Empower International is an International Ministry of

 

PILOT PROJECT

In Mangu, an agricultural community in Thika District, the HIV/AIDS prevalence in 2002 was 34%. Its main economic source is coffee. Mangu became a central hub of activity because the climate and environment allowed the development of many coffee plantations in a town of 70,000 inhabitants. When field workers came from other communities to work in the coffee plantations, HIV/AIDS increased through prostitutions in Mangu and the field workers who brought the disease to this community. Mangu became one of the hardest hit communities in Kenya from this pandemic.

The consequences of the pandemic have resulted in over 500 grandparents, the average age 65 years, being faced with the challenge of caring for orphans and vulnerable children in Mangu. Many of these single women are attempting to care, not only for their own orphaned grandchildren, but other orphans and vulnerable children in the community. Kathy Ditlevson, Director, met one 72 year old woman who's husband had died and lost her son and daughter to HIV/AIDS. She cares for three grandchildren and two vulnerable children. She gardens 2 1/2 acres and milks a cow and goats. Her water comes from a river where, as she states, "trusts God to protect her from bad water." She says her biggest challenges are having enough food but that, "education and clothing for the children are her greatest challenges." The grandparents have been seeking ways to provide food for these children, pay the children's school and uniform fees, and have manageable projects appropriate for their age to earn additional income.

Two single women grandparents were given 25 chickens each to begin this micro-enterprise. These two grandparents are members of a community association in Mangu of other grandparents. As the chickens grow and produce eggs, they are required to give a percentage of the fertilized eggs to other grandparents in the association. In turn, other grandparents in this association will be required to do the same. The association is a support and accountability system for the grandparents so that the project sustains itself and grows in capacity. And the association reports to Empower International on its progress.

The nutrition from the eggs and the income earned from selling eggs and chickens will feed the children and grandparents and pay the children's school and uniform fees. It is critical to maintain the health of the grandparents so the orphans and vulnerable children can remain in a loving, family environment. Too many orphans and vulnerable children live on the streets without any support. It is the goal of Empower International to provide chickens to 50 grandparents during 2008 so that the project will expand quickly.