Building on what began in 2020 with merely the alphabet, we have discovered the potential, viability, and logic around educational khangas' (textile) production. When we understood that the foundational goal for young learners is exposure to print, and not necessarily books, a world of opportunity opened for us. We are now pushing our designs beyond just the alphabet and into early readers and foundational math.

Our initial target communities are under-resourced rural populations. In rural areas, traditional paper books face many dangers: water, fire, insects, and dirt. Our textiles will step in with the same content but in a more durable, play-based, and communal manner. We believe our approach to exposing non-readers across Sub-Saharan Africa could have a measurable impact, and we are aiming to find out.

Providing Emergency Food as well as development opportunities for the Maasai in Rombo, Kenya A drought-related food security crisis in Rombo, Kenya is impacting more than 800 families. These families have no food and nothing is growing. ADEA and its local partner, Pillar of Maasai Development, have been providing rations of beans, corn, oil, and salt to these families since May. We are also taking advantage of this unique opportunity of nearly 1000 women gathering every two/three weeks to teach about issues of literacy, food security through home gardens, and to discuss issues related to gender inequity, high birth rates, child brides, and empowering women.  Also, they are uplifted in these hard times by group storytelling and singing.

Since our first crop planting in November of 2020, we now have three full-time PMD members working and learning the farming best practices for our location and situation. Mobile phone technology makes frequent contact with Master Gardener Dara Finnegan possible. We can address challenges and questions immediately and regularly. This reduces crop loss due to delayed responses to questions. Additionally, it familiarizes Dara with the unique agricultural and life realities of Rombo, Kenya. We will be experimenting with crops with a higher yield, greater resilience, and higher nutritional value during each planting season. These, over time, will be introducing other Maasai in the region to plants and techniques for growing crops that can benefit their families.

Mentorship is critical for local sustainability and self-reliance. ADEA is using its programming as an opportunity for mentorship. Douglas provides workshops, challenges, travel experiences, and responsibilities of increasing difficulty to help team members become skilled and confident. The best scenario is to have enough funds so that Douglas rarely leaves his desk and instead sends team members out into the field to learn and gain practical experience. All this is so that they can ultimately manage the programs and their development themselves.