PROJECT 2:09 JECK St.John’s Escape Community Group.

COUNTRY PROFILE:

The Kenyan population stands at 30 million persons after the 1999 National Census with an annual growth rate of 1.89%.
With and approximate land cover of 525 square ft.
Kenya is bordered by 5 countries Tanzania on the south, Uganda on the west, Sudan in the northwest, Ethiopia on the north and Somalia on the northeast.
Kenya boasts of mountains; Mount. Kenya and Mount. Elgon
Kenya shares the largest water lakes with its neighbors Uganda and Tanzania
On 25th November 1999 HIV/AIDS was declared a national disaster, which has become a serious public health challenge on development with increasingly severe negative social-economical impact.
Three year ago an estimated 700 people were losing their lives daily to HIV/AIDS related cases. Since 1984 I million Kenyans have succumbed to this pandemic leaving behind approximately I million orphans. In 1998 alone, nearly 200,000 new HIV infections occurred in the country.
At the end of 1999, 14% of the adult population in Kenya was estimated to be living with the virus (200,000) youth adults aged 15 to 45 years died)
The total number of people infected is higher in rural areas where 50% of the population lives. 200,000 adult/youths aged between 15-45 died. Fact- 80% of the Kenya population lives on potential agricultural land, although prevalence is higher in urban areas i.e. 17% urban 13% rural.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 730,000 children have lost either one or both parents to this pandemic at the age of 14 years or younger. This devastation on households results in 49-78% loss in income.
With the completion of the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS. In 1999 Kenya hopes to reduce its prevalence rate from 20% to 30% by the year 2005.
With few months left to the year 2005, significant change is already in record. Currently with the introduction of antiretroviral drugs and the awareness campaigns, the number of deaths has almost been halved (i.e. from 700 to 300 deaths daily). Still much has to done in order to change people’s attitude.

PROJECT LOCATION

JECK Community project is located in the sprawling Kibera Slum on the outskirts of Nairobi City Center, in Langata Constituency. Kibera is the second largest slum in Africa after Soweto in S. Africa with at most 60% (approximately 2 million plus of the total population of Nairobi) living there. Approximate distance is 8 kms from the city (10-15 minutes).

BRIEF HISTORY

JECK is a community based within Mashimoni Village, one of the most densely populated villages in the slum. As the population suggests, child abuse drugs, family displacement, single parenthood, AIDS orphans and child neglect are the order of the day. Children rights are abused with many cases unnoticed. Street children roaming all over salvaging for food in rubbish heaps (garbage) are a common scenario with rag clothes ad miserable faces.

This was a great concern for the people of Mashimoni Village and prompted the idea of starting JECK Community Initiative project, to save the situation.

In 1999 they started a school with 25 children accumulated in a semi permanent rental building. Currently the school hosts 300 plus children who are learning under difficult circumstances in mud, uncemented classrooms with poor lighting condition.

The same community came up with a women focus group to uplift the standards of a woman living in the slum ad thus promoting and supporting the orphans, single parent children in JECK initiative. Through this women group, various activities are undertaken to generate income so as to empower the women and promote the of these innocent children who are victims of circumstances.

LANGUAGE IN THE PROJECT/ RELIGION

Nairobi is a cosmopolitan city with Swahili and English as he official language. In the slum different ethnic tribes are bonded with the challenges experienced there. This justifies the two languages as the most community spoken there. A little bit of Kiswahili even greetings will help in integration.


PRESENT STATUS OF PROJECT

JECK community has various activities taking place. Empowerment through. Income generating activities (IGA). Sponsorship Programmes and Education are the main activities. The focus group undertake the following activities as a way of raising income

Tailoring
Weaving craft
Candle making
Merry go round weekly
Making of scarfs

The school has about 300 plus children in three classrooms. The buildings are semi-permanent with poor lighting conditions, lack of furniture. There are 4 teachers who receive meagre pay from the IGA activities.

The organizational structure consists of chair lady, secretary, treasurer and committee members.

PROJECT (MISSION) TARGET

JECK targets children between 3-4 years of age because it’s anticipated that at this range of age, street children problem can eventually be eradicated.

JECK hopes to support the children through provision of Education being a basic need and advocating for children’s rights in the slum, through civil education.
Provision of informal Education of these destitute and occasionally feeding them through feeding programmes.

Hopes to establish an HIV/AIDS initiative programme to educate the community about HIV/AIDS and reproductive health.

Addressing Environmental health problem within the slum

Empower women through income Generating Activities.

MISSION/STATEMENT

“To encourage child survival by discouraging child abuse by advocating and promoting children’s right through action”

AREA OF CONCERN (SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE)

Volunteers with skills/knowledge or experience in social circle are needed to assist the children develop/grow in a conducive environment and become responsible persons in future.

The focus group as need volunteers to help empower them with skills/knowledge about{ IGAs} Income Generating Activities. Skills/knowledge/experience in the following:

Social/work
Public Health
Teaching
Recreative skills

PROJECT COVERS
Family stay outside the slum/within the slums optional
Food
Transport to and from the project
Electricity
Tap water

PROJECT DOES NOT COVER

Insurance cover
Pocket money
Recreation

WHAT TO BRING

Mosquito net
Sleeping Bag
Learning materials, like reading text, pens, pencils
Toys and pictures for the children
Photo album
Any kind of assistance to support the women group
A big smile! A happy and positive attitude

DO’S AND DON’TS OF VOLUNTEERING

Do and try learning some basic Kiswahili. Even greeting will be high appreciated.
Do show an active interest in learning about the life in the slum, and be open minded especially with a desperate and hopeleness population in the slum.
Do and try to be yourself despite the difference you may have with the community members e.g. going to church etc.
Do keep promises e.g. visiting someone’s home o family they will be waiting for you and may get disappointed if you fail them.
Do not make it difficult for future volunteers by giving out a lot of gifts or money. This is not the role of volunteers and we don’t want the community to rely or depend and perceive volunteers in this negative way. Always be selective and give to close friends.
Do not indulge in any illegal activity {drug addition etc} that is against the laws of Kenya. These activities are a common feature in the slums.
Do uphold the principles of volunteerism as stipulated by KVDA and SCI- German.
Do live in accordance with the Laws of Kenya and guidelines of KVDA.
Do work alongside the local community members/project staffs /institution in the spirit of complementation and co-operation.

Note the JECK project has so far hosted the following volunteers.

· Jeanine Shinoda-Volunteers For Peace {VFP}-USA. From June 2004-Sept.2004 {3 months}
· Betina Hasen - Ms- Denmark- from Sept.2004 to December 2004 {3 months}
· Nissanka Welchardi- SCI -German {Brief stay} late Sept.2004 to mid November 2004.He had to leave the project because of his studies.
· Richard Fulham-UNA Exchange UK -from October 2004 to April 2005 {6 months}.

Please send us you comments and enquires.

Email:      [email protected]
P.O. Box: 48902-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
Fax:        +254 20 225379
Address:   Kampus towers, 1^st Floor, University Way.
Phone:     +254 020 225379.