Upendo Village Update
May 2007
Julia Angatia, an HIV positive mother, and her malnourished, HIV positive child Stanley are being cared for in the Upendo Village Home Based Care program. Nutritional supplementation and treatment of opportunistic infections can help restore this family’s health and hope.
The AIDS pandemic continues to greatly affect Kenya. Upendo Village staff and volunteers, enabled by the generosity of all of our donors, continue to reach out to those in need. We are now serving over 1850 people. This is an increase of over 400 people since July 1. Through our educational efforts the myths about AIDS continue to be dispelled, encouraging more and more people to come forward to be tested and to learn about AIDS prevention. Since July, 133 people have received voluntary counseling and testing, with 68 of these testing positive. Through the support and solidarity of all of you, our donors, Upendo Village (UV) is able to transform lives with hope and love.
On February 2nd UV met with community health workers in Murungaru to share with them how to make home-based care (HBC) more effective. Over 150 people attended. Additionally, UV and the Kijabe Hospital (KH) team jointly sponsored an AIDS awareness gathering. UV staff spoke on HIV and nutritional supplementation, while KH staff educated the 200 attendees on antiretroviral medications (ARV’s). KH is also now collaborating with UV in running support groups. On February 10th the KH team brought visitors from the US to observe how UV runs its children’s support group. The children left with surprise gifts of clothes brought by the US visitors for them.
March 28th was a special day of celebration at UV as some clients received solar ovens donated by the Naperville Illinois Rotarians. They worked jointly with the local Naivasha Rotarians and UV to get the shipment to those in need. Catherine, UV’s dietician, met with participants to instruct them on the use of the ovens. She demonstrated making rice and baked a cake as well. Each client tasted the wonderful food. The ovens will not only save families the cost of fuel for cooking, but will decrease the smoke within their tiny homes from cooking fires.
A mother prepares supper over a smoldering fire, clearly showing the smoky conditions this causes.
In April, Mary Rittmann and Karen Claeys, the coordinators of the UV children’s education fund, visited UV for the first time. Sister Florence Muia and the staff were thrilled to be able to accompany them as they met with sponsored children from Milimani, Karai, Lakeview and Gituamba Primary Schools. Twelve children were chosen by Mary and Karen to be “photographers” and to use disposable cameras that they brought with them to document the lives of the children “from the kids’ point of view.” These photos were brought back to the USA and will be developed. Who knows what picture treasures will be revealed!
Peter Njeri studies on his own at home. His grandmother could not afford a uniform and school fees, so he had to drop out of school.
Sr. Florence was invited to participate in a Social Transformation Leadership Training Program in Nairobi, which was held as part of the Franciscan response to HIV/AIDS. Sr. Florence presented on UV’s ministry to those suffering from this pandemic. The training drew participants from Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Congo and Kenya. All were challenged to take concrete action to respond to AIDS within their areas. The training was sponsored by Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harlem in New York, one of the churches who hosted Sr. Florence’s visit with Harlem churches last summer.
A warm welcome was also given to Kathleen Harrison of the Harambee project, which supports microeconomic projects to help UV clients to become self-supporting. In addition to helping to garner donations in exchange for beadwork crafts produced by UV clients, Kathleen has been able to get donations to purchase the first 5 German goats to be delivered in May 2007. She also has furnished funds for bee keeping equipment and training for 5 clients. These clients attended instruction sessions at Baraka Agricultural Training Institute for 1 week and returned home ready to begin their new projects, which will generate income through the sale of honey and milk and will supplement the families’ nutrition. Goat recipients have agreed to donate the first female kid to UV for another client. This is a sustainable project, which will improve health and reduce poverty. What a wonderful contribution Kathleen’s efforts have been!
Susan Njeri proudly admires her vegetable crop. Now that the draught is over, she is able to support her grandson Peter (seen above) and her family. She is among the 5 new beekeepers of UV.
Visitors from DT Dobie Co. in Nairobi came to UV for the second time in March, accompanied by Beatrice, program director from their parent company CFAO in France. They presented UV with a check for 18,300 Ksh (about $270) for the education of four needy orphans whom they adopted as part of the employees’ commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS. This donation will be sent to UV monthly. We thank them for their solidarity in action!
Construction work at the 3.5 acre permanent UV site continues to progress. The multipurpose hall is now complete and services are beginning to be relocated there. The staff house is 90% and the clinic 80% complete, while fundraising continues for both of these. Much remains to be done but with the donations to our capital campaign, the permanent UV site is slowly becoming a reality.
Thank you for your support for Upendo Village and the people of Kenya. Your concern and solidarity bring hope and life to many. Together we continue to work toward the day when the people of all the countries of the world will be able to live healthy and happy lives.—
Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, MD
Upendo
Village, NFP.
HIV/AIDS Women Project-Kenya
Sr. Florence Muia, ASN – President
Sr. Beatrice M. Hernandez, OSF,MD-Executive Director
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 449
Wheaton, IL 60189
E-mail: contact@upendovillage.org