Women and Youths Empowerment, in Mfangano Island, Kenya
ReportLocation: Mfangano island, Kenya
FEMALE AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN MFANGANO AND SISTER ISLANDS IN LAKE VICTORIA KENYAIn rural communities like Mfangano and sister Islands, women spend much of their time looking for firewood, fetching water and looking after their children.
Most women serve as housewives, remaining financially dependent on their husbands.
Here we work with women to improve their livelihoods through skills development such as gaining knowledge in small income generating activities like table banking, helping them learn how to make reusable sanitary towels, weaving, merry go round, buying and processing fish to selling, managing fishing gears and workers, craft making where they are able to make hand bags, table mats, hats and other products which they sell to earn income besides their domestic work.
Our organization empowers women and youth in rural communities with life skills so that they can use them to be self reliant.
Some sell food and other products in small kiosk shops, or work as artisans, helping to lift their families out of poverty, pursue education, and access healthcare.
Thanks to the efforts of our organization, nearly all women on Mfangano are part of registered women’s groups which offer support and financial opportunities.
When endowed with revolving funds, each group member can receive microfinance loans to start small scale businesses, pay school fees, or purchase staple foods in times of acute poverty and hunger. This empowers women to be financially and emotionally independent, to protect themselves in situations of abuse, and contribute to the overall economy.
We hope to initiate a shelter for widows, widowers, women and children in dire need, as well as develop community libraries which can strengthen the entire community and promote education.
Youths’ registered groups offer postsecondary students opportunities to launch independent small scale businesses while seeking careers, as Kenya has a very high unemployment rate.
With your helping hand, we can make this possible and make the lives of rural women brighter and ready to fighting poverty.
AS VILLAGE ENTERPRISE VOLUNTEER, YOUR ROLES SHALL INCLUDE;
* assist in writing a grant proposal to enable women and youth groups get grants fro relevant funding agencies
* Sharing business skills with the women so they can improve their small scale farm businesses and other side businesses.
* Share marketing skill with the women/youth to get better market for their products both locally and internationally.
* Teach book keeping to rural women so they can keep track of their small scale businesses.
* Train the women in basic computer skills so that they can be able to use these skills to earn a living in life.
* Share any other skills that help these women improve their products to suite and compete on international/worldwide markets.
* Sensitize the community about human rights and best ways how to end domestic violence against women.
WORKING HOURS:
Monday to Friday for about 3 - 4 hours a day, starting at 9am to 12noon.
Minimum stay: 2 weeks. Volunteers can arrive as individuals or teams.
ACCOMMODATION.
The volunteers will reside with host families in the community. These homes have well furnished rooms. The single bedrooms have electric power and a mosquito net.
MEALS.
Volunteers will share meals with host families where they will be served with three meals a day that is breakfast, lunch and supper. Breakfast will be served before the day’s work starts at 8am or not later than 9am with tea, local snacks and fruits. Lunch and supper will be served on time too with a variety of local dishes.
ARRIVAL IN KENYA
* Volunteers can arrive any time of the year.
* When you arrive in Jomokenyatta international airport in Nairobi or Kisumu international airport, you be directed kennly to Mbita subcounty head quoters where you will be collected by the host to Mfangano Island, we will be there to welcome you to the Pearl of Africa. We will escort you to our operation area which is 40 minutes travel away from Mbita point town.
* You will however meet your Host Mr Samuel Odoyo.
* You will get a Kenyan tourist visa when you arrive in Nairobi at USD 50.00 and remember to carry your vaccination cards with you as you will be asked to present them.
FREE TIME ACTIVITIES
* Volunteer will be free to use their free time for excursions especially during weekends or selected days other than working days.
* Volunteers will be free to spend their free time in local park, bar or a club for night life lovers, attend a social function or any other social places where you will meet other great volunteers in the area.
* Volunteers may also choose to spend a few days or one of their weekends at one of Mfangano sister Islands Takawiri, Rusinga, Kibougi, Remba, Ringiti or any one of the beautiful inhabited Ibirds slands Atego, Ringiti, Mbasa, Namuolo Nyama and Niware.
* Volunteers will have to pay extra fees for these activities as they involves travel costs.
