Dear GEMINI supporter,
It has been a tough year for us. But with your continued support, we have made it. Well, almost!

A recent survey shocked the country when it revealed that girls aged 10-19 confessed to having multiple sexual partners. Another 23% become pregnant and drop from school.

Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg. Adolescent girls are continuously at risk of sexual violations, unwanted pregnancy and early marriages. GEMINI has been engaged in equipping them with life-skills that would enable them make informed reproductive health decisions.

GEMINI’s twin approach provides high-risk girls with reproductive health information while at the same time rehabilitating teen mums who have dropped from school.

Over the last two months, we have partnered with local youth groups in raising awareness, providing peer counseling and free VCT to young people in urban slums. We have reached 710 youth in the following areas: Kamukunji, Mwanzo, Kapsoya and Huruma.

Your support has been crucial in our operations. We credit you with all the successes that we have attained. The following months are going to be tricky: schools will be closing next month and the festive season will be with us. Young people are known to be carefree-drinking excessively and having unprotected sex.

We need your support. We plan to mount preventive campaigns both in schools and for out-of school teens. We will use educational/entertainment activities, offer personalized counseling and distribute information materials.

Please accept our heartfelt compliments for all your support for this project. Every donation, as we have kept on saying, goes a long way in saving a life.

Thanks so much and we hope to hear from you. Keep those comments flowing..!

Hi,

Like tens of teen mums who first visit our organization for support, Lydia was distraught, confused and on the verge of giving up.

But thanks to donations from well-wishers like you...Lydia is now preparing to graduate from the Bakery course.

We really would like to make an impact through the Alive & Learning challenge. As she correctly puts it, many of you have been making their donations.

But we only have a few more days before the challenge ends. We need your support. EVERY LITTLE DONATION COUNTS!!

Please, click that button...and give hope to other vulnerable girls like Lydia.

Thanks for all of you who have made a contribution...as we are fond of saying: keep them small and steady!

Attachments:

• THANK_YOU_SO_MUCH.pdf (PDF)
  

Hi everybody,

In February this year, we started what we thought was a tough assignment: Establish an income-generating activity for vulnerable teen mums.

It has been a long-road but well, here is the report card...

Go, on read it in the attachment!!

And keep all those comments flowing in. We need ideas, inspiration and,well....your donations!

Attachments:

• Bakery_update.pdf (PDF)

Hi,

Over the past few weeks, GEMINI updates have been from independent visitors to our projects. Have you checked the recent one?

But we thought we would let one of the beneficiaries have a say. From the horse's mouth...or so to speak!

Kindly read the short article and extend your support to Jacinta...and eight other teen mums who need to realize their dreams.

As usual, your feedback is warmly appreciated. And so is your donation..!

ENJOY

Attachments:

• Jacinta.pdf (PDF)
  

Michael Acton and Kara Wevers are students who traveled throughout Africa and visited a number of GlobalGiving projects. On March 24th they visited "Uplifting Teen Mothers in Kenya." When asked what they would tell their friends about this project, they said: “Great: They are making a difference."

Kara writes:

Stella Amojong, the managing director of Grassroots Empowerment Initiative (GEMINI), is an intelligent, motivated woman. When I met with her, I was impressed by her focus, her drive, and – most of all – her gentle and humble spirit. She started GEMINI to address the problem of teenage motherhood, and has expanded the organization to include counseling and screening for HIV/AIDs, vocational training for teen mothers, and assistance and support for “grandmothers” taking care of orphaned children.

While in Eldoret, I was able to go to their offices, meet their staff, visit the teen moms who are being trained in tailoring and baking, and talk with the older women taking care of the orphans. Each group was extremely grateful for GEMINI and the impact Stella has made on their lives. The grandmothers especially warmed my heart, since they each wanted to give me a hug and asked me to sincerely thank the GlobalGiving donors for helping them support their families. So, on behalf of each of them, thank you, donors to GEMINI!

Michael writes:

We met up with Stella in GEMINI's Eldoret office. It was in a small office building with offices where they offer HIV testing and counseling services for local services. We then walked over to the matatu (mini-bus) stand and took a bumpy ride to the rural town of Moi's Bridge. In Moi's Bridge we saw two of GEMINI's field sites including one for this project described below.

We arrived at a two story building where GEMINI has an office space for girls to learn baking skills. These girls had to leave school after becoming pregnant, and now are learning skills such as baking and sewing. One of the young ladies spoke very eloquently about the skills she learned and the difference it made in her life.

Afterwards we visited a project for grandmothers who are the primary caregiver for their grandchildren. The description of the visit is on that project's site.

Hi friends,

Thanks for all your comments on the recent visit to GEMINI by a GlobalGiving evaluator, Leah.

We are filing a detailed update that we hope will answer most of your questions about the visit.

The update is divided into 2 parts. The first details basic organizational tenets that ensures the project runs while the second provides an overview of Leah's findings and some of her recommendations.

We really appreciate all your feedback. Please keep them coming!

NB: Find also attached a summarized version of financial expenses for the month Jan-Apr.

Attachments:

• INSIDE_GEMINI.pdf (PDF)
  
• JANAPR_FINANCIAL_SUMMARIES.pdf (PDF)
  

Leah Ambwaya visited this project as part of a GlobalGiving evaluation. She said:

On the 8th of May 2009, we met Stella Amajong; she picked us from the hotel to Gemini offices at Siro house in central business district of Eldoret town. As we drove around through the town, I asked, what inspired you at your very young age to start this organization? Looking quite apprehensive she responded, “I am the first born in a family of 5, my father died when I was 17 years and my mother when I was 20, I had to take up the responsibility of being the head of the family. She did not want to get into the details, so we skipped the interview at that level. After building a rapport with her, she again opened up and quipped, “Leah, do I look so young?” to which I carefully responded in the affirmative. “Yes am young, but am a mother of three” This was great because she was now warming up to our visit. This young woman has a mission to help young girls and the grannies that are suffering the effects of HIV/AIDs. I could see a humble young woman, who has stepped up an initiative to serve, looking into her eyes; she was full of inner strength. As we approached the building; we were welcomed by a big banner hanging on the rooftop with the words GEMINI VCT.

She led us into the second floor of the building into a room 207, here we met the receptionist and she spotted such a huge smile, next to her a television screen and some beautiful coaches. For once we thought we had entered someone’s residence, too welcoming and too comfortable. What we learnt later was that the clients need to work in a homely environment.

I asked her if she is a counselor, and true she was. We sat in her little office that was well furnished with just a few files in the shelves on the wall behind her. She informed us to be a little patient as we waited for the arrival of her communications officer, who works for the organization on voluntary basis. “He has most of the information and he is better placed to respond to your questions” she says. This was very true, because this young lady, is more conversant with the issues on the ground where she spends most of her time, but feeds in data to Joe, a man who offers such invaluable services to this organization in terms of packaging information and sending to donors present and potential.

We asked for information on the level of funding from Global Giving, she again did not have this, “we have a volunteer accountant, who works as an accountant in one of the schools around and she maintains and keeps all our financial records at a small fee of KSH 5000.”

She listed members of the project advisory board, which is very well constituted with very high ranking professionals in the region. There are doctors and social workers represented. “They bring a lot of value to the project and we are happy to have them around, we consult them very regularly”.

We have a governing council that constituted by beneficiaries both girls and the grannies. This council acts as monitoring tool to ensure that our services reach the beneficiaries as per the project objectives.

We sought to know why all organizational documents and records are in the hands of the volunteers, but not the office, in her innocence, she says. “I did not realize, that it was not ok, but I now I see the logic behind keeping all office documentations with the office”. We asked her if the organization has ever been audited since inception, we realize that she did not even understand what a financial audit was. “we have received a reasonable amount of money both from Global Giving and other donors like MAMA CASH, we are glad that you have seen some gaps in the way we do our accounting, and keep our records, we take that very positively as an organization and promise to hit the road running to put in perspective some of this recommendations that you are making”

We left for the field to meet some of the beneficiaries, and our first stop was the bakery at Moi’s bridge, we could see the baking ovens, the room was filled with the smell of fresh bread, but we only found one student, the recruitment was ongoing, we learnt this from Stella. We bought some scones for kids that were hanging around and left for the next project site.

Just as we were entering the car, a man screamed “Mayii” meaning mum, we ask her who that guy was, “he is one of our beneficiaries from the OVC programme”, we request to have an interview with him, but he declines, though he mentions that he receives food stuffs form the programme and school uniforms for his five children, we learn from Stella that the guy is a widower and is also HIV/AIDS positive. His legs were all covered with mad, and he tells Stella that he came to say thank you after receiving the fertilizer and seeds. He had come all the way form his farm to thank Mayii (Stella). We then left for the next site, where the tailoring school is, we found a group of eight girls busy working on sewing machines, each one of them was deeply engrossed in what they were doing under the keep eye of their teacher that they did not even notice that we had walked in.

We did not want to interrupt them; we checked the records in the field officer. The office some records, but they needed regular updates, so much had been done i.e distribution of food, uniforms and fertilizers according to local purchase orders, but the disbursements had not been updated since July 2008. “We are ready to learn and do things better for the sake of this community” says Stella. Meanwhile an old lady approaches her calling out Mayii (mum) she was referring to Stella, the community hold her in high esteem, she is their silent hero, they talk in low tones then she introduces her to us as one of the grannies the project supports.

Leah said she would tell her friends that this project is great: They are making a difference.

GlobalGiving is committed to incorporating many viewpoints on our 600+ projects. We feel that more information,especially from eyewitnesses helps donors like you continue to support organizations doing great work in the community.

Hello again,

Kindly accept our apologies in regard to our last update. An attachment meant to accompany the story was missing.

Thanks, Joan, for bringing this to our attention. We have attached the relevant article, "Lynette's Valentine Gift".

So sooooory but keep those comments (sssshhhh: and donations) flowing!!

Read on.

Attachments:

• Lynette_Valentine_gift.pdf (PDF)
  

Hi,

Our projects don't include mending broken hearts...but after listening to Lynette, we are currently preparing to do exactly that: mend her heart!

She was jilted by her lover, left at the alter with a 6-month pregnancy...and now she is crestfallen, dejected and even considered committing suicide.

One of the things we will be doing this quarter will be providing training to Lynette and a handful of other teen mums.

We also plan to open a new bakery after the previous one was negatively affected during the post-election violence last year.

With your continued support, we hope to embark on a social marketing campaign that will reduce teen pregnancy and give more hope to affected families.

Kindly read Lynette's story and let us know your thoughts. As usual, your feedback is always appreciated!!

Hey there,

Just want to drop a quick line and to remind you that we still need your support in making an impact in the ongoing Everbody can Win challenge.

Please read some of the testimonials from some of our beneficiaries. Please listen to their voices, their pleas....and make that vital contribution.

Thanks so much for your support. We will keep you updated...

If you don't hear from me again this year, enjoy your holidays and have a lovely new year.....

Cheers!!!

Attachments:

• Mary_and_Ruth.pdf (PDF)

Hi again,

Just received financial summaries for our projects and wanted to share some of them with you, our very loyal supporter.

Its been a tough year for our teen mums: many dropped from school, hundreds are still suffering from side-effects of backstreet abortion.

But many are reaping the benfits of enrolling in our program. Thanks to you, we have been able to reach to over 82 girls this year alone.

There is still some distance to go but I know with your help, the future is bright...

Please read the attached summary and make that donation, however small. Because to us, small is gigantic...!

Attachments:

• Financial_summaries.pdf (PDF)
  

Hi everyone,

On behalf of all the teen mums that GEMINI supports, I'd like to sincerely thank each one of you that continues to support us.

Our organization is taking part in the Everyone can Win challenge currently running on GlobalGiving.

We need to mobilize as many donors as we can in the next couple of weeks.

I know we can bank on your consistent support. We really need your donations again this time round...

We will be posting some observations from some of our beneficiaries in the coming days...we hope you will have time to read them

Thanks so much and please keep in touch!! (And let's win this challenge together!!)

Hi pals!!

Long time..hope you are all fine.

I just wanted to share a letter I received from Doreen, a project beneficiary who is now self-dependent.

When she joined us, she had just given birth to a bouncing baby girl though she had been expelled from school.

She attended our Teen Mum program and was trained as a tailoring designer. With a small start-up capital of $200 from GlobalGiving, Doreen has finally made it!!

Read her exciting story. Its just one among many that will be coming your way.

We appreciate all your continued support and as usual, keep those comments and questions coming.

Enjoy your reading!!

Attachments:

• Doreen_Letter.pdf (PDF)
  

Dear friends,

GEMINI has always tried to keep you informed of how your donations are being spent. Every step of the way! The aim is to make you own part of the process and feel actively involved in empowering poor communities.

We thank all of you for your continued support.

After the post-election violence in Kenya, a lot of women/girls were, unfortunately, sexually abused. Most continue to languish in camps, with little medical and psychological support.

With your donations, we responded to the crisis. Now that its over, we need to reach out to all the survivors of sexual violence with confidential, free HIV testing.

We are carrying out a Special Appeal that seeks to mobilize funds to set up a specialized VCT center that will provide women/girls with these services.

But we need you help.

We are kindly requesting you to read the attached newsletter that provides some background information on this very important project.

And we are also requesting you to act and make a donation to any of GEMINI projects to enable us accomplish our goal.

Thanks so much and please, remember, any donation will be highly appreciate.

Attachments:

• Special_Appeal_Newsletter.pdf (PDF)
  

Beatrice is a typical teen mum: confused, angry and disorriented. She joined our program a few months ago, her 4-month daughter strapped on her back.

"This is not the end of life," she told me a few days ago.

Well, with your support, Beatrice, and a host of other teen mums, have a second chance in life.

Go on, read her story.

Attachments:

• Beatrice_bounces_back.pdf (PDF)
  

A recent government report showed that over 10,000 girls are expelled from school each year after getting pregnant.

With little fall-back options and faced with stigma, teen mums have nowhere to go.

Milka's story is just one among hundreds of teen mums that have rediscovered a passion for life.

And with your help...they are raring to go!!

Please read Milka's experience and as she aptly puts it, without your support, the options become minimal.

Enjoy reading!!

Attachments:

• I_Know_I_can_do_it.pdf (PDF)
  

As we started the year, we reported that some of the teen mums we have been nurturing had scored good grades in their national exams.

Even though most of them suffered heavily during the post-election violence, we still reached out to them by offering psychological counseling, spiritual healing and providing them with basic needs like sanitary towels.

As the country's heart-beat starts pumping again, we need to reach out to the hundreds of girls who were sexually assaulted during the violence.

You can go through the attached report detailing our activities in the post-election period. More still needs to be done and we know that with your support, we will accomplish more.

Thanks so much for your support and we still cherish you as our valued partners.

God bless!!

Attachments:

• Postelection_violence_report.pdf (PDF)
  
• FEB_POSTELECTION_REPORT.pdf (PDF)
  
• JAN_POSTELECTION_REPORT.pdf (PDF)
  

A few months ago, we reported that we were providing special academic tutoring and extra classes to 12 girls who had been suspended from school due to pregnancy.

Well, the jury is now in. Their verdict? 8 of the girls passed their exams with over 350 points out of a possible 500!! The rest managed a respectable average of 240 points.

"It was tough..and in my condition, I was not sure I could think straight!!" Says Caro, one of the students.

"Its not yet over...I'm preparing myself for secondary exams and this time, I promise I won't mess around!" She adds, a smile on her face.

Two of the girls have already given birth to bouncing babies.

"I was tempted to call my baby GlobalGiving Atieno!" quips Benta, one of the teen mothers. ''I appreciate all the text books, exam papers and tuition that I received courtesy of all of you at GlobalGiving."

At GEMINI, we can only say a sincere Thank You for all your continued support, confidence in us and let's keep the fire burning.

Its been a hectic year for our Teen Mothers project!

As earlier reported, some of our beneficiaries sat for their national exams last month and we are hoping for the best when the results are announced.

Last month was an Empowerment Month for teen mothers. We carried out a community-wide exercise that reached out to village elders, religious leaders, policy-makers and school heads.

The main objective was to sensitize them on the need to equip the teen mother with necessary skills, resources and information that would enable them find their niche in society.

"I had no idea child mothers go through this kind of hell!!" remarked David Omuchuma, a local teacher. "I've only heard about them dropping from school but apparently, their problems are more than just missing on educational opportunities."

His sentiments were unanimous as all the participants shared and provided alternative solutions to this social problem.

GEMINI has now formed a community Task Force that is mandated to collect and collate information on Teen Mothers, document abuse of their rights and generally incorporate a community response in finding a lasting solution.

We have planned for an end of the year party that will showcase some of the success stories, challenges and opportunities for Teen mums.

Thanks for all you continued support. Let's hope for a more promising year in 2008!!

Enjoy your Festive Season

Hi friends!

In Kenya, you could correctly group stigma in the same league as racism or apartheid. The net effect is the same.

But for teen mothers, it is even worse. Young girls, barely 13, are sexually abused every day, raped and left for dead. Our society, for whatever reasons, blames them!

Our project has been reaching out to such abused girls, providing them
with hope by expanding their life choices. We have just started fundraising for some start-up capital to enable a group of 15 girls launch an ambitious income-generating project.

It involves baking cookies, fresh fruit juice, yoghurt and selling fresh milk.

We are hoping that this will provide the girls and their families with daily income and thus empower both their economic and social status.

It is our hope that you will join us in sourcing for the start-up funds and thus give these bold girls a lifeline to restart their lives once again.

Thanks for always siding by us!!

Approximately 70,000 girls are expelled from school in Kenya annually after becoming pregnant, translating to about 190 per day.

GEMINI has been providing remedial classes for 12 such girls for the past six months. The time for reckoning is here!

Beginning next month, they will join other candidates in sitting for their final national secondary exams. Part of their training included going through mock exam papers with the help of volunteer teachers.

But it was not just books, books, and more books! The girls were also taken through an informal sexuality education curriculum that empowered them with life-skills.

"I feel so different after attending these meetings," says Milka, one of the beneficiaries. "Given a second chance, I would not make the same mistakes I made because I now know how to be more assertive."

The beneficiaries jointly believe they are much stronger and ready to face the future.

"I know more about setting life goals and working towards meeting them. I will not let having this baby hinder me from attaining my goals," says Caro, seven months pregnant.

GEMINI hopes the girls will live to their own expectations and pass the exams with flying colours!

All the best!!