As in previous years I visited Ahero, Kenya again in 2011.  Which is important to see first hand what is needed most.With assistance of Moses Warah and Alfred Olweny, who showed me the way to their homes, (without them I would not been able to find them !) walking through fields, some of them we could not reach because of flooding .

Home we could not reach because of flooding

Kids having fun…

During my stay there were 2  biweekly meetings each with regularly planned food distribution of : flour – cooking oil – Waterguard & soap. At the last meeting, we added a new feature, distribution of multiple vitamins for young children.

A  donation of  “Vitamin Angels”  was send to me before I left for the grandchildren Damaris Aoko Alando  one of GrG members will be in charge of distribution and safe storage of the vitamins.

Alfred Olweny  explains how to administer the vitamins

The grandmothers listen carefully to instructions ..

 and are very grateful for the additional supplement to the bi-weekly food distribution.

Damaris Aoko taking the vitamins to storage.

Grandmothers going home with goats and food carrying  on their head..

As in previous years, GrG sponsored a treatment session by Nadermo  a NGO which treat people for the most common skin diseases, not only for members but also for neighbors, 103 people attended. Free medication was supplied.

8 chickens and 10 new goats were distributed to the most needed members, plus funds were left to build 5 goat sheds for members who kept their goats inside their home during the night for safe keeping.

We had our yearly children party with cookies & fruit juice, for the grandchildren of members plus neighborhood kids, more than 50 attended. A drawing contest was held with lots of prizes and gifts.

This year and  in future special attention will be given to education of the older grandchildren. GrG assisted 16 students with filling  in the forms, arranged for photographer to have their required pass photos taken and sending in the applications for sponsorship by  KEF (Kenya Education Fund)

Filling in implication forms for KEF with help of Moses Warah and Alfred Olweny, for next school year.

Grandchildren who applied

For the students who will not be accepted by KEF ( they will be informed by the end of the year) arrangements have been made  at  : AIC (African Inland Church) Ahero Training Centre for vocational training of : Hairdressing  – Dressmaking – Bicycle& Motor repair and assembly or Computer training.

Elaine Neufeldt, donated a laptop for the grandchildren who will receive computer training to practice, at this time it in care of Alfred Olweny.

A Rossmoor resident gave me a sample “Rag doll” with cloth and pattern, it was given to AIC training centre,  to raise funds. In return GrG will receive discount for tuition.

GrG sponsored :

a : Kevin Otieno the oldest grandchild of Phillister Oyoo for training  by AA of Kenya (Automobile Association) for Driver course of Commercial vehicles

b : Maurice Odhiambo, grandson of late Jenifer Apat, who was accepted at  Egerton University but was only able to raise 50 % of the required fee, GrG  paid the balance

Moses Warah : is in charge to provide supplies for meetings of grandmothers.

Alfred Olweny :  will be in charge to arrange for education of grandchildren.

Damaris Aoko  :  distribution of Multi vitamins.

To close “GrG” like to pay a tribute to  chair lady the late Jael Akott.  She chaired  the last meeting when I was there, the next morning she collapsed working in the rice field and died at age 52. She was a hard working generous women who raised 8 children and was raising  several grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all.

Here a brief report of my recent visit to Ahero Kenya.On my arrival I was welcomed by the members with song and dance and gift of beans and bag of ground nuts.

Welcome with song and dance

grandmothers and me

Together with Moses Warah the coordinator and his assistant Alfred Olweny we visited the grandmothers at their homes, (mud huts) to see first hand how they and the kids they raise are doing and what is needed most.

grandmother and her grandchildren

grandmother and her grandchildren

grandmother and her grandchildren

grandmother and her grandchildren

grandmother and her grandchildren

grandmother and her grandchildren

grandmother and her grandchildren

The good news most of the goats have multiplied, although one of the grandmothers informed us that the only way to keep the goats safe was to have them spend the night in the same hut, often the goats are very noise. We arranged to have a simple goat shed build next to her hut. Another grandmothers whose hut had collapsed and only was able to partially rebuild it, GrG provided funds to have it finished before the long rains

grandmother in home needing repair

At every meeting which takes place every two weeks, members receive : flour cooking oil – Waterguard (a product to treat water for drinking) and a bar of soap.

grandmothers at biweekly meeting

distributing food at meeting

grandmother with flour, Waterguard, cooking oil and bar of soap

grandmothers going home after meeting

Other activities:

1: GrG funded  a visit of Nadermo, a local organization, trained by German dermatologist, Dr. Wilfried Schmeller to treat the most common skin disease, free medication was provided.

children coming for treatment provided by Nadermo

Nadermo team in action

2: Thanks to the Lions club of Rossmoor Walnut Creek, we where able to give school uniforms for the most needy. More uniforms are needed

boy in his school uniform

school uniform in need of being replace

girls with their school uniform

3: one new members was added this time who claimed and insisted she was 1000 year old ! for sure our oldest member.

4: goats for new members.

Moses Warah and Alfred Olweny buying goats for new members

delivering goats to grandmothers

5: a party for the children who where provided with clay to make dolls.

children making clay figures

children in action

6: visit to water points for which funds where provided

water point

water point

7: All members will receive improved traditional clay water pots, with lid and tap, in order to keep the treated drinking water without contamination.

improved clay water pots delivered by SWAP (Safe Water and AIDS Prevention)

grandchild carrying water pot home !!

8: large order of basket was given to prepare for 2010 Christmas season.

grandmother making basket

making basket

making basket

making basket

At the last meeting  saying good bye in Luo;

"Oriti wanenore higa mabiro"

“Oriti wanenore higa mabiro”

“ Goodbye and see you next year”

Ahero  July 2010

Thanks to the support of our donors we continue to assist the grandmothers in Ahero.

As of today we have provided each family with the following:

• Mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

• Flour and cooking oil at each bi weekly meeting to help with family meals. Some of the members with large families receive extra supplies.

• Goats and chickens to help grandmothers create a small income.

• Waterguard to help provide safe drinking water at home. We get this from “SWAP” (Safe Water & AIDS Project) with whom we have a close working relationship. We also give a bar of soap each month.

“Water Points” were created so that grandmothers do not have to walk great distances daily to get water. The water is piped to these points from a Boya Water Supply.

• Portable Stoves to replace the traditional way of cooking on 3 stones heated by burning wood. The old method produces a lot of smoke and uses a lot of wood which can be hard to get. The stoves were purchased from SWAP. 

Our primary goal is to improve health, as result of a substantial reductions in the carbon monoxide and indoor air pollution while also reducinglabor and being more cost effective.

I received another email from Moses in February regarding the distribution of the goats.

Hello Bie

The goat project is actually a great thing and we appreciate your effort for starting it here at the time the world is making history.  We are doing fine.  It is first time for many of the grandmothers to own a goat as a source of income to there families.  It will help the orphans whom were left with nothing after there parents died of HIV/AIDS.  The project if well taken care of  will be able to generate 70% profit after 18 months.  I was able to get the statistics from the Agricultural Extension Officers.  I consulted them during market Research.

Local African goats when well taken care of give birth to twins kitten.  They multiply when in good health as per the climate.  Grandmothers will be in a good initiative which you have taken and we are happy with all your support.  Grandmothers too do suggest if the project goes well, they will keep for there orphans as a source of banking  for them in the project of goats.  Each will be given a kitten as time goes by.  It is easier to manage in the family units as we shall do routing check ups.

Oriti wanenore….Kendo [Goodbye see you again soon.]

Moses

At the end of 2008, we undertook a project to try and provide one goat for each family as an income generating project.

Hello Bie,
Thanks for all your effort. We started well and I hope whatever we are doing is “great”
We distributed the first 20 goats, But due to busy schedules of the DSDO he send Mr. Henry “Kisinga” to do it on his behalf.
We waited for almost 5 hrs for the DSDO to come but later send Henry. It is good to involve him and I always like him because of his advice.
Mr. Ngoleyang’ is my consultant on matters of development and whatever we are doing must be reported to him.
We have all the pictures which will be send to you soon.
as you know some of them could not walk long distance, We tried out best to deliver to them at there door step.
Oriti wanenore.
Moses

Note from Bie Bostrom:
DSDO stands for District Social Developing Officer
Waiting 5 hours is not unusual, it brought back many memories when I was in the exact same situation.