Kenia / Mbuye: Integrated program
Mbuye integrated program comprises of shelter, poverty relief and environment improvement through tree planting. Mbuye is a small village in Kenya located 100 km West of Kisumu City and 500 km South West of Nairobi. It is like a forgotten village. There is a fish landing point on the shores of the Lake Victoria, which attracts young people .This causes high school drop-outs and high rates of HIV/AIDS contracting. With crops failing year after year due to climate change the level of poverty has increased. The village has high levels of malnutrition and mortality of children under 5 years of age to 60% (45% for National figures). Most of these problems can be minimized with development of an integrated approach geared towards better food production, safe habitable shelter, basic education and creation of sustainable income for young people. This will also prevent migration of the young people to the cities where they end up living in the slums without the jobs they dreamt of.
Shelter
Shelter is a general major problem in Mbuye
As a result of poor shelter many become sick and with poor hygiene and sanitation many children die, the elderly become weaker in the cold or harsh weather and spread of diseases increases causing deaths.
PBF has bought for us 3 Brick Making Machines. These machines reduce the cost of building houses by almost half without compromising on quality. Apart from building houses, the local youth earn income to participate in the production of the Bricks.
We have trained a group of 3 youths and one adult to work with one machine and we are already making blocks. One bag of 50kg cement is mixed with murram and top soil which produces 100-110 bricks. Currently the group is producing 220 bricks from 2bags of Cement per day and also training 2 other groups of youth to form other working groups.
We have therefore done a quick survey that shows a great need of improved shelter .We therefore propose to build a total of 93 units (houses) in one year in three categories. We are currently starting with 18 units in all the 3 categories as shown below:
Category One:
PBF Family: Sample houses
The first beneficiaries are part of the PBF Family Kenya.They have known Dr.Peter and have participated in projects of PBF before.We want to build for them the first 3 houses that will be also used to market the Brick Making as an income generation Project for the local youth.
Samuel Orioro:
Samuel is an orphaned boy who met Dr.Peter in Nairobi 15 years ago. He has lived alone in Kibera,the largest Slum in Nairobi since he moved to the City after being disinherited by his extended family in Kisii. He has struggled to live but due to lack of support he has not been successful. The PBF representative in Kenya Dan Amolo managed to pair him with other orphans in Nairobi. They do voluntary work in Mathare by involving the youngsters into sports.PBF supports their daily survival and education. Currently they work with George Orimba under the guidance of an Elder, Dominic Dolla. They have identified a place in Mbuye where they will build a house for Samuel. The Bricks for this house are already produced and building will start soon.
Dominic Dolla:
Dominic is a retired Development worker who has worked over East and Cenral Africa with major development agencies. He was born in Mbuye and has been helpful to PBF in providing mentorship to the young people who are supported by the Foundation.He will be in the field to give guidance to the implementation of the Mbuye Integrated Program.He will be considered for the first 3 houses that the Program wants to start with in the village.He has since relocated to the village to oversee the implementation.
George Orimba:
George who has also known Peter for a long time He lives in Nairobi with his siblings and co ordinates a Youth Sports Program in Mathare supported by PBFi. He will also be considered for the first houses. He plans to concentrate in the village development because there is very little chances for young people in the Cities.Dr.Peter bought for him the first Brick Machines together with Evans Osare.They plan to produce Bricks for sale and give the youth in Mbuye a chance to earn some income.
Category Two:
Shelter for the Old,Care givers and Orphans
We have done a quick survey from which we have drawn a priority list and we will need to do a detailed one. The 2nd category is for the elderly, widows/widowers and those living with orphans and HIV/Aids that need proper shelter. We will build a 2 roomed house with iron roofs and brick walls that will be replacing the grass thatched roofs and mud walls. We shall also provide doors and windows. Each household will have a pit-latrine.
Community participation will be incorporated .The beneficiary family will be expected to participate through provision of manual labor .
Category Three
Community institutions.
The children in Mbuye have to walk almost 5 km to attend Nursery School or Kindergarten. We have identified two villages where we intend to build a room where the Children can attend Nursery,Pre School and Kindergarten .This will improve basic education in the area. The PBF is already providing Uji Program in the local Primary Schools. These will be good incentives for education in the area.
This center will consist of 4 rooms, one for the office, 2 learning rooms and 1 play room. 4 units of toilets: two for the teachers and two for children. Outdoor playing ground.
Poverty Relief: (Income Generation)
Due to the crippling poverty affecting over 60%of the population leaving below 30 cents a day, even free education is still a problem because parents are unable to buy uniform, books and other school equipments.
Those leaving with the HIV/AIDS, the elderly and families living with orphans are badly off. Young men turn to illicit brew that maims and are killed or become alcoholics at best. The main aim is to get some of these able-bodied men to form groups and young adults to train and work with them in block making and in chicken rising. They earn at least $5 per day from making blocks. Those trained in chicken husbandry will work with local chicken which have a very high demand in both locally and in the cities. This will enable them to make a living through sells of chickens and eggs and raise income for their families.
They will not need to buy concentrate feeds as we will show them how to mix local materials readily available to make suitable and good quality feeds for this type of chicken. The eggs are also highly demanded and fetch 40% more in the market compared to commercial chicken.
They will construct simple structures to protect them during daytime and secure them over night against theft and predictors. We will also vaccinate against common and local diseases.
They will sell these products together as a society.
Other activities we intend to introduce for sustainability wll be tree Nurseries and Bee Keeping.