In 1998, after
a visit by Mike Thomas (FIOH UK) we brainstormed and ventured into
new areas. This involved setting up womens cooperatives as a way of
addressing high levels of poverty and using the Agenda 21 framework.
We have bean able to improve many poor peoples lives through training
the lead women starting in 2002, the beautification of Kisumu town
through planting trees and shrubs in the town centre and in schools.
The Jomo Kenyatta Highway Island project is a show case. All these
have been possible due to the cooperation with partners including
Kame, Liojns Club, the Municipal Council of Kisumu and the relevant
government departments, foreign and local volunteers, FIOH UK, AidCamps
International and FIOH USA (which is to be registered soon due to
the efforts of Michele Sprada and Linda Glaeser, SSJ).
We have also had
success in other areas such as health, including the health centre
at Buburi, HIV/AIDS programmes, collaboration with the Pandiperi Health
Programme (now renamed KUAP). KUAP has been instrumental in building
the capacity of most of our volunteers through training ranging from
peer educators to trainer of trainers. This has resulted in FIOHK
having volunteers who are highly skilled and can handle many health
issues affecting our communities.
The education
programme that was launched in 1998 has enabled many poor children
to go to school. Some are currently in college and others are yet
to join colleges. Schools have also benefitted, through trips we have
arranged to the Kakamega forest, mobile library services, supply of
textbooks, desks, cupboards, wall maps, trophies, balls, etc. Our
help in establishing school environment clubs has led to the improvement
of school environments.
Despite these
achievements, we have also had challenges, especially the shortage
of volunteers. Those we have also have other jobs. This means that
we have not been able to address the needs of the communities we serve
as we would like. We now rely heavily on secondary school leavers
who were beneficiaries in the education programme. This is proving
successful.
The research that
was carried out at Awasi, Ponge, Koru and Chemelil on the effects
of sugar plantations and the closure of the sugar industries, led
to the establishment of a model organic farm.
People of the area can now grow horticultural crops around the year.
This was made possible by a grant of £1,000 from the FIOH Education
and Development Fund, UK. The communities now grow corn for domestic
consumption. I am happy to note that these groups share, not only
the skills gained, but also the seedlings and seeds. The Awasi group
donated cassava stems for the Kisumu group while the Busia group supplied
the Seme group with cassava, potato vines and members to teach them
how to plant. We hope that all FIOH affiliated groups will continue
to share with others, not only in Kenya, but with the neighbouring
countries and beyond.
We have also carried
out surveys on HIV/AIDS and poverty. The target areas have been urban
slums and the countryside. The data is being analysed. In this regard
the book, The Poor Man's Banker, has been of great help. I have experimented
with livestock keeping and the results are a show case. In 2002 I
bought a calf for Kshs 6,000 (about £40). In December 2003 she
gave birth to her first calf and since then every December, she has
had a calf. She produces an average of 5 litres of milk per day. Each
year I miss milking her for 2 months when she is allowed to rest before
calving again. I have employed a similar procedure with goats.
All in all my
special thanks go to Mike Thomas who has been my inspiration through
the support of reading books on issues that affect communities and
his commitment to highlighting the inequalities of the rich and poor
and between the developed and undeveloped countries. The FIOH International
bottom-up approach is really commendable as it enables poor people
to think for themselves ways of overcoming poverty and having the
future in their own hands.
