9-year-old Patience’s Poem as El Niño Drought Threatens Her Dream of becoming a Nurse

9-year-old Patience presents a poem about her dreams, which are threatened by the rising hunger levels caused by the El Nino drought in Zambia. The drought has affected about 9 million people, including over 4 million children.

In her poem, she paints a clear picture of hope, imagining herself wearing a white uniform and helping patients recover. However, rising hunger from the El Niño drought threatens her dream and future. With food shortages across 84 of Zambia's 116 districts, many children like her struggle to attend or focus in school.