“The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing ‘when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life’. Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as having both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences. In many countries, health problems related to dietary access are an ever increasing threat. In fact, malnutrition and foodborne diarrhea are becoming a double burden” (World Health Organization, 2012).

Kanyawegi is a fishing village with a generally lush landscape; however, many of the villagers do not meet all of the tenets of food security. There are a number of complexities shaping food security in the village, and in response to this, the FSN team was developed in 2008 to address issues relating to the three pillars of food security: food availability, food access and food use. The FSN team recruits students with experience or knowledge in nutrition and/or agriculture, and in partnership with UBC professors and local organizations, develops a wide range of interventions designed to mitigate the effects of food insecurity in Kanyawegi.

2008-2009:

• Conducted quantitative and qualitative assessments on household food security and nutrition under the supervision of Dr. Judy McLean, PhD in Human Nutrition and professor at the University of British Columbia.
• Based on the needs identified from the 2008-2009 assessment, breastfeeding workshops were provided for mothers in Kanyawegi by a certified lactation counselor.

2010:

• As a follow-up to breastfeeding workshops, infant and young-child feeding workshops were conducted.
• A curriculum was developed and adapted to suit a Kenyan context with the guidance of Dr. Judy McLean.
• Workshops were provided for mothers in the community.
• The team trained a local woman to act as the workshop facilitator and conduct the training session in the local Luo language.

2011:

• Conducted a community needs assessment with regards to local agricultural practices.
• Partnered with the Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK) to provide agriculture education on community-identified topics.
• Provided workshops for Community Health Workers (CHWs) on maternal health, infant and young-child feeding, and micronutrient deficiencies.
• Piloted a sack garden project in the community, starting with 2 gardens at the Ober Kamoth Health Centre.

Plans for 2012:

• Conduct follow-up training with the CHWs on maternal health, infant and young-child feeding, and micronutrient deficiencies.
• Scale up the sack garden pilot project from 2011, in collaboration with the GIVE Health team.
• Continue to provide agriculture training sessions based on community-identified topics through our partnership with the GLUK.
• Work with local organizations and partners to research feasibility and sustainability of future projects.