The Birth of Our Mission
Butihama story
In 2020, during a visit to the Butihama Indigenous village in rural Songea, we encountered a heartbreaking scene that changed our lives forever. Under a dry tree, we found three children lying weakly on the ground. Two of them were so frail they couldn’t even stand. Their mother, Maimuna, held them close as they cried out, “Mama NONO, Mama NONO.” Alarmed, we rushed to her side. Through tears, she told us that their maize had run out and the nearest water source was far away. Hunger and thirst had brought her children to the brink.
We took the children immediately to Songea Regional Hospital, but the youngest, just 9 months old, died on the way. It was the first time we witnessed death so directly in the community. The other two were admitted for treatment, but tragically, the 2-year-old died after two weeks. Only the eldest, aged 6, survived.It became clear: the climate crisis had not only destroyed their crops but was now claiming the lives of their children. That pain became our purpose. In response, we came together and founded NONO in 2020 to fight hunger, restore hope, and protect vulnerable lives from the devastating impact of climate change.
The Food "First" Cry
NONO is often the first swahili word a child in our community speak a simple, heartfelt cry for food. When a child says “NONO,” they are asking their mother for something to eat and nourishing. In local meaning, NONO refers to a delicious meal or satisfying food. It reflects hope and trust that food will come. When we named our organization NONO, we honored this first innocent word of need. It reminds us daily why we work to answer that call and ensure no child cries “NONO” and goes unheard or unfed again.