Sud-wakadhi Women Empowerment Program

Project: Farming for HIV AIDS Nutrition Program & Orphans Support Theme: Gender equality and Women empowerment Location: Dago Village in Kisumu, Nyanza Length of placement:;-open Dates Time placement: Any Time Accommodation::;- Family stay Preferred languages: English Volunteer groups: Single, partner or more than 5 people Area attractions: Got-Agulu hills, Lake Victoria, River Yala, Mariwa Archaeological Reserve, Ombo Archaeological Reserve

Email now at: volunteer@malaikaecotourism.com

Project’s Background:
‘Sud-Wakadhi’ is a women and men group started in 2008 as a Community Based Organization (CBO) with 45 members.The community was inspired by the number of orphans at an early age with grandparents taking off as parents to guide the young ones. This was due to high poverty levels and consequence ofHIV/AIDS, which affected the socio-economic set up of many communities throughout Kenya, creating a situation of what is described as hand to mouth.

Because of these social and economical injustices, the community came up with an idea of setting up educational and empowerment program to fight poverty and stop HIV & AIDS. Their main aim was to create income generative activities that will see the community controlling their social challenges. Currently, the group has set up poultry & small vegetable farming programs. The volunteer program has brought an impact to the institutions around, ie. a nursery, primary and secondary school.

Volunteer's Role:
Volunteers play a key role of motivation to the community, as well as they lower the gap between the haves and the have nots. The objective is not to turn around the lifes of these under-privileged ones but to make a difference and build a bridge between the North and the South.

The following are volunteers' tasks and roles in the project:

Organic farming Chicken farming to support child education Providing people HIVS/AIDS with ARV Poverty Eradication program Digging compost heap Community Orphanage Rehabilitation program Water harvesting Helping secondary & primary school orphans with homework HIVS/AIDS awareness and medical services. Women water income-generating projects Disease Control and Prevention Beneficiaries of the project: about 700 People living in this village

Importance of Volunteer's placement:
Volunteers bring with them a different outlook and perspective, as well as knowledge base, which is invaluable to the continued learning and education of the group members and the community. They also help to motivate group members for each activity as well as the community as a whole.

Orientation:
You will receive an orientation at the beginning of your programme in Malaika Ecotourism office in Nairobi, Kenya and then at the project together with the community. It will cover what you can get involved with at your project, how to stay safe and the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.

Volunteer Programme support:
Throughout your stay in Dago village, you will have the support and guidance of the Nyanza Community coordinators. They will provide you with competent assistance and help you with anything that you may need. Malaika Ecotourism will also support you with a 24 hour emergency mobile phone number and give you a local sim card line that you can use when you are in the project.