By Angie Gust | Project Leader
November, 2013
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for supporting Jemimah Peters, Dennis Mutwiri, and Michael Murigi. Dennis and Michael are finishing up their degrees at the University of Nairobi and will be graduating in December. We are very proud of all they have accomplished both academically and with their community projects. I want to introduce Brian Maluki, a 3rd year PATHWAYS scholar majoring in medicine. He will be reporting on his project in Kitui County, Kenya along with Jemimah Peters.
Jemimah Peters
The women’s group is engaged in the care of the poultry and they have plans to increase the number so improve revenue from egg selling. Our area is so dry that water is the limiting factor for almost everything, from raising crops to education. The pursuit of water takes so much time. Walking the 3 kilometers to fetch water each day prevents women and children from engaging in other useful endeavors, for instance children doing their homework. While I am happy that the two water tanks are providing much needed water, they still dry up before the rains come. That is why we are planning to dig an underground tank or dig a borehole so that we can have water for the community year round. I will consult with geologists and my community members before making a decision.
Attached is a photo of my women’s group in front of the water tank near our church. I am pictured in the front int he organge shirt. The other photo is of my women's group leader talking about the need for water in this dry area of Kenya.
Thank you for helping to uplift my community.
Jemimah
Brian Maluki
My project involves making art and clay products such as pots, baskets, ropes, and bricks using the widely and readily available materials locally, that is, clay which is the common soil type in the area and Sisal fiber from sisal plant that grows well under the semi-arid conditions in the area.
My project has been inspired by the poor living standards of the residents in the area yet there is a vast of unutilized resources that can be put to use and generate income for their livelihoods. The raw materials are absolutely free, the challenge has been how to use them; this gave the inspiration for the project. The main objective being to empower and equip people with the necessary skills to make and sell their products.
So far, through PATHWAYS we have a piece of land (80m*50m) we have grown Sisal and Aloe Vera. Members have been assisted to grow sisal in their pieces of land and also are trained on how to weave baskets and make ropes for sale as evident in the photos. Plans are underway to acquire a sisal processing machine that will go a long way to help increase the production capacity and increase efficiency. Members have made some money through selling baskets, one costs about US$7 and make an average of 100US$ per month. We also began a microfinance in a bid to help members invest and save their earnings as well as educate them on financial literacy. We also provide credit facilities at lower interest rates to enable members run similar projects at home.
My projects benefits sixty families as at now. We aim at reaching one hundred families by the end of the year. And through your support and bountiful giving, YES WE CAN!
Attached is a picture of some of the members showcasing their sisal bags and also a photo of me.
You are making a huge difference in the lives of my community members.
We are grateful!
Brian
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