There's a moment just before dawn in Turkana County when the sky holds its breath. In this silence, Christine Enoor Eturuka walks her parched fields, her bare feet remembering where crops once grew tall enough to touch the stars. Her children are still asleep at home—their dreams remain untouched by the weight of empty harvests that keeps their mother awake.
Years of relentless drought have hardened the soil, cracking the earth and draining it of life. When the rains come, they arrive with a fury, flooding the arid land and washing away what little Christine has managed to grow.
Each season, she plants with hope, only to watch her crops drown or wither before they can take root. She remembers a time when the harvest was reliable, a time when she could meet her children’s needs with the land’s bounty. But now, she fears that time has passed forever.
Meanwhile, in the nearby village, another threat lies waiting in the dry fields: a thorny, fast-spreading plant called Prosopis juliflora, known locally as “Etirae.” Originally introduced decades ago to combat soil erosion, Etirae has since grown out of control, overtaking fertile land and rendering it unusable for farming. Its deep roots suck the moisture from the ground, competing fiercely with local crops and creating a vicious cycle of scarcity.
Farmers, like Christine, now face a double-edged sword—struggling against both the unpredictable climate and the insidious advance of Etirae.
In the face of these overwhelming challenges, the Agriculture for Community Recovery and Resilience (ACRE) project, operated by our partner Concern Worldwide and funded by International Relief Teams, has become a beacon of change for farmers like Christine. Through the ACRE project, Christine and her neighbors have gained access to new tools, training, and resources that equip them to fight back against both climate devastation and the spread of Etirae.
A central part of ACRE’s success lies in its community-led approach. Community Resource Persons (CoRPs), like Clarrison Areman, have emerged as leaders in this effort, guiding farmers in adopting climate-smart agriculture techniques that help the land retain its nutrients and moisture.
"Together, we can adapt. We can transform our farming practices to withstand drought,” Areman shares, his voice carrying a newfound sense of purpose. By embracing innovative methods, local farmers are not only learning to adapt to the climate but are also finding sustainable ways to resist the spread of Etirae.
Christine, too, has joined hands with her community, working together to clear invasive plants and restore their fields. Through cash-for-work programs provided by International Relief Teams, she earns a small but crucial income, which she uses to feed her children and pay for school fees. As part of this work, she and others have managed to reclaim over 130 acres of land previously dominated by Etirae, making room for life-sustaining crops, like orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
The vision of International Relief Teams and ACRE goes beyond immediate relief—it is about building resilience and long-term food security for families in Turkana. By establishing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), the program empowers farmers with a community-based microfinance model, providing both stability and a sense of ownership over their economic futures. For Christine, these savings mean she can plan beyond the next harvest, and explore other opportunities for her family’s future.
At International Relief Teams, we see the impact of these initiatives ripple out and create a culture of shared resilience in villages, like Christine’s. Farmers are no longer working in isolation, but rather as a community united in the fight against adversity. As they clear fields and strengthen irrigation canals, they’re rebuilding more than just the soil—they’re restoring a sense of agency, possibility, and hope.
These days, Christine stands in her field at dawn, her eyes on the first rays of light breaking over the land, she feels the earth shift beneath her feet—not from drought or flood, but from the slow, steady return of life. Thanks to International Relief Teams’ support, she is no longer alone in this fight. Her children’s future is not bound by the limitations of an unforgiving climate; it is rooted in a newfound resilience that promises a better tomorrow.
Join International Relief Teams in transforming communities across the world. Your support can bring life to barren lands, hope to struggling families, and a future where resilience overcomes adversity. Donate today and together we can sow the seeds of lasting change.
