A. Heifer Kenya and efforts to strengthen families’ capacity to care for orphans and vulnerable children in Nyanza
Caring for orphans and vulnerable children by economically challenged families is always a daunting task. This is the scenario with families in the Nyanza region, whose poverty levels are in excess of 60% as partly contributed by excessive HIV/AIDS prevalence of between 25 – 34% over the past few years. Since 2005, Heifer Kenya and partners have been working with families in Homa Bay, Suba, Migori Rachuonyo and Nyando to help them strengthen their capacity in order to be able to care for orphans and vulnerable children. The mid term review of the Homa Bay orphans livelihood project in February 2007 revealed that some orphan caring families are taking care of up to 15 orphans. The Kenya government reports indicate that Homa Bay district alone has in excess of 84,000 orphans. Four project districts (Migori, Homa Bay, Suba and Rachuonyo) have a combined figure of over 200,000 orphans as result of HIV/AIDS and other causes.
Heifer Kenya has been supported by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) with funds to implement the Homa Bay orphans livelihood project, aiming at providing sustainable means of livelihood to orphans in the four districts. In collaboration with the government of Kenya, Heifer Kenya and partners (Animal Draft Power Program – ADPP, Lake Basin Land Use Program – LABALU and St. Francis Sisters congregation) has been training the orphan care takers in intensive dairy goat farming, organic kitchen gardening and providing them with dairy goats for milk production. The orphans and their caregivers have begun to transform their lives through the Heifer Kenya dairy goat project. They now have dairy goat milk for their consumption and are also selling the surplus milk to increase their incomes. The families are also producing adequate vegetables for consumption and sale. The orphan caregivers include widows, widowers, grand parents, guardians, elder siblings and other foster parents.
Latest project records and inventory, together with mid term review results confirm that 55 self help groups with 912 orphan care givers have been provided with training and 963 goats. 797 goats have been imported from South Africa, whereas 166 were purchased within Kenya and are crossbreds from beneficiaries supported by Heifer Kenya earlier. In addition, 137 families have received 141 pass-on goat kids. The 912 orphan caregivers are caring for 6141 orphans. This achievement is worth celebrating because it has satisfied the set project targets of assisting 800 families caring for 1920 orphans with 1000 dairy goats.
The table below shows the data of families, OVC’s as assisted with original goats and pass-ons
District |
No. Groups |
No. Caregivers |
No. OVC’s |
Original Goats |
Pass-ons |
Homabay |
20 |
353 |
2790 |
375 |
61 |
Migori |
20 |
341 |
2454 |
376 |
67 |
Suba |
4 |
79 |
200 |
71 |
13 |
Rachuonyo |
9 |
121 |
548 |
123 |
0 |
Nyando |
2 |
18 |
149 |
18 |
0 |
Total |
55 |
912 |
6141 |
963 |
141 |
Some of the impact realized and next steps includes the following:
- Many orphans and their caregivers have developed sustainable sources of income from the dairy goats and crop farming
- The project is contributing to the education needs of 2,300 orphans
- Some beneficiary families can now earn stable income of up to Kenya shillings 3,560 (US$ 51) monthly from goat milk and vegetable sales.
- The families are earning additional income from the sale of male pure breed goats, which are in very high demand in Kenya
- Support in management of farmer association
- Support in establishment of goat milk processing facility.
Heifer Kenya support to Maasai community to improve the health of their livestock and develop livestock market linkages
The project is being implemented in phases as below:
Phase I: Supporting community based animal health service delivery in Keekonyokie and Loita divisions in Narok district to help Maasai community improve the health of their livestock.
6 community based animal health workers have been supported and are offering livestock health services and livestock drugs through their agro-vet supply shops (Dawa shops) within the project location- A wholesale agro-vet supplies shop has been established at Keekonyokie
- Maasai communities have been supported to vaccinate their livestock against major diseases and availing veterinary drugs for treatment of sick animals. The herders vaccinated their cattle against rift valley fever, foot and mouth, blackquarter and anthrax and east coat fever. While sheep and goats were vaccinated against enterotoxaemia, caprine pneumonia, goat and sheep pox and other endemic diseases. They treated their dogs against rabies. All livestock are dewormed regularly to enable them grow fast to meet market demand. All these vaccinations are carried out seasonally and as the disease outbreaks are reported in other areas through early warning systems. This activity is to prepare the location to be a disease free zone for future livestock and meat marketing strategies. The vaccines and drugs are stored in the project location for ease of access by the herders and at the time required.
- 2 para-vets graduated from animal health training institute and are providing animal health services to the community. They are now more recognized by the government authorities. 2 other para-vets have also joined the institution for training
- A vaccination center was established and equipped in Keekonyokie
- The agro-vet shops (dawa shops) and vaccination centers earned Kenya shillings 3,020,990 (US$ 44, 829) through sale of livestock drugs and vaccinations
Phase II: Develop and strengthen livestock marketing through the development of livestock holding ground in Suswa and link it to sustainable livestock markets. The following are the accomplishments;
- 1,000 acres of land for the holding ground has been fenced within which 355 acres have been ploughed to establish fodder for livestock
- Water harvesting in the holding ground has been initiated and construction of water catchment structures is on-going
Phase III. Develop slaughter house facility at Suswa and link it to sustainable livestock markets
- No activity has yet been accomplished under this phase
- Key evaluations and reviews undertaken by Heifer Kenya in the period
Type of activity |
Project Name |
Comments |
|
Coast SDDP |
Done by local consultant |
|
Homabay orphans livelihood project |
Done by HIK and local consultants |
- Enterprise impact assessment
|
All milk enterprises |
Done by ILRI |
|
All milk enterprises |
Done by HQ consultant |
- Enterprise operation manual development
|
All milk enterprises |
Done by Intern from Clinton school |
|
Homabay orphans livelihood project |
Done by Intern from Clinton school |
- Case study of project with blind
|
Longisa and Ainamoi |
Done by Intern from Clinton school |
|
Maasai project |
Done by local consultant |
|
Various |
Done in each region |
