The objective of this project is to buy sustainable Christmas presents for Kenyan widows which will contribute to sustaining their livelihoods. The widows will be able to enjoy and celebrate Christmas, while, at the same time, receiving items which will help to make their lives a little bit easier. All donations will be used to buy sustainable presents in Kenya such as goats, chicken, mosquito nets etc. that will then be given to the widows on Christmas day.
Most of the 250 widows who are members of the cooperative, live below or just above the poverty line and struggle to sustain their livelihoods especially as they are HIV positive, have to take strong medication on a daily basis and get sick more easily. In that situation, any changes in their environment can pose a threat to their well-being and affect their children negatively in their development in areas such as nutrition or education.
The proposed project will provide items that can be of assistance within this context of daily struggle. Donors can buy coupons for small domestic animals such as goats and chickens that will generate an income in the long run. Mosquito nets will provide protection from malaria, which is widespread within the region. Packages of basic food stuffs will help the widows to put food on the table and enable them to enjoy the Christmas season worrying a little less and celebrating a little more.
The project promotes womens rights and helps to restore the respect for HIV-infected widows within male-dominated communities. The cooperative provides refuge for HIV-infected women who have lost their husbands and experience social exclusion. The women are able to share experiences regarding medical treatment and life with the disease in general. The project will make a major contribution to fighting outdated, inhumane traditions such as widow cleansing and widow inheritance.
