Better Lives for Vulnerable People in East Africa

Cost of living crisis

The cost of living crisis in East Africa has had a devastating impact on the vulnerable people we support. Escalating prices have made it difficult for families to afford food, education and healthcare - and people with disabilities or HIV have been disproportionately affected due to their reduced employment access and additional needs. The situation in one of our partner communities is exacerbated by the worst drought in 40 years, resulting in hunger and malnutrition.

As well as urgent needs for food, we know of children prevented from taking exams or leaving hospital because of unpaid fees, or unable to attend our skin clinics for people with albinism because they lack money for transport - putting them at increased risk of life-threatening skin cancer, depression and despair.

Advantage Africa is working address these needs through our ‘Better Lives for Vulnerable People’ project.

Kenya

Since our last report in March, we have supported our local partners in Kenya to:

• Provide vital food packages, housing and income generation support for people with disabilities affected by drought, flooding and extreme hunger.
• Install energy efficient stoves for a nursery school so the 30 children can receive a nutritious daily meal.
• Improve prospects for young people with disabilities by helping them establish small enterprises, and train special needs teachers to help them make successful transitions from school to community.
• Provide wheelchair assessment, fitting and follow-up services for people with disabilities and secure 150 wheelchairs for future use.
• Support 240 sex workers to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and prevent HIV.

Uganda

In Uganda we have:

• Worked to improve the health and self-reliance of vulnerable people in Kyabiiri by supporting the smooth running of a water point for 1,000 people following the completion of the borehole described in our last report.
• Supported the training of 45 young people in coffee-growing, welding and motor-cycle mechanics.
• Enabled 80 people to undertake memory work training to assist in coping with the physical and mental impact of living with HIV and plan for the future.
• Carried out training and counselling for 100+people affected by addiction to drugs and alcohol.
• Provided training and established a reliable source of medication to control seizures for 121 people affected by epilepsy, and helped 34 of the affected families establish savings and loans groups to overcome poverty
• Imported over 1,845 bottles of high SPF sunscreen to protect people with albinism from life-threatening skin cancer.
• Held a dozen skin cancer prevention clinics for 1000+ people with albinism, including in refugee settlements.
• Held a rally on International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) attended by 700+ people with albinism and campaigned for policies and practices that include them in healthcare and confront the abuse and abandonment of women affected.

Supporting better lives and improved self-reliance

With state services inadequate and unable to cope, these activities are all supporting better lives and improved self-reliance of several thousand vulnerable people. Your vital support to make this possible is appreciated more than ever. Thank you.