What happened in Turkana | Happy New Year of 2026

Report on the Journey and Community Engagement Conducted on 13th & 14th December 2025 in Lokichar and Kainuk Communities in Turkana 1. Introduction This report documents the community engagement activities carried out by the Tales Family Team on 13th December 2025 in Lokichar and 14th December 2025 in Kainuk. The report highlights travel, reception, daily activities, beneficiaries reached, challenges encountered, community reflections, and the way forward. 2. Travel and Preparation The Tales Family Team departed Nairobi on 11th December 2025 at 2:00 a.m. and traveled to Kitale. On 12th December 2025, the team procured food supplies intended for distribution to the communities in Lokichar and Kainuk. 3. Day One Activities – 13th December 2025 (Lokichar Community)Turkana south 3.1 Reception Upon arrival in Lokichar, the team was warmly received by community leader:Samwel Emeto, members, and pastor Donald Ekitile The reception included opening prayers, introductions, and a briefing on the objectives of the visit. 3.2 Activities Conducted The following activities were carried out in Lokichar: Formal meeting with community leadership Prayer and fellowship sessions led by pastor Donald Ekitile and Lydia Akaale Awareness and consultative discussions Interactive community engagement forums Food distribution as an act of love and support 3.3 Beneficiaries Reached – Lokichar A total of 156 people were fed in Lokichar, categorized as follows: 50 elderly women 50 men 50 street Ladies (prostitutes) and vulnerable individuals, including 6 door-to-door randomly selected homes 4. Day Two Activities – 14th December 2025 (Kainuk Community) 4.1 Reception On 14th December 2025, our Second Day 4.2 Activities Conducted Activities in Kainuk mirrored those in Lokichar and included: Leadership and community meetings Prayer services and fellowship led by Selina Akuam Community awareness and consultative forums Interactive sessions involving local students and street ladies from both communities Distribution of food supplies to vulnerable household 4.3 Beneficiaries Reached – Kainuk A total of 156 people were fed in Kainuk, categorized as follows: 50 elderly women 50 men 50 street ladies(prostitutes) and vulnerable individuals, including 6 door-to-door randomly selected homes. 5. Summary of Beneficiaries Across both communities, the Tales Family Team reached a total of: 312 beneficiaries overall 100 elderly women 100 men 100 street Ladies (prostitutes) and vulnerable individuals including 12 door-to-door families 6.Positive Outcomes and Achievements 6.1 Challenges Encountered Long travel distances and fatigue due to night travel Limited time to engage deeply with all community groups High levels of need compared to the available resources Logistical constraints in transporting and distributing supplies During the mission, the following challenges were experienced: Delay in delivery of food supplies from Kitale suppliers, which affected the program schedule. Loss of some food packages due to the involvement of untrusted volunteers. Missing food packages, suspected to have been stolen during the packing process. These challenges highlighted the need for improved logistics management and stricter accountability measures. 7. Identified Community Needs One of the major needs identified during discussions was education,joint activity for street ladies and elderly women bead work. Support for school-going children Access bead work materials Assistance for vulnerable families struggling with school fees Long-term educational empowerment initiatives Education and practicing poutry faming for street ladies emerged as a key area where sustainable intervention could significantly improve community well-being. 7.1 Way Forward/Next plan Based on the engagement outcomes, the Tales Family Team proposes the following next steps: Conduct regular follow-up visits to Lokichar and Kainuk Strengthen coordination with pastors and community leaders Develop education-focused support programs Plan structured food security and empowerment initiatives Mobilize resources and partnerships to ensure sustainability Engaging only vetted and trusted volunteers Improving supervision during packing and distribution Strengthening supplier coordination to avoid delays Enhancing record-keeping and beneficiary verification 8. Conclusion The community engagement conducted on 13th December 2025 in Lokichar and 14th December 2025 in Kainuk was impactful despite logistical challenges. The mission strengthened community relationships, met immediate needs, and provided valuable insights for improving future outreach activities.