Born into the climate crisis
Just three weeks old, Maita* is a beautiful, chubby-cheeked baby.
But she’s been born into the climate crisis. Literally.
When her mum, Juliet*, was about to give birth, she was turned away from the local health clinic because they had no water. A drought in Binga district in Zimbabwe where they live meant water supplies had run dry. So Juliet had to give birth at home, without a midwife or medical equipment. She was terrified her baby wouldn’t survive.
Thankfully Maita is doing well. But for Juliet these are worrying times.
She grows her own crops, but lack of rain means she hasn’t been able to produce enough food.
“The climate is changing,” says Juliet. “We're going hungry because the rain is delayed.”
She says the drought means they also have a serious problem with drinking water. Their local well is often dry or the water is dirty, making them sick.
For baby Maita, born into the climate crisis, what lies ahead? To be able to beat the growing threat of climate-related drought and hunger, her loving and hard-working family must get support. For Maita’s future, it’s critical.
How are we helping?
We’re determined to help children like Maita who are already facing the impact of the climate crisis. We’re giving cash grants to families facing drought so they’re able to buy food. We’re helping communities get clean water by improving water wells or digging new ones. And we’re supporting health workers to identify and treat malnourished children.
* We’ve changed Maita and Juliet’s names to help keep them safe.
Learn more about our work supporting children living through the climate crisis
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