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Mothers' worried faces haunt Oakville resident By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As the worst drought in 60 years continues to cause widespread suffering throughout the Horn of Africa, help is on the way. Oakville resident and Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) CEO Mark Lukowski witnessed this aid effort firsthand during a recent visit to Kenya and Ethiopia. The purpose behind the trip, Lukowski said, was to view the relief operations, witness how the support from Canadians has been helping and to meet affected families to better understand their plight. One of Lukowski's first stops was to a CCFC medical health post located in the Langano area of southern Ethiopia where local children were being inspected for malnutrition. The drought, which began in mid-July, has resulted in a food crisis across much of Somolia, Ethiopia and Kenya where an estimated 13 million people have been affected. "The thing that was dramatically evident to me was the children were not energetic," said Lukowski of his tour of the health post. "Usually, (when) you get a group of kids together you will find they are jumpy, energetic, full of life, but this group wasn't and that was because they were severely malnourished. So it was very quiet and sombre." 7 · Thursday, November 3, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com PHOTO BY PHILIP MAHER PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE: Women head home after receiving emergency food rations at a health post in the Horn of Africa. Oakville resident and Christina Children's Fund of Canada CEO Mark Lukowski witnessed the aid effort during a recent trip to review who, and how, Canadian aid is helping. The worried faces of the mothers haunt Lukowski. At one point during the trip, he asked a woman what she did when her child cried from hunger. The mother replied that she just wants to run away as she cannot bear to see him in pain and not be able to help him. "That stayed with me for many days," said Lukowski. "I'm a parent as well and so I can just imagine the pain she was going through. As a parent you want to protect and look after your children, but when there is so much frustration and you have no solution, it's really tough." Lukowski said there is hope thanks to donations from Canadians. The CCFC was able to establish a supplemental feeding program at the health post for children identified as severely malnourished. "This helps them at least get back to normalcy in terms of their weight and health," said Lukowski. The CEO also visited a village in Kenya where CCFC has initiated a school program where each lunch the children receive a cup of protein mix. For many children this mix may be the only food they get during the day. Lukowski talked about the importance of f making sure the youngsters get this meal. See Staving page 8 30 Anniversary th Celebrating 30 years. Featuring Chef Stephan's 3 course prix fixe menu for $30.00 or regular a la carte menu. Due to overwhelming demand our th 30 Anniversary menu is extended to November 16th. Daily prize Draw. MENU Michael's Traditional Caesar Salad or Fresh Tomato and Beet Carpaccio, Provolone Cheese and Baby Frisee with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing or Chef's Daily Soup Creation Wild Nunavut Arctic Char Medallions with a champagne, Cream Sauce or Butternut Squash and Ricotta stuffed Tortellini in a Roasted Bacon, Vodka Sauce or Peppercorn Crusted Roasted Black Angus Sirloin, with a Rosemary, y Barolo Wine Sauce or Homemade Tri Coloured Fusilli with Crab & Baby Shrimp in a Velvet Rose Sauce Garnished with Mussels and Clams or Ontario, Grain Fed Breast of Chicken Supreme with a butter Poached Peach and Calvados Sauce Michael's Back Door's Dessert Selection $30.00 Grand Prize Trip to a Niagara Winery includes, one night accommodation, dinner for two and winery tour. 1715 Lakeshore Road West Mississauga, Ontario 905.822.5751 www.michaelsbackdoor.com