Blog by Vallary Akinyi, Community Nutrition Champion, with support from Maureen Onyango, CFK Africa Communications & Advocacy Lead.
My name is Vallary Akinyi. I live in Kibera, and I am part of CFK Africa’s community nutrition program. I have been in the group for six months now, and I can attest that it has since changed how I look at health, motherhood, and myself.
I am a first-time, expectant mother, and I was drawn to the program because I wanted to understand how to care for myself and my baby with proper nutrition.
CFK brings together mentors, community champions, and CFK’s nutrition officers, creating a safe space where we learn and grow together. We meet every Friday to learn about nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy. We also explore how to keep our families healthy using simple, locally available foods. The program is not just about what we eat, but also about how we care, share knowledge, and build stronger communities through nutrition.
Economic Empowerment Leads to Better Nutrition
My work, however, doesn’t end at the nutrition desk. I am also part of a soap-making group, a small initiative that CFK helped us start, which has now grown into something completely community-driven. Today, we produce and sell at least 30 litres of soap every week to our neighbors right here in Kibera. Producing soap has become a consistent source of income and savings for many of us. This economic empowerment is directly tied to better nutrition, as we become able to afford nutritious food and access basic healthcare services.
The soap-making group has become a space where we learn financial discipline, business ethics, and how to work together for a common goal. Each week, a small portion of what we earn goes into our group savings kitty. Over time, this has not only strengthened our ability to save, but also opened up opportunities for more entrepreneurial activity and growth. Personally, I think this journey was eye-opening. I have learned how to turn knowledge into action, both in nutrition and in building a more secure future for my family.
My Learnings: What Nutrition is to Me
Nutrition is not just about eating clean or healthy foods. It is also about the care we give, especially to young children under the age of five. As mothers, we have to go beyond the plate. Cleanliness, safe water, and good hygiene are just as important. In our nutrition sessions, we learn and teach each other the importance of treating drinking water, using water tablets or WaterGuard, and the need to practice handwashing at all times. These small habits make a big difference. They improve the health of our families and increase our chances of raising healthy, well-nourished children.
I have become a big advocate for nutrition because I have lived through the transformation myself. Over the past six months, I have seen the difference in my health, in my knowledge, and in how I care for myself and others.
I believe that women of substance can come from anywhere, even the heart of Kibera. It does not matter where you start. What matters is believing in yourself and taking the first step.
Support community champions like Vallary in leading change in slums with a donation to CFK Africa.