Update: October 2007
There are some really good things happening in the area of Micro-finance. Many families are having their lives revolutionised by the new freedom it gives them. We spent a lot of time visiting the churches and there were many testimonies about the loans people have received, the varied businesses these loans have funded and in general terms, the positive impact the loans have had in the lives of people and families. In every church we visited there were stories from the children who are part of the support programme.
There have been some very clear outcomes from the recent activities:
Teams went out church planting in 6 locations and 6 churches were successfully planted
8 training clusters for leaders have been set up and are using a training curriculum
All the secondary school fees have been paid for first two terms
Regular visits have been made to the churches to talk about the loan scheme
7 churches have formed HIV intervention committees and many people have tested for HIV/AIDS
A clinic has been established at Matiko, on the shores of Lake Victoria
The current strategy is working well at the grassroots level. Many families have received loans and almost 200 children are going to school. Along with this new churches are being planted and HIV awareness clubs have been started. The following commmittes have been selected to oversee the future:
Leadership Training, Missions and outreach.
Child care and Street children
Loan Scheme
Environment management
HIV and AIDS intervention
Health, Sanitation and Hygiene
It was resolved that each committee should come up with policies and guidelines of operation for each of these areas. They will develop plans, reports and explanations about their respective areas of responsibility.
While visiting various churches to meet the beneficiaries of the loan scheme large numbers of people came out to hear the testimonies. In many cases the leaders of the communities came to welcome us as well. These were mainly councillors voted in as local body politicians. Every one of them spoke highly of the benefits they had noticed in the communities from the loan scheme. They spoke of people and families with hope and told stories of children going to school when previously they were not.
The HIV intervention program has made people very happy and the community people are joining the programs
The sub county local govt has provided mosquito nets, jerry cans for water and water purification tablets to the groups
In one place the church has been asked to assist with adult literacy classes.
Possibility of small clinics
Tree planting program in every church area
Emergency support fund for those who are struggling with HIV as they often cannot keep up their businesses or support themselves
