Feed and Empower Domestic Violence Survivors-Kenya

The farm is doing well thanks to plentiful rain, which is expected to continue. We were able to hire a farm supervisor last month, who will oversee the operation of the farm and animal care. Through a Creation Care grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, EMI is exploring the development of a demo Permaculture garden on our land outside the shelter walls. This partnership will allow EMI to share the experience and expertise the staff and residents have gained in this method of farming.

We have been blessed with volunteers from Germany and Canada, who bring a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to our programs. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, they helped staff an Agatha Amani House display at the mall in nearby Navaisha, with this message: If everyone showed their partners love, there would be no victims of abuse. We also provided information about Permaculture and its three principles – People Care, Earth Care and Fair Share.

The Agatha Amani House shelter has been at capacity since November, usually with an equal number of survivors and children. Two survivors graduated this month into safe and violence-free living situations. We have identified the need for a transition fund to provide initial rent and living expenses for our graduates, in order to better set them up for success. 

We remain grateful for the donors and volunteers who support our work to break the cycle of poverty and gender-based violence in Kenya.

Thanks to the plentiful rain this season in Kenya, the gardens at Agatha Amani are flourishing.  An international volunteer has provided solid guidance in sustaining our Permaculture program. She put together classes for the residents and tracks their progress in learning the principles of this approach to agriculture. As the residents progress, they take on roles with more responsibility. EMI has one resident who was selected for an internship as Farm Supervisor. Another resident has begun work as Farm Caretaker, with her earnings set aside to provide funds for when she transitions to the community. EMI is intentional in providing growth opportunities for individual residents, in order to prepare them for independent living.

The residents have been working to write their personal stories, as a means of both healing and empowerment. They have also been assisted in writing resumes. As many are still quite young with limited work experience, strengths assessment is important. Their resumes may be aspirational at first, but this exercise provides focus for the future.

We continue to plan for our expanded capacity. EMI has secured an agreement to purchase the adjoining property, and are working with an attorney to secure the title and finalize the purchase. We have funding for the new fencing that will be required. Once that is completed, we plan to purchase and equip a greenhouse.    

We appreciate those donors and volunteers who support our work to provide healing for survivors of gender-based violence. At Agatha Amani House, we are working to provide these women and their children with hope for the future.  

EMI is pleased to report continued progress toward expanding the capacity of Agatha Amani’s agricultural component. We have negotiated a price with the owner of the adjoining property, and have an agreement to purchase it. Thanks to funds raised through Global Giving, our annual golf tournament, and two significant individual gifts, we have the funds in hand to make this goal a reality.

Once the property purchase is completed, EMI will tackle the improvements outlined in our project proposal – fencing the property and purchasing and equipping a greenhouse – all with the dual goals of self-sustainability for the shelter and increased skills and healing for the residents.

The shelter population continues to consist of equal numbers of women and young children. While this provides the opportunity for parenting education in the shelter, children pose an additional challenge for residents to find suitable housing, child care and employment upon leaving Agatha Amani House. Staff provides follow-up for residents as they transition to the community; at times, women may return to Agatha Amani House for help in navigating the barriers they encounter in the community, whether related to safety or finances. 

One resident completed the required training for a security certificate. She has obtained employment, however, she continues to seek work in the security field. Another resident is enrolled in a 2-year college program in business. A third continues her training in a hydroponics program.  

We have been blessed with a number of international volunteers seeking a meaningful experience at Agatha Amani House. Their energy and enthusiasm have enriched the programming for our residents, including life skills, exercise, and music.

We remain grateful for the support of donors who support our work to address gender-based violence. At Agatha Amani House, we are working each day to break the cycle of domestic violence and poverty in Kenya.

EMI is excited to report that we have raised 100% of the funds projected necessary for the purchase of an acre of land adjacent to our property but we are still in need of funds for a greenhouse and fencing. Funds raised through GlobalGiving provided us a strong start, and we employed a diversified approach to raising the remainder through a local fund-raising event, presentations to civic groups and leaders, and following up on leads from strong supporters of EMI’s mission of empowering victims of sexual and domestic violence and their children in Kenya.

EMI has been in conversation with the owner of the property we hope to buy. Further negotiations will be pursued in the coming months. The purchase of an adjoining acre is critical to growing the agricultural component of our programming. In addition, the increased acreage will provide Agatha Amani House with adequate distance from neighbors to maintain the confidentiality required for the safety of our residents and posible room for future expansion.

Once the property is purchased, EMI will continue to work toward the improvements outlined in our project proposal – fencing the property and purchasing and equipping a greenhouse – all with the dual goals of self-sustainability for the shelter and increased skills and healing for the residents. 

We have welcomed new women into the shelter in recent months, nearly all with infants or young children. We have also celebrated residents leaving us for job or training opportunities, and assist them in finding a healthier living situation than the one they fled when they came to Agatha Amani House.

One resident graduated with a certificate to work in the security field. Another is enrolled in cosmetology school, after some initial struggles upon leaving the shelter. We are particularly proud of one resident who has been admitted into a program to be trained in the use of hydroponics in agriculture. We look forward to learning from her, as we strive to maximize our agricultural productivity. We feel confident that this education will enhance her employment prospects when she leaves the shelter.

We remain grateful for the support of donors who are helping make this project a reality. At Agatha Amani House, we are working each day to break the cycle of domestic violence and poverty.

Links:

• https://www.empoweringmindsinternational.org/agathaamanihouse.html

Thanks to the generosity of donations through GlobalGiving, EMI is well on the way to achieving the goal of expanding the Agatha Amani property. The purchase of an adjoining acre is critical to growing the agricultural component of our programming.  To date, we have raised 60% of our project goal of $40,000, including GlobalGiving donations.

Our residents come to us for safe shelter and healing, usually with their young children in tow. They are in need of support and guidance as they learn new skills to care for themselves and their children. Many have limited education and life experience outside the home. At Agatha Amani House, one of the marketable skills we teach is agriculture production, utilizing up-to-date methods such as permaculture.  The residents learn soil and water conservation, as well optimal crop co-location.  In November, our director completed a two-week Permaculture Design Course at Quail Springs Farm in southern California, and our shelter manager has attended several workshops in Nairobi.

The agriculture component at Agatha Amani House provides residents with increased skills, a sense of accomplishment, and a therapeutic connection to the land. The produce helps feed our residents, and the surplus sold in local markets contributes to our goal of self-sustainability.

Some of our residents choose to develop other skills as they transition into the community. We assisted a recent graduate of the program in locating safe shelter in the community, where she has returned to high school to complete her education. Another resident has made great strides living independently, and is now in her third year of college, studying Hospitality Management.

We are grateful for the support of donors who are helping make this project a reality. At Agatha Amani House, our mission is to inspire and empower survivors of sexual and domestic violence and their children to heal from trauma and become self-sufficient.

Links:

• https://www.empoweringmindsinternational.org/agathaamanihouse.html