Update from BHW Kenya Partnership Facilitators

Key Person: Jacklyne Ogutu

Once again, we have been unable to visit Jackie and the Lean on Me partnership in the last 12-months due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. 

Recent Events

Table Banking

The table banking was greatly affected by Covid as the members were unable to meet to do their normal transactions, movement was restricted, and public spaces like the marketplaces were closed. This resulted in the members losing their sources of income and therefore being unable to repay their loans. Only one group remained stable because it was formed by teachers with a constant income coming in from their salaries. This year is about picking up the table banking programmes with refresher trainings, formation of groups and re-grouping.  

Re-usable Pads Project

Jackie said that there was a time where things felt dark and hopeless. It seemed that all her projects were crumbling, even the re-usable pads programme could not continue due to Covid restrictions. She said that when Bright Hope World continued to support her and her projects, she found a new light and hope. When they received the next lot of funds in December 2021, they were able to start building the project back up again. They purchased all the materials they needed, and production begun again. She believes with the government now lifting most of the restrictions they will be able to distribute again in May and June when the schools re-open. 

Girls' Soccer Team

The soccer tournament was a huge success. Jackie said: “We have this time for the girls to share their feelings, challenges and motivations. This is the time we have to bring out their personalities, build their self-esteem and team building skills. Thanks to Bright Hope for supporting the team's uniforms which they now have in red and yellow. With the same support for the girls, we were able to reach out to four schools, distributed disposable pads and panties to over 400 girls, and also reached out to 150 young boys with boxers for them to be part of the girls support system.

In curbing Covid-19 we also distributed surgical facial masks for both school pupils and their teachers.”

Micro Agriculture Programme

They are currently in the initial stages of introducing the micro-agriculture programme; training  group members, researching local poultry breeds, goats and vegetable farming. 

Jackie

The last two years have been challenging for Jackie and her family due to the pandemic. Fred, her husband, lost his job which was their main source of income. This led to several setbacks for them personally and also for the projects. Despite this Jackie is thankful that they are all in good health. Their children are now 19, 13 and 4. They have also welcomed in another girl who is 13 to live with them.    

Partnership's Influence within the Community

The number of girls enrolled for last year’s National Exams in the schools they mentor has increased which is very encouraging. Their overall performances have improved now, and they always top the boys. The boys have asked why only the girls are benefiting from these programmes and so they have also started working with the boys giving them boxer shorts.

Now other schools are requesting that they come and support the students with sanitary products and health talks, handwashing and providing them with water tanks. They do not have the capacity to reach all the schools in the area, but they feel it is a compliment to the Lean on Me programme. They have been able to include two new schools in their programmes. 

Current Issues and Challenges

i) There is a lot of pressure to extend the programme to other schools, but they are not financially able to give this support due to a lack of adequate funds. They are doing their best by reaching out to the boys so that they do not feel left out. In line with this they want to invest in producing more re-usable pads to support many more girls.

ii) Table banking became a challenge especially during the Covid-19 pandemic which struck the nation affecting the economy. Paying back the table loans became a big struggle for the members as they were financially strained. Members lost their businesses and income generating activities making it very hard to sustain the groups.

iii) A number of schools are approaching Lean On Me to support them with hand washing containers and water tanks since they started the wash programmes in the two schools that they support. Even though they would like to support them, they do not have the resources to do so. 

Prayer and Praise Points

Prayer

1) Family financial breakthrough, as they continue to work and support their community.
2) Jackie’s daughter Cameron is sitting her end of primary level exams (KCPE) in November.
3) To be able to set up a resource/Life Skills Training Centre.
4) Prayer for a peaceful election year
5) Prayer for the table banking programme to re-establish and begin running effectively again.
6) Prayer for protection and provision for the project
7) Prayer for all the young people that the programme reaches.
8) Prayer for the micro-agriculture programme. That God’s hand will be upon it and it would be prosperous. 

Praise  

This year looks bright since the Covid-19 pandemic has gone down and the government has lifted Covid protocols therefore the school programmes can resume. Churches are also getting back to full capacity.

Comments

Jackie has put forward the idea of starting a Life Skills Training Centre in the community. There is a massive need from the schools and the community to train their young people in skills such as tailoring, barbering, beauty and salon, catering, and other technical trainings so they can become self-sustaining. They are seeing a number of young people dropping out of education due to the fees or early pregnancy.

This would be a big undertaking for Jackie and her team. I will begin the process by getting her to put a plan together before we move any further.