Amid Lockdown, This Indian-Origin Safari Operator Is Feeding 24,000 Families In Kenya
Amid the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, an Indian-origin safari operator based in Kenya is feeding thousands of families there. Pankaj Shah started the initiative after he was devastated to see people starving and struggling to sustain themselves.
¡°People were getting hungry and angry,¡± Shah told Reuters.
According to Reuters, Shah started getting in touch with people who were interested in lending a helping hand. Thankfully, a local school which was closed due to the coronavirus outbreak offered their campus premises as headquarters.
Reuters
Kenya's Asian community, which was officially recognised as the country's 44th tribe three years ago, came together to contribute in every possible way. They brought cheques or truckloads of food that could not be transported due to the suspension of flights.
Meanwhile, the volunteers, who call themselves Team Pankaj, have sent out 24,000 packages of food since March 22. Each hamper contains enough food to last a family of five people for two weeks.
In Kenya, safari operator Pankaj Shah¡¯s team has sent out 24,000 hampers since setting up on March 22, each with enough food to last a family of five for two weeks https://t.co/d5tSxOFpjy pic.twitter.com/zHvmsD00qZ
¡ª Reuters (@Reuters) April 16, 2020
"One old woman told us she hadn¡¯t eaten for days - her sons had stopped supplying her because they have no work," Shah told Reuters. Pankaj Shah finds his spirit for community service from his idol Mother Teresa whom he says he met decades ago in Nairobi.
Reuters
Shah is urging wealthy Kenyans to donate 4,000 Kenya shillings (Rs 2,890) for the food packages. He pointed out that the amount is about the cost of two pizzas and a bottle of wine.
"I just need half the rich people here to care enough to fund a hamper," he said. Two lorries full of food were sent for distribution in Deep Sea slum last week. Residents were given with orange tokens and had to get their fingers inked before getting the boxes and bags of vegetables. Pregnant woman and those with babies were offered help by volunteers.
