which she can all carry herself, will last her less than two weeks.
Most mothers we have been visiting since last year’s food rations cuts from 2,100 calories per person, per day to 800 tell us that every day they eat porridge and porridge alone. That’s when they have food. There are some days that there is no food, and if their neighbors are out of theirs also, then the family goes to bed without eating.
Tonight, I think I will eat a chicken noodle soup with some crackers, or maybe pasta marinara. Not sure. The picture on the bags look yummy. What a problem to have.
Peace, Gabriel
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Fatima!
By Sara-Christine Dallain
One of our outstanding Little Ripples teachers attended our assessment training today. It was such a pleasure to see her. She is always so sharp and engaged in whatever training and work we’re doing. On one of our previous trips, I asked how many children Fatima wanted, at the time she had two, and she responded, “more, more!” For some reason her response has stayed with me. She exemplifies the woman who does it all. She’s a wife, a mother, a teacher, a friend, a leader, and I’m sure the list goes on.
When we were walking to lunch together, she pulled out her phone to show me that the background image was a picture of her and me! I couldn’t believe it. I was so touched and it struck a chord with me. I always wonder what it must be like for the teachers and others we work with to see us come so briefly and go. It’s something I give a lot of thought to. So to see that Fatima carries an image of me with her was so surprising and so humbling, and a reminder that there are few things in life that more important than connecting with others and continuing to show up.
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More information about food insecurity can be found on our virtual Refugee Rations report.
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