Sustainable Food Project for Children in Kenya

It's been an unusual year in all parts of the world, and we are not an exception with the devestating effect of Covid-19 affecting our operations.  Though we feel the effects of the virus, we've had some great strides and success in our work and I'm excited to share it with you.

Our organization was started with a vision to see NO hunger amongst the families affected/infected by HIV/AIDS within our region of Miwani.  We work with women in our projects as agents of positive change in the lives of the families.

Our garden project creates jobs to 12 women working three days a week earning a livable wage so that they can take care of their families while also ensuring that the project is growing to be self-sustaining.  Lila is one of the women who is affected by HIV/AIDS, having lost her husband 10 years ago, and is working in our garden project.  She is 42 years old and was raising 6 children with no job.  Life was so hard for her that at some point she ended up in prostitution to make ends meet for her family.  Thanks to your support and generosity, she can now earn a decent daily wage from a job she is currently working three days a week at our community garden.  Lila can now smile that things are not all bad with her life.  She can comfortably provide enough food for her family, pay the school fees for her children and pay for medication for herself and her children when needed.

On behalf of every woman employed in our project, we send a BIG THANK YOU!  

Everyone here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, and our partners in Africa, thank you for your continued support of this important project.  If you would like to learn even more about this project and others, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org. 

I would like to tell you about Ama.  She is one of the grannies earning a living through our sisal project by making sisal rope.  She is raising five grandchildren and it overwhelms us with happiness that she is soon graduating from poverty.  How?  With the savings from her sisal earnings, she has been able to plough the piece of land that her husband left her with.  She bought seeds that will be enough to plant in her land, and now she is just waiting for the rains so she can plant.  I asked Ama how she got enough money to plough and buy seeds.  She responded, "I used to save money in a small pot inside the house and when I opened the lid, I was surpised to have saved enough money."  Ama went on to tell me how is she is self-sufficient now.  Meals are not a problem and she can comfortably pay the subsidized school fees and medication needed for herself and her grandchildren.  She finished by saying, "I can not imagine how my life would be without the sisal project.  I am praying for AFCA who has made my life good now and decent.  May God provide for all that AFCA needs so they can help many more like me."

Our garden project is transforming lives and giving many families hope for smiles, as now women working in our garden project are earning a fair daily wage.  They are happy to be able to provide food, pay school fees and start their own income generating activity.  Penny was able to start her small business project of cooking and selling food to school kids.  She is able to manage her time for garden work and her business so well that she can earn even more to keep herself self-sufficient.  Penny will also soon be graduating from poverty!

All our programs are geared towards transforming the lives of those affected or infected by HIV/AIDS and we are looking forward to the day that HIV/AIDS will not be present in our community.  Until then, nothing will stop us from our work.  A big shout out to the donors and friends who have made it possible for us to bring hope and transform lives in this part of the continent.  We say THANK YOU!

Everyone here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS, and our partners in Africa, thank you for your continued support of this important project.  If you would like to learn even more about this project and others, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.