Report from BHW Kenya Partnership Facilitators

Key Person: Jacklyn Ogutu

2022 brought some relief and normality as Covid-19 phased out although they continue to take precautions. 

Recent Events

Poultry Farming

Within the last year they have been able to setup a pilot poultry project at the homestead. The aim is to aid in food security and also provide a source of income to all the women involved. They started with 50 chickens and have only lost two. The chickens have all been fully vaccinated and their feed is bought every three weeks. Once the chickens are fully grown, they are distributed to other women.

Since the prototype poultry setup is at Jackie’s mother’s home, she is so excited and has even becoming a trainer in poultry keeping. She is now able to show other women by demonstrating how to mix feeds, administering vaccines to the chicken and reporting almost daily on their progress.

Once they are established and their egg production has increased, they are able to sell for a profit. 

They are looking forward to seeing the project grow and would like to get hatcheries to supply the community with young birds. The other women are eagerly waiting to receive the birds, even eggs to brood at their homes.

Table Banking

The table banking programme is also picking up and initiating new groups. Jidda’s group for teachers is doing great. They have just had a share out in March last month. 

IT Centre

The IT Centre has been set up with the support of Bright Hope World. The Centre is fully equipped with computers and has now opened. They are still working on things like signage and local council licensing. Jackie has said the roll out has been very positive and people have been coming for printing, lamination and photocopying services. An attendant is working with Jackie’s son Euan, training him. 

The Girls

Jackie has said the girl's performance has been amazing. The number of school dropouts and early pregnancies are now becoming minimal, especially in the schools we are working with. 

Personal note from Jackie

As a family we are grateful to God that our daughter Cameron did her final exams for primary level and has just joined secondary school. Our son Euan is in his second year taking Diploma in ICT. Our adopted girl, Kessy, is doing her final exams for primary education this year November and Fred is involved in Event Planning and Training.

Personal Stories

From Jackie: "Last month as I was working on setting up the IT space at the shopping centre, a mother approached me and shared her joy about how I helped her daughter and now she is resuming her studies. She called out to her daughter; she had given birth to a lovely baby girl who is being left with her grandma as the young mother goes to school. 

The talk was so emotional and motivating. I was so happy with the fact that the girl had managed to join a nearby secondary school in which she enrolled as a day scholar. Such stories keep me going and I realize that what I am doing is never in vain."

Partnership's Influence within the Community

Lean on Me continues to have a positive impact on the community as shown by the improved statistics of girls staying in school. Jackie has said the girls and their mothers are both overjoyed at the basic hygiene supplies. 

They are getting a number of school Head Teachers sending in requests to be incorporated into the school programme as they have a positive name in the community. 

The poultry programme once properly established will also be providing women with a source of income. 

Current Issues and Challenges

Drought
Kenya has been impacted by serious drought which has caused farmers not to be able to get any substantial crops yields for the last five seasons. Pastoralist communities have also lost their livestock. This has been one factor that has led to the increase in living costs. This has also impacted the businesses involved in table banking as members struggle to pay back loans. 

Water shortage
One other issue with hygiene education and supplies in schools is the lack of water for cleaning which can lead to increased risk of infection. This makes the work they are doing have more challenges. 

IT Centre
Heavy rains have disrupted activity with frequent blackouts, electrical poles falling and electrical transformers blowing up. They are looking at options for backup power sources like a generator. 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) Last year two of their girls who attended primary school had become pregnant, but they are now both back at school and Lean on Me have been supporting them in their new lives with a baby. 

2) Lean on Me has reached out to 620 girls with personal supplies and they intend to do another distribution in the second term beginning in May. 

3) Things are getting back to normal now Covid-19 has settled.

4) The poultry pilot programme is establishing well, and the IT training school is now opened.