“Trial and error,” “no clear direction,” “no teaching, no nothing”—these are the words that teachers at Kaboson Primary School in Kenya used to describe how they taught the weekly Christian Religious Education class.

Although the class is required by the Kenyan government, there are no lesson plans provided. Most teachers resorted to simply singing songs, as they didn’t know how to teach Bible stories or use them to explain values by which children should live.

Bullying and other examples of poor discipline were frequent in the school, especially between the boys and girls. 

The sun beats down on the iron sheet metal that covers Potter’s Restoration Fellowship Church in Changamwe, Kenya, creating oven-like temperatures inside.

But 12-year-old Vanessa (pictured right) leads the children’s Bible club, undeterred by the heat as she explains Bible stories, encourages the children to sing praise songs, and organizes a skit that illustrates the lesson they are learning. It might seem doubtful that many children would choose to be inside on such a hot day, but Mary Kombe, the adult leader of the Bible club, says attendance has soared to 70 children from none.

This is a videotaped message from World Vision President Rich Stearns, who had just returned from a trip to northern Kenya, where families are on the brink of disaster.

The East Africa food crisis is monstrous: affecting 25 million people and showing up in ways our writer and photographer team have never before seen. World Vision writer — Kari Costanza — gives us a first-hand snapshot of five ways that hunger is changing the lives of people in Turkana, Kenya.

Note: Article contains graphic imagery

When Christine was 11, her father had plans for her to marry. But Christine said she imagined a different future and dreamed of pursuing an education.

Her family of 10 lived near a World Vision program in West Pokot, Kenya. Among World Vision’s priorities were eradication of female genital mutilation and child marriage, which were rampant in the area.

Christine decided to run away rather than marry, and when World Vision learned of her desperate situation, they stepped in to help.