Kenya

Key problem:

In ‘hot spots’ of rural Kenya over 30% of people are affected by HIV/AIDs.  They face severe stigma – as well as the health challenges they endure. Women are the most vulnerable.  If their families and communities do not support them, there is no safety net.

What are we doing?

Our work in Nambale helps people living with HIV/AIDS to make sure they have sufficient nutrition, establishing backyard gardens, and then generate income for their families through livelihoods appropriate to their health.  When communities see their contribution to local markets, this helps to reduce stigma and discrimination, especially when combined with community awareness raising. Through supportive groups and increased self respect people with HIV/AIDS can also access other services and support.

This work builds on the success of an earlier project in Butula. It brings our partner REEP’s core function of meeting the needs of women and children living with HIV/AIDS, together with APT’s experience of enterprise development, enabling people to support themselves and their families and to ‘live positively’.

HIV positive widow, Beatrice Alouch (pictured left) has 3 children. When her husband died his family tried to grab all his property, threatening to burn down her house and her brother-in-law twice assaulted her. 

When she heard about APT’s project in the area, in less than one month, Beatrice’s life had changed.  She received legal help, her brother-in-law was arrested.  All parties involved were educated about widow’s rights and succession law. After time in police custody, her brother-in-law apologised and Beatrice forgave him. She has now built a new house, her children go to school and she is able to meet their basic needs.

The lives of so many women and girls in Busia have been transformed through the project.  Beatrice says: “Now we have a reason to live and realise our potential.  For those of us who are HIV positive, our lives have been prolonged – and we are able to take care of our children”.

Key Problem:

Miners, carvers and finishers and others in the soapstone industry work in dire conditions with little reward.  They can be killed or injured by flying rock or by breathing in harmful dust, yet earn a tiny proportion of the industry’s potential.

What are we doing?

We are empowering different categories of soapstone sector workers to demand and secure safer and more favourable working conditions, and to access a greater and fairer share of the income.  With our partner SITE we are helping collectives and co-operatives of 12,000 soapstone workers to become stronger organisations, better able to represent the rights, needs and concerns of their members.  We are working to ensure employers’ associations and regulators comply with national and international labour standards and the requirements of importers and alternative trade organisations – helping them to reach the potential of fair trade markets.

Key Problem:

Lack of productive employment opportunities in the Eastern Province of Kenya has driven many young people into poverty and despair – and some into crime and drugs. 

What are we doing?

APT is helping SITE assist six vocational training centres to improve their courses in range, quality and market orientation so that 1,980 young people will gain the relevant skills to get a job or start their own business.  We are also linking with small nearby enterprises so that trainees can get practical hands-on experience (pictured below), and enterprise trainers will have better skills.

Please help people like Beatrice and Eunia and their families...

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