As of April 2003, we have supported 132 CBOs, FBOs, NGOs and informal community groups in Kenya. Thanks to our work with Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, WiRED, and several international partners and donors, we have been successful in establishing a network with local organizations, many of which have been successful in obtaining additional funding from government and international donors. The following feedback we receive from our partners like Peter Njogu, head of the "Kamahuha Anti-AIDS Project" community organization in the Saba Saba District is indicative of the spirit and determination of these community leaders and why GRACE is so committed to supporting them: "Now that you visit us, we know that we matter. Mombasa opened our eyes and our community benefited. We learned to write the proposal in Mombasa and applied through the Community AIDS Constituency, the District AIDS Commissioner to the National AIDS Community Council. During the last several years, we have been able to raise only KSH45,000 (about US$670) to support our work. In this area of 34,000 people, we used to be a group of thirty-seven very active members but have decreased to fifteen because of frustration. We and the nurses chip in because we want to keep the fires burning. Even if we are ten, we can still run it, but we are sacrificing all the time. According to the statistics, this place was already leading in HIV. When we were told to bring KSH100 or KSH200, we do it because we see the effect. From what we learned in Mombasa, we discovered that we could pass information on to the other members. We want to have a seminar to help other members get the training."
They have already had discussions with three of eleven TBAs (traditional birth attendants) and plan to meet with them all. Nevirapine for pregnant women is another issue. They are also teaching in the schools that FGM (female genital mutilation) is illegal. Funds from the Lloyd Grant were used to purchase four bicycles and provide support for a training seminar. | |  |
Kenya