Kenya, East Africa
The Sero Project is planting seeds for change in AIDS riddled East Africa. Sub-Sahara Africa is home to two-thirds of the world’s HIV/AIDS infected people, and in Kenya alone approximately 1.5 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS and 1.2 million children have been orphaned because of the disease.
What do HIV/AIDS statistics have to do with community development? In a country such as Kenya everyone is affected by HIV/AIDS, so addressing the issue is a prerequisite to meaningful community development.
The Sero Project is fully engaged in the establishment and development of The Haven and Fresh Start children’s homes for AIDS orphans and abandoned children in Jua Kali, a village just outside of Eldoret (Kenya’s fifth largest town). In fact, all of the Sero Project’s current initiatives and partnerships in Kenya are tied directly or indirectly to the children’s homes.
One in twenty of the village’s elementary students are residents of The Haven or Fresh Start homes. The establishment of these homes has been the gateway to relationships with the chief, elders, school headmaster, business owners and other village leaders. All involved are excited about working together to bring improvements to the local school by improving facilities, providing teacher training and meeting needs of students.
Sero engages in participatory planning with community leaders to identify and prioritize projects and initiatives in Kenya. The goals of The Sero Project’s involvement include, but are not limited to improving education, health, hygiene, economy, agriculture and technology.
Projects, Initiatives and Needs in Kenya
Elementary School Rehabilitation: The village’s only public elementary school inadequately accommodates 900 students with only fifteen teachers! The facilities are drab and dilapidated. Flooring, windows, lights, furniture and bathroom facilities are missing or in a state of disrepair throughout the school complex.
Elementary School Teacher Training: The headmaster and the teachers of Jua Kali Elementary School have asked for our help to provide additional training and encouragement to the faculty. Sero is planning trips in 2011 to offer such training.
Preschool: In partnership with Global Field Evangelism in Kenya and Living Hope Church in Memphis, TN, the Sero Project foresees the establishment of a preschool on the site of the Haven and Fresh Start children’s homes. The location is ideal for access to the community and vigilant supervision of the children’s coming and going by the caregivers of the homes.
High School: The nine high school students of the Haven and Fresh Start homes currently attend boarding schools in other towns because there is no opportunity to attend high school in Jua Kali. Each year, more and more children of the orphanage will have to go off to boarding school unless a good high school is established in the village. In partnership with Global Field Evangelism of Kenya, Sero looks forward to the day when the vision of a local high school is realized in Jua Kali. The property for a high school has already been secured through Sero’s Kenya partner, Global Field Evangelism.
Micro Financing: Poor and low-income people around the world often find access to financial services out of reach. The Sero Project anticipates small-scale micro financing to give opportunity for entrepreneurs in Jua Kali to establish small businesses.
What do HIV/AIDS statistics have to do with community development? In a country such as Kenya everyone is affected by HIV/AIDS, so addressing the issue is a prerequisite to meaningful community development.
The Sero Project is fully engaged in the establishment and development of The Haven and Fresh Start children’s homes for AIDS orphans and abandoned children in Jua Kali, a village just outside of Eldoret (Kenya’s fifth largest town). In fact, all of the Sero Project’s current initiatives and partnerships in Kenya are tied directly or indirectly to the children’s homes.
One in twenty of the village’s elementary students are residents of The Haven or Fresh Start homes. The establishment of these homes has been the gateway to relationships with the chief, elders, school headmaster, business owners and other village leaders. All involved are excited about working together to bring improvements to the local school by improving facilities, providing teacher training and meeting needs of students.
Sero engages in participatory planning with community leaders to identify and prioritize projects and initiatives in Kenya. The goals of The Sero Project’s involvement include, but are not limited to improving education, health, hygiene, economy, agriculture and technology.
Projects, Initiatives and Needs in Kenya
Elementary School Rehabilitation: The village’s only public elementary school inadequately accommodates 900 students with only fifteen teachers! The facilities are drab and dilapidated. Flooring, windows, lights, furniture and bathroom facilities are missing or in a state of disrepair throughout the school complex.
Elementary School Teacher Training: The headmaster and the teachers of Jua Kali Elementary School have asked for our help to provide additional training and encouragement to the faculty. Sero is planning trips in 2011 to offer such training.
Preschool: In partnership with Global Field Evangelism in Kenya and Living Hope Church in Memphis, TN, the Sero Project foresees the establishment of a preschool on the site of the Haven and Fresh Start children’s homes. The location is ideal for access to the community and vigilant supervision of the children’s coming and going by the caregivers of the homes.
High School: The nine high school students of the Haven and Fresh Start homes currently attend boarding schools in other towns because there is no opportunity to attend high school in Jua Kali. Each year, more and more children of the orphanage will have to go off to boarding school unless a good high school is established in the village. In partnership with Global Field Evangelism of Kenya, Sero looks forward to the day when the vision of a local high school is realized in Jua Kali. The property for a high school has already been secured through Sero’s Kenya partner, Global Field Evangelism.
Micro Financing: Poor and low-income people around the world often find access to financial services out of reach. The Sero Project anticipates small-scale micro financing to give opportunity for entrepreneurs in Jua Kali to establish small businesses.
