Children and Community Partnerships: Building Food Security in Kisumu, Kenya

A Journey Rooted in Partnership

Between June and August this year, I dedicated nine transformative weeks in Kenya to conducting fieldwork for my PhD research. My study investigates how policies influence food environments and how communities, through their initiatives and collaborations with community organizations, are improving food security and impacting their food systems. Although the fieldwork was essential for my research, it evolved into something far greater—an experience that redefined my understanding of collaboration, trust, and humility in community-based research.

My work was in partnership with COHESU (Community Health Support),who’s mission aligns closely with my research interests in sustainable food systems and health equity, making it a suitable collaborator. This connection was made possible through my supervisor, Professor Susan Elliott, whose longstanding relationship with COHESU opened doors for meaningful engagement.

As I reflect on this experience, one resounding lesson stands out: the value of meaningful partnerships. The success of my fieldwork was not merely in data collected or objectives achieved, but in the mutual learning, respect, and shared vision that defines this collaboration.

Working with COHESU: A Model of Community-Driven Development

COHESU’s programs are diverse — from research partnerships with universities and development partners, to community-based interventions addressing health, education, and environmental sustainability. For my project, I worked closely with their Self-Education and Mentorship (SEAM) Program, an initiative that nurtures children and youth by equipping them with life skills, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.

The SEAM program embodies what community empowerment looks like in practice. Every Saturday, over 50 children of different ages gather at COHESU’s premises for an engaging blend of learning and play. During school holidays, such as in August during my visit, these sessions become even more vibrant.

Through SEAM, I witnessed firsthand how food security can be strengthened from the ground up, with children playing a surprisingly significant role. Their involvement in food-related activities from gardening to nutrition education highlighted how young people can be powerful agents of change within their communities.

SEAM and the Role of Children in Food Security

One of the most inspiring aspects of SEAM is how it integrates food, learning, and community. The program’s out-of-school and holiday sessions show that children are not passive recipients in the food system, rather, they are active contributors. They engage in activities such as gardening, composting, and cooking, and through these experiences, they begin to understand the links between food, health, and sustainability.

Children at COHESU’s SEAM program are exposed to indigenous foods and sustainable agricultural practices, including composting and organic gardening. They learn how to plant and care for vegetables and fruits, which not only supplements their nutrition but also provides hands-on lessons in environmental stewardship. Many of them have taken these lessons home, encouraging their parents to start kitchen gardens that now supply fresh produce to their households.

Beyond gardening, the children participate in arts and crafts such as weaving and basket-making; activities that reinforce creativity and circularity. The day’s activities often end with shared, nutritious meals, ensuring that learning is coupled with nourishment. What struck me most was how these seemingly small acts ripple through families and the broader community. Through intergenerational learning, children have become nutrition champions, influencing family eating habits and helping promote local, sustainable food practices.

Intergenerational Learning and the Power of Collaboration

During my time at COHESU, I was deeply moved by the sense of community that surrounds the SEAM program. One of the key highlights was witnessing how the initiative promotes intergenerational learning. For instance, the children learned to make baskets from old tapes ,a skill passed down from a local women’s group. This activity not only taught them resourcefulness and creativity but also connected them to the wisdom of older generations, reinforcing social bonds and environmental consciousness.

This practice of circularity where knowledge, materials, and care flow between generations captures COHESU’s philosophy of sustainable development. It also reflects the broader lesson I took away from this experience: that meaningful change often emerges from collaboration across ages, disciplines, and geographies.

Community-Led Food Security Initiatives

Beyond SEAM, COHESU’s engagement with the wider community further illustrates their holistic approach to food security. The organization supports local households by providing seeds, seedlings, and agricultural extension services. Through training and advisory programs, community members gain the skills needed to establish kitchen gardens and adopt sustainable farming practices.

During interviews, one community member told me:

“The only support I have received is from COHESU.”

This statement encapsulated the critical role that local organizations play in bridging service gaps, particularly where government programs have yet to reach. It reaffirmed my belief that grassroots partnerships are essential for advancing food and nutrition security in rural areas.

What I Learned

My fieldwork experience taught me lessons that extend far beyond the scope of my research.

1. The Value of Meaningful Partnerships

Working with COHESU underscored the importance of building trust and reciprocity in research. Partnerships grounded in respect and shared purpose lead to richer insights and more sustainable impact. The collaboration between COHESU, my supervisor, and the University of Waterloo demonstrated how academic research can align with community priorities to produce outcomes that matter.

2. Children as Agents of Change

Through the SEAM program, I learned that children are not just beneficiaries of food security interventions but leaders in their own right. Their enthusiasm for gardening, learning about indigenous foods, and influencing family practices shows that children can shape their food environments when given the opportunity.

3. The Importance of Listening and Humility

Engaging with community members reminded me that meaningful research begins with listening. The communities I worked with possess deep, lived knowledge about food, environment, and resilience. Approaching fieldwork with humility allowed me to learn from them, not just about them.

4. Intergenerational Learning Strengthens Sustainability

The way SEAM weaves together the wisdom of older generations and the creativity of youth provides a model for sustainable, community-driven change. From knowledge transfer from women teaching weaving to children learning composting, ensures that cultural and ecological wisdom continues to thrive.

5. Research Must Be Grounded in Real-World Impact

This experience reaffirmed my commitment to bridging research and practice. Observing COHESU’s work showed me how policies and community actions intersect to influence rural food environments. It is in these intersections that sustainable and equitable food systems take root.

Closing Reflections

As I look back on my fieldwork, I carry with me not just data and observations, but stories of resilience, collaboration, and transformation. The children who proudly spoke about their gardens, the community members who shared their experiences, and the dedicated COHESU team all contributed to a deeper understanding of what it means to actively shape our food environments.

This experience also deepened my appreciation for the role of community organizations like COHESU in advancing the global goals for sustainable development. Their work demonstrates that achieving food security requires not only policies and programs but also partnerships rooted in trust, shared learning, and respect for local knowledge.

I am deeply grateful to Professor Susan Elliott for her mentorship and to the COHESU team for their generosity and dedication. I also acknowledge the University of Waterloo for supporting my research and fieldwork.

In many ways, my time in Kenya reminded me that building equitable and sustainable food systems is not simply an academic pursuit; it is a collective journey of listening, learning, and growing together.