This community-based organization (CBO) is just three years old. They have great leadership and are poised to eradicate extreme poverty among themselves and their families. Koma Wisi CBO comprises 15 members who are very dedicated to working together on several key projects. They include vegetable growing (despite challenges with access to reliable water), poultry farming, table banking, and merry-go-round. When the group was interviewed recently, they were particularly excited about their success with the poultry project which they have been trained to do. “We thank God for this far, George [Tumaini staff] has been very instrumental in ensuring that we have the required skills in this project.” Already, poultry farming has had multiple benefits to the group—eggs, chicks, mature hens, and manure, which they use for farming vegetables and other crops. Currently, they are getting an average of 60 eggs per day, which they use for domestic consumption and sell the rest. They also recently sold some of their mature chickens and earned $684. This is a huge income considering that these people still earn an average of $1.95 a day. It was good to learn that they are very strategic with some of their income as they put it right back to expand their projects. Their table banking is increasingly proving critical to improving the members’ quality of life. Table banking is money that members contribute monthly and put in the group’s bank account. Members are then eligible to borrow at a low-interest rate. From these loans, members can pay for their children's school fees, pay for medicines and other essentials.
These baby steps by CBOs are critical to addressing extreme poverty in the regions where we are doing child sponsorship. Thank you to everyone who has donated to see these women and youth groups thrive. There is always one more project to support or one new CBO to pick up for support. If you would like to partner with us and change a community in this manner, please go online or mail a check with CBO or Socio-Economic Fund in the memo. Thank you!
COVID-19 UPDATE:
As of Tuesday, July 13th, 2021
The daily positivity rate went up to double digits standing at 13.1% on Tuesday.
Except for passengers traveling from India, international travel restrictions have been lifted but still with Covid protocols specific to the country being observed.
There were 3,250 new positive cases which are more than a thousand compared to last week. The total now stands at 189,703 cases.
There were 35 deaths this past week which is half of what was reported last week. Positive news! The total death total now stands at 3,732.
Unfortunately, positivity cases in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya remain a major concern. The nightly curfews in the region (from 7:00 pm to 4:00 am) are still in place causing a significant negative impact on the economy. The rest of the country remains under nightly curfews from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am and these will remain in place for another 60 days.
With the AstraZeneca vaccine no longer available, the government is underway to import Johnson and Johnson vaccines to continue with vaccination.
We continue to thank God for His protection over our staff, sponsored children, and their families.