UVA TODAY: Women’s Economic Empowerment Groups Change Life in Rural Kenya

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OCTOBER 10, 2012

In Kenya’s Kitui District, home to a million people, Janet Mumo is the only woman ever known to ride a motorcycle. She must, she said, to reach her rural constituents.

Mumo will visit the University of Virginia on Oct. 18 to give a talk on "Transforming Lives: Community-Based Development in Kenya" in Minor Hall’s auditorium. A reception will follow. The event, which begins at 5 p.m., is hosted by the U.Va. Women's Center.

She is the founder and director of the Kitui Development Center in southeastern Kenya. Its mission is to build leadership in village women, who then improve the quality of life for those suffering from severe drought, famine and other effects of poverty. In just one Kitui program, Mumo works with 1,753 women who feed 7,400 children.

Their strategy: Women pool their small resources to buy seeds, goats and chickens; start small businesses; and use their aggregate income to provide school fees, schools, medicine, clean water and more for their children and their communities.

One past project involved helping women get started in planting and harvesting sunflowers, along with beekeeping. The sunflowers provide bees with nectar, and they produce more honey. The sunflowers also provide edible oil to the community, and the sunflower seedcake is used as animal feed.

To respond to the many children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, the center strengthens the agricultural self-sufficiency of rural village families, who feed scores of orphans and care for them in their homes. Mumo’s center does not provide money, but teaches a wide variety of skills to rural Kenyan women, who then work in small groups to transform lives. Other projects focus on water, health and positive youth development. The women are especially determined that their female children, as well as their young boys, are allowed to go to school – a privilege most of them were denied, said Sharon Davie, who directs the Women’s Center and is writing about women’s programs in Kenya.

Full of energy, with an unflagging sense of humor and a deep belief in human potential, Mumo – the only woman on the Kitui Town Council – has been recognized in Kenya and internationally for her strategic approach to community-based development.

Her visit is co-sponsored by the Women, Gender and Sexuality program in the College of Arts & Sciences, the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies and the African Development Project at St. Paul’s Memorial Church.

The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP should be sent by Oct. 15 to Bri Goode atwcevents@eservices.virginia.edu.

St. Paul's African Development Project wins Bishop's Outreach Award

Bishop Johnston, left; Sue Rainey, middle;
Wilma Bradbeer right;
receiving the award this morning

RESTON -- The big news for us as the annual Diocesan Council opened this morning is that our very own African Development Project won the Bishop's Award for Outreach, conferred by Bishop Shannon Johnston. Hundreds of people applauded as Sue Rainey and Wilma Bradbeer accepted the award on behalf of the dozens of volunteers here and in Kenya who have worked so hard on this project since 1985.

The certificate states: "The Bishop's Outreach Award honots an Episcopal church or related faith-based non-profite organization within the Diocese of Virginia whose mission and ministries for those in need give practical expression of exemplary Christian service and love of neighbor."

Here is more background on the African Development Project from the nomination forms:

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Begun in 1985 at St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville, the African Development Project has supported specific, effective programs in East Africa that enable participants to grow more food, improve their heath, education, and income, and care for the sick and orphaned. ADP has direct links with the leaders of these programs, many of whom have visited Virginia over the years. This means that ADP’s supporters often feel a personal connection with those they are helping and are confident their donations are well used. ADP’s assistance goes directly to these programs and involves no overhead expenses.

Since its inception, ADP has worked with World Neighbors, an international development organization with several projects in Kenya, and the Oyani Christian Rural Services, directed by the Rev. Peter Indalo in western Kenya. Many guests from Kenya have spoken at events such as ADP’s fund-raising dinners called “Harambees.” They have taught ADP volunteers much about their needs and what works to bring lasting change. In 2007, Melanie Macdonald, the CEO of World Neighbors, discussed how communities are organized to solve problems in sustainable ways. Brief descriptions of these two projects follow:

World Neighbors program in Busia district, directed by Chris Macolo, teaches soil and crop improvement, goat and poultry management, and better nutrition for children and those with HIV/AIDS.

Oyani Christian Rural Services, led by the Rev. Peter Indalo, plants trees, provides clean water, teaches cabinetry and metal work, and provides school uniforms and fees for over 60 orphans.

Since 2005, when three women from ADP went Kenya, these projects have stretched its resources to help several additional organizations, including two that focus on helping AIDS orphans and their caregivers by creating new “families” in local communities:
Nyalwodep Project for Orphans, led by Rev. James Ouma, pairs orphans with widows who look out for their wellbeing, and provides meals and education.

The Kitui Development Center, led by Janet Mumo, enables thousands of villagers to meet their basic needs primarily through women’s groups and combats child labor and exploitation by teaching vocational skills. During the terrible unrest after the contested election in December 2007, the leaders asked for special contributions for their endangered participants; with generous donations from ADP supporters we sent emergency gifts that made a real difference.

The African Development Project holds an annual fund-raising dinner, the "Harambee," at St. Paul's Memorial Church, and sometimes at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Charlottesville. Since 1985, more than $600,000 has been raised for ADP through the Harambee dinners and with other gifts. The last fund-raiser, on September 30, 2011 had more than 100 people who attended. Those who attended heard inspiring, informative talks by two special guests from Kenya: Pastor James Ouma, and Kenya's Ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo.

Pastor Ouma, who with his wife Alice directs the Nyalwodep village, where 65 widows care for 120 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The pressing needs are for money for food, better shelter, school fees, and a better water source.

Ambassador Odembo is an old friend of ADP, who visited here twenty years ago when he worked with World Neighbors. He described numerous positive changes in Kenya that inspire hope for the future. He also met privately with ADP and church leaders, talking candidly about the challenges facing East Africa and how the Episcopal Church can strengthen its presence and partnerships in his country.

Tonight: African Development Project Harambee

Come hear some good news!

You are invited to ADP’s annual fundraising dinner: a sale of Kenyan crafts and jewelry begins at 5:30 pm, followed by a festive dinner at 6:00 pm at St. Paul's.

There will be updates on the projects we support in Kenya and presentations by Susanna Williams on her recent visit to Nyalwodep Project for Orphans and Children and by Kelli Olson, Cindy Cartwright, and Julie Convisser on DAWN, the new “Dollar a Week Network” to support an orphan in school.

Everyone is welcome. RSVP: srainey@cstone.net, or call the church office: 295-2156. Since 1985, ADP has partnered with effective development projects in Kenya, whose leaders we know. The projects enable people to improve their health and income, grow more food, obtain clean water, care for orphans and the ill, and attend school. Generous donations from many supporters, St. Paul’s Youth Group, and St. Paul’s outreach budget enabled us to send a record amount to the projects since last fall’s Harambee—over $38,000.

If you cannot attend and wish to donate to ADP, please make checks payable to St. Paul’s Memorial Church, with “African Development Project” in the memo line and send to the church or put in the offering.