Carl Frampton has said that the “heartbreaking” poverty he witnessed during a trip to Kenya with Trócaire will stay him for the rest of his life.
Frampton and his wife Christine travelled to the east African country to see work being carried out by Trócaire as part of the Irish charity’s Christmas Appeal.
In Kenya, and its neighbouring regions, over three million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. And that number is expected to rise sharply as the effects of prolonged, devastating drought continue to take a massive toll.
At a Trócaire feeding centre for malnourished children he met young mothers and babies receiving emergency food.
“One thing I will never forget was when a doctor was explaining about how this small gel-like package (which is just mushed up oils and nuts) is very good for the children…this toddler, about 3 years of age, came up to him begging for it. I’d never seen anything like it.”
“So, right away, we were hit in the face by the reality of the problems and how the support Trócaire brings to the community can quite literally be the difference between life and death.”
The former two weight world champion also met young boxers at Mukuru slum in Nairobi. One of Africa’s largest slums where poverty, disease and violence is rife.
“The suffering, the squalor and poverty that so many are enduring is heartbreaking, but then on the other side, there is the great work that is being done.
“It’s massively important to support the Trócaire Christmas appeal. People back home are very charitable, but seeing it first hand, I don’t think you could prepare yourself for something like this. “It was a short trip to raise awareness of Trócaire’s Christmas Appeal, but for us the memories will stick with us for the rest of our lives.” Trócaire is currently reaching 150,000 throughout the East Africa region, where 25 million people across Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia are facing desperate hunger.
For more information on Trócaire’s work or to donate to the Christmas Appeal go to www.trocaire.org or call 0800 912 1200.
–Belfast Newsletter
