Livelihoods

All stories about Livelihoods

Kenya: Chronicles of a "drought widow" July 16, 2011

One of the saddest things about the current drought in the Horn of Africa is that it’s destroying families. Men go off with livestock to find water — often traveling hundreds of miles for months at a time — or they drop out of pastoral life and flow into towns to look for odd jobs.
Japan: What it looks like coming back to Japan July 14, 2011

Every day that I was away from Japan — while I was eating dinner, watching TV, dancing, laughing with friends, or sleeping on the other side of the world — a small army of police, army, municipal employees and volunteers was at work in tsunami-affected areas.
Kenya: The plight of a “pastoralist drop-out” July 13, 2011

I’m a big fan of visiting markets, especially during Mercy Corps trips. It seems that even in the bleakest parts of the world, markets are vibrant, dynamic and often colorful places.
Ethiopia: Meeting drought-stricken families' urgent needs in Ethiopia July 13, 2011

Even before the current Horn of Africa drought reached its acute stage over the last several days, Mercy Corps was already hard at work on drought response activities throughout the region. So far, the majority of our drought-related activities have been in Ethiopia.
Kenya: Grandmother and granddaughter struggle against the drought July 12, 2011

Nimu Adan and her baby granddaughter in drought-stricken Garissa, Kenya. Their family herds goats, and many of them are sick and starving.
Kenya: Struggling to keep a goat alive July 12, 2011

I arrived in Garissa, Kenya — a city of at least 180,000 people not far from the border with Somalia — today after a long, hot drive from Nairobi. I’ll be in Garissa and areas to the north for the remainder of the week to see how this year’s drought has impacted families in the area.
Japan: The best octopus fisherman in town July 6, 2011
South Sudan: South Sudan - The birth of a nation July 5, 2011

Mercy Corps began programs in South Sudan in 2004 to help devastated communities rebuild after decades of civil war. As South Sudan declares its independence from the north, Mercy Corps staff looks at the progress the people have made in the past six years.
Sudan: Mayol Dau inside his shop July 5, 2011

Mayol Dau does three things in his shop: credit card transfers over the phone, repair of mobile phones and recharging of mobile phone batteries.
Sudan: Mayol Dau outside his shop in Aweng, Sudan July 5, 2011

Fifteen-year-old Mayol Dau started a cell phone business, with help from Mercy Corps, to help his family buy food. Now he's also using the money to pay for school fees to further his studies.