Utume Magazine

Nov -December, 2015 ISSUE www.caritasnairobi.org

Working towards a Just, Self-reliant and Value Based Society

Relief: A peek into the refugee and peace building interventions Farming God’s way:

Adoption of optimal agricultural practices Quarter of anniversaries: Farmers and youth celebrate the MUCOLIP and AYEP anniversaries Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015

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PROLOGUE

He who lives the mission of “Caritas” is a true witness of Christ

“The Gospel, proclaimed and believed, urges us to wash the feet and the wounds of the suffering and to prepare the table for them.The simplicity of the gestures, where the acceptance of the Word and the sacrament of Baptism are accompanied by the welcome of the brother, as if these were indeed one single gesture: to welcome God and to welcome others; to welcome others with the grace of God; to welcome God and express this act in the service to our brothers and sisters.

Word, Sacraments and service refer to and nourish each other, as can already be seen in these testimonies of the early Church.

“We can see in this gesture the entire vocation of Caritas.

Caritas is now a great Confederation, widely recognized throughout the world for its work and accomplishments.

Caritas is a reality of the Church in many parts of the world and must still seek a greater expansion in the different parishes

and communities, to renew what took place in the early days of the Church. In fact, the source of all your service lies in the simple and docile welcome of God and neighbor. This is the source; if you take away this source Caritas will die. This welcome is first personally experienced by you, so that you may then go out into the world, and there, to serve others in the name of Christ, whom you have met and whom you will continue to meet in every brother and sister that you will approach as your neighbor. Thanks to this, you will actually avoid the risk of being reduced to a mere humanitarian organization.

“There are no large or small “Caritas”’, they are all the same.

Let us ask the Lord for the grace to understand what is the true dimension of “Caritas”; the grace so as not to fall into the deceit of believing that well-organized centralization is the right road to take; the grace to understand that “Caritas” is always to be found in the peripheries, in each particular Church; the grace to believe that the central “Caritas” is only aid, service and common experience but it is not the head of them all. “ His Holiness Pope Francis

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord…”

There are hundreds of verses where the Bible teaches and stresses on the obligations that we have to the poor.

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord. And He will repay him for his deed,” Proverbs 19:17.

The urge to help the less fortunate should be enshrined and rooted deep in our hearts. Just like the Good Samaritan, God expects us to reach out to the less fortunate. Each one in this world has been blessed with something that they can give. This could be food and other resources, encouragement and motivation, visiting the sick in the hospitals and even helping a blind person to cross the road. Service to humanity is service to God. We are all called, and the church gives a platform, to show compassion to those who need compassion. At Utume Magazine, Magazine, Nov Nov -- December, December, 2015 2015 2 Utume

the end of life, Christ will remind us “what we did to the least of our brothers” and behold, that is what we shall have done to him.

As draw to the end of the year, let us all resolve to put a smile to the faces of the millions of beautiful souls that really need this smile but find it painful or impossible to smile. Let us demonstrate the spirit of Caritas to these, and it all starts to that one case in your small Christian community.

Let your words be the words that keep people going, let your arms be the shawls that warm cold feet, let your presence be the inspiration to live for those in despair and let a thought of you be the clear definition of charity to the vulnerable.

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue

Welcome “Amor patriae in radice charitates fundatu,” are words said by Bartholomew of Lucca, a mediaval Italian historian, meaning that “love for the fatherland is founded in the root of charity.” The prophet Isaiah talks about charity to the vulnerable people, “True worship is to work for justice and care for the poor and oppressed.”

Isaiah 58:5-7 It is upon the above underpinning that Caritas N a i ro b i works, serving the poor and people with other

vulnerabilities in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties. Our target beneficiaries are people with disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, urban refugees, people in informal settlements and women, men and youth living in dire need of fundamental needs.

This year, 2015, we have reached great numbers through our interventions and with your support. This is evident from the success stories in this publication.As we gear to the culmination of the year, we have set our focus for 2016, “to continue empowering people with different vulnerabilities in the Archdiocese of Nairobi.”

Our goals are realized through the support that we get from our sponsors and donors. It is in this regard that we welcome you to join

hands with us, partner with us and help us to reach to the thousands of people in need of our support. For information on how we can walk together, reach us on caritas@caritasnairobi.org In this issue of Utume, we look at various success stories from the different interventions we have had. Read how our self-help programme has benefited a youth who had no option for employment in Mitero, the story of ashes to graces of beneficiaries in Soweto slum, how Caritas Nairobi in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is promoting peace in Nairobi, the new project in Bahati that is promoting maternal health to thousands of mothers in Eastlands and a wide array of stories depicting success and hope to and among the thousands of beneficiaries who we reach.

Utume magazine also offers a platform for you to talk about your business and reach the thousands of readers who get to peruse through our free copy of the newsletter. We invite you to advertise with us and help us cover the cost of production of this magazine.

It is also our wish that you participate in the spirit of Caritas by empowering those with vulnerabilities around you, in your church and home areas. Caritas is hope, it is love, and it is solidarity, an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others. This is the spirit of Caritas. “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Maya Angelou Solomon Irungu Ngoru, Editor in chief

CONTENTS PAGE 4 6 8 10 12 13 14 15 16 18

ARTICLE About Caritas Nairobi Farming God’s way Empowering Soweto Another step for Promic, How to be an Ayep member The HIV/AIDS project in Caritas Nairobi Maternal Health in Bahati Supporting OvC in Nairobi The story of Sumayaah Peace building festivals The Mitero success

November 2015 - January 2016, ISSUE Editor in Chief: Solomon Irungu Ngoru Editorial Board: Sr Mary Mbaci, Michael Kiburi, Kevin Omondi, Timothy Njeru Photography: Caritas Nairobi Communication Office Layout: Collins Ekessah, Solomon Irungu Printing: Syntax Business Solutions Acknowledgements: Vatican Radio (Src)

Utume UtumeMagazine, Magazine,Nov Nov--December, December,2015 2015

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About Us

Strategic Plan

Caritas is a global confederation of Catholic organizations working in humanitarian emergencies and international development and has a permanent presence in most of the world’s countries.

Inspired by Christian faith and global values, Caritas works with the poor, vulnerable and the excluded, regardless of race and religion.

Caritas Nairobi is the aid and development agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.

It coordinates and provides aid and social and development services to the Archdiocese, without regard to race, gender, age, social background or religious affiliation.

Caritas Nairobi serves the much marginalised people especially in the slums of Nairobi and also in pockets of poverty in the larger Kiambu County.

As the Archdiocese of Nairobi social development department, Caritas Nairobi facilitates community driven empowerment and poverty eradication projects.

Our corporate strategic plan (2014-2018) outlines three key themes that guide our strategic focus, action and interventions over this period. These are: • Goal I: To enhance self-reliance of 10,000 targeted households within the Archdiocese of Nairobi by 2018 • Goal II: To advance and sustain social justice to six vulnerable groups, i.e. Women, People with Disabilities, People with HIV/AIDS, Youth, Refugees and People Living in informal settlements within the Archdiocese of Nairobi by 2018 • Goal III: To strengthen Caritas Nairobi’s capacity towards sustainable, effective and efficient service delivery by 2018

Our core values Professionalism Human Dignity Stewardship Solidarity Charity

Vision A just, self-reliant and value based society

Our operation strategy

Mission To work with strategic partners to continuously advance human dignity and the fullness of life to communities in need, by building and enhancing capacities in self-reliance and provision of humanitarian aid.

Our model Board of Directors His Eminence John Cardinal Njue His Lordship Bishop Kamau Mr. Patrick Kinyori Prof. Justus Mbae Mrs. Josephine Ngugi Mr. Riunga Raiji

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Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015

Mrs. Joan Mac’odawa Mrs. Regina Kamau Mr. Mwangi Kagunda Sr. Mary Mbaci Fr. Patrick Devine

ANNUAL DINNER 2015 Caritas Nairobi 2015 dinner date has been confirmed.

The dinner will be held at the Hilton Hotel on 4th December.This event will host guests from institutions that partner with Caritas Nairobi, sponsors, beneficiaries and friends.

The dinner provides a platform for networking between people from the various groups and institutions that attend. Previously, this event has supported a cross-section of beneficiaries from the surplus that is collected from the event. Last year, the funds collected were shared among all the programmes in Caritas Nairobi. The Relief Programme was the biggest beneficiary of these funds which supported refugees, youth, people living in informal settlements, orphans and vulnerable children, people with HIV/ AIDS and people with disabilities.

This year, the theme of the dinner is ‘continued empowerment of vulnerable groups’ as Caritas Nairobi expands its reach on the people with various vulnerabilities.The event will be aimed at touching the lives of more people through continued support to at least to more households as Caritas Nairobi aims at reaching 10,000 households over the next four years in line with the strategic plan (2014-2018). The

dinner therefore will be a great opportunity for visitors to extend their generous assistance and action to this course.

“This event will give us another chance to make friends and meet supporters while reaching out to even greater numbers in our aid and humanitarian assistance programs,” says Kevin Omondi, the fundraising manager at Caritas Nairobi. “When charity runs, so does hope.”

…theme of the dinner is

‘continued empowerment of vulnerable groups’…

The proceeds of this event will reach our beneficiaries in Kiambu and Nairobi counties by training more youth and women on entrepreneurship and offering business startup grants, providing learning aid and therapeutic devices to children, men and women with disability, support refugees in Nairobi to regain hope and dignity, facilitating access to healthcare by people living with HIV/AIDS in the Archdiocese of Nairobi and providing agriculture start-up kits to women and youth for agribusiness.

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ABOUT SELF-HELP PROGRAMME The Archdiocese of Nairobi has run the self-help programme for the last 32 years, bringing financial inclusion to the now 115,000+ members. It exists in over 90 parishes within Kiambu and Nairobi counties.

The programme started mainly by farmers to enable them mobilize saving to buy farm inputs has seen micro, small and medium entrepreneurs’ join the programme and out of this they have been able to boost their business, carry out agribusiness activities, pay school fees for their children, build descent houses just to mention a few.

The programme has also ensured the inclusion of the youth, and women forming the majority of the self-help groups’ membership.

People living with disability as well as those living in informal settlements have also formed part of the membership where we have self-help groups in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mathate, Kariobangi, Dandora, Kibera and Kayole.

The efforts of the self-help programme also played a very great and significant role in the starting of the Caritas Microfinance bank as it is the initiative of the programme that the bank came to being. The bank has come to solve some of the challenges the programme has faced in the recent past especially on credit facilities collateralization as well as coguarantorship challenges.

The self-help programme is optimistic and hopeful that through the visionally leadership offered by Caritas Nairobi and the Strategic policies in place the programme will continue to reach out to more through investments, saving mobilization, affordable credit access and microenterprise capacity building.

The programme is working to developing products that will help to continue reaching out to the vulnerable and the youth population who form the largest part of our population.

This will not only make them self-independent but will also assure the counties and the country of sustainable growth and development.

Eric Gichobi, Self-help Programme Coordinator

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THE MITERO SUCCESS Solomon Irungu Ngoru

J

ohn Ndung’u is a name that is well known in Mitero, a rural area in Mang’u deep in the county of Kiambu. At 24 years of age, he is a youth who lives an exemplary life, and probably that is why he was even elected the secretary of Mitero Self-help Group.

John completed his secondary school education over four years ago. He did not have enough resources to take him to college. He survived by doing manual jobs around his locality. From the little he was earning, he adopted the attitude of saving at the Mitero Self-help group.

In no time, John had grown his savings to qualify for a loan with the group. He got two guarantors and took a loan of KES 20,000 to and started an MPESA agent business. He now had a full-time job at his business. In less than one year, John says he was able to repay the loan and applied for a second loan.

He is not only a beneficiary of the Caritas Nairobi Self-help Programme, Continued on page 8

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THE MITERO SUCCESS Continued from page 6

…the Capacity Building Programme where he has received several trainings especially after being elected a leader of the Self-help group. John has now grown his business to start selling electrical appliances. His shop is also a one-stop place for taking a soda and a snack.

“Since I joined the Mitero Self-help Group, I have taken two loans that I have now fully paid. I want to take a step of faith and now take a high amount which I qualify for so that I can venture fully into agency banking,” he tells Caritas Nairobi Communication

ABOUT CAPACITY BUILDING Working closely with the self-help programme is the Capacity Building Programme which endeavours to strengthen the capacities of all Caritas Nairobi’s stakeholders through trainings, workshops and other empowerment platforms.

In order to maintain a sustainable model of service delivery and realise the targeted benefits, the Capacity Building Programme aims at strengthening the capacity of all Caritas Nairobi programmes beneficiaries and program officers. This is done through an intensive continuous program where beneficiaries are equipped with the requisie knowledge and other life skills that further maximize the benefit of our programs.

Competent and well-rounded staff is also a key strategic area for Caritas Nairobi and we ensure that they continuously advance their knowledge and skills so that they can replicate the same to the beneficiaries.

Giving people resources is not enough and neither is it sustainable compared to giving them knowledge to utilize the resources that they have received. This also enables them to generate more on their own which is better and more sustainable; this is what the capacity building department aims to achieve.

Francis Njenga, Capacity Building Coordinator,

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Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015

Opening new office at Mitero SHG

Officer.

John Gichomo, an auditor at Caritas Nairobi says that John is likely to achieve much because of the commitment that he demonstrates in his work.“John is a good learner and also flexible in decision making,” Ngochi says, “If he is able to take that to his business, then he is bound to go far.”

John is one of the… members of Mitero Self-help Group.

The group, just like him, has accomplished tremendous milestones since its inception. On October 5th, the group held its … annual general meeting. The meeting was not within the norm because this year, the group was opening a new office.

Since its inception, members of the group have been using the church sacristy as their cash collection point.

All cash was being deposited once per month. In other words, the operations of the group were running only once per month.

“We thank God for this office and for the support given by Caritas Nairobi because the group will now be operating on a daily basis,” Fr. … said as he inaugurated the new building.

QUICK FACTS

1 number of times Mitero SHG used to operate in a month 17,700,000+ investments of the group in share capital 15,000,000+ total amount borrowed by members in loans 602 number of registered members in the group

ABOUT GENDER & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

T

he Program’s goal is to promote equality and equity for all men and women, boys and girls to achieve a holistic and sustainable development and social justice within the Archdiocese of Nairobi by 2018.

It focuses on three strategic objectives: Socio-economic empowerment, gender mainstreaming in all Caritas Nairobi programmes and capacity building of target beneficiaries.

The program’s intervention strategies are: PROMIC groups for women, Catholic Men Association groups and AYEP groups for youth.

PROMIC targets vulnerable women in areas served by the Archdiocese of Nairobi, specifically the informal settlements and poor areas of Kiambu.

The programme also addresses issues affecting men, through the Archdiocese Catholic Men Association project (ACMA).

There is also the AYEP (Archdiocese Youth Empowerment Programme) that aims at spiritual, economic, social and civic education empowerment of the youth in the Archdiocese. This programme is in partnership with the Youth Enterprise Development fund.

Whereas this programme seeks to increase the incomes of both men and women, gender mainstreaming and advocacy is the main focus.The programme also addresses other gender related issues such as gender based violence, rights to property, HIV/AIDS and child rights.

The Gender and Youth Development Programme is presently running a maternal health program in Bahati hoping to reach out to 2,000 women and 3,000 youth in the next two years through access to ante-natal and postnatal services, nutrition and general health of mother and child. Special focus is being given to youth to mitigate early pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS among the young people of Bahati.

MARYANN SAMBIGI, COORDINATOR

GENDER DESK

EMPOWERING SOWETO

F

Solomon Irungu Ngoru

rancis Chege is a member of Mzesa group, one of the 14 groups working with Caritas Nairobi’s Gender and Youth Development Programme.

He sells dry cells, torches and glue to the locals in the area for him to support his family. Currently, he is a happy man, optimistic that he is going to expand his business in the near future with the support of Caritas Nairobi.

Francis is among 183 men and women living in Soweto whom Caritas Nairobi’s interventions have reached.

On this particular day, 6th October, 2015, these men and women are celebrating one year of oneness, with the theme “haba na haba hujaza kibaba” meaning “little by little fills the jar” From an initial amount of nothing, the Gender and Youth Development Programme has inspired them into a savings culture which they gladly adopted, and with a saving of KES 20 per week, they now have KES 123,600 in savings. The groups are now offering loans to members from as little as KES 250, 500 and the highest so far being KES 2,000.

Francis says that he realized that it was better saving with the groups because after one year the members would borrow loans. “Besides, when saving with the groups, members compete with each other and the groups among each other,” he notes, “It also encourages one to save more because one feels obliged to save every week. Instances of drinking among us men have thus reduced.”

How were the groups formed?

The formation of the groups started in August 2014.

Sponsoring youth groups in business start-ups and assisting existing small businesses. We foster spiritual, social, political and economic development.

Register yourself with us today.

Sister Olinda, the sister in charge at Carmelvale Day Care, noted with concern and sympathy the plight of the children at the day care and the parents who brought them.

“Men and women would drop their children at the day care then spend the whole day at our gate begging for food and money,” she says, “their children were emaciated and could hardly walk.”

Utume UtumeMagazine, Magazine,Nov Nov- -December, December,2015 2015

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started small businesses.

The Soweto groups are comprised of men and women who are now reforming from alcoholism, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly women and young mothers who are either single, abandoned by their husbands or kicked out of their homes. The 14 groups, whose names connote the driving spirit of the members, are Uvumilivu, Maono, Arise and shine, Angaza, Jitahidi, Rehema, Upendo (very old women), Baraka, Bidii (HIV/AIDS) , Mzesa (former alcoholics), Amani, Unity, Maendeleo and Ushindi “Through the money that we have saved, our members are now selling hair pieces that we walk to Nairobi Industrial Area to buy, secondhand clothes bought from Gikomba Market, green groceries and others have bought products and began plaiting people’s hairs,” Dorcas, a member of the group says, ‘Some of us are even selling small stones rich in calcium that people who want to boost their mineral levels eat.”

Francis Chege, beneficiary from Mzesa Group, Soweto

Sr Olinda kept thinking of how she could have a sustainable programme to empower these families. She approached Caritas Nairobi through the Gender andYouth Development Coordinator, Maryann Sambigi.

Caritas Nairobi in Soweto “The most fundamental issue we addressed as Caritas Nairobi was giving the people of Soweto hope. I remember when I told them that they could earn and save, they would ask me where to earn and what to save,” Maryann narrates.

“We mobilized them in to forming the first 11 groups and taught them how to start and manage small micro-enterprises. We then started a saving scheme where members have been saving KES 20 every week. Others have been saving more with time, having 10

Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015

Contact Caritas Nairobi thro’ +254 726 056 763. A list of members’ names, age & contacts will be needed. Caritas Nairobi will then visit the group for the registration process meeting

Step 1

These Soweto people are now celebrating their capability, hope and oneness as they look forward to another year of Caritas Nairobi’s continued and increased empowerment.

Caritas Nairobi is presently laying down the structures to integrate the 14 groups with the PROMIC project under the Gender and Youth Development Programme. Interventions around maternal health, people with HIV/AIDS and those with disabilities are also underway in Soweto.

“We are here to help you realize your vision; we are here to walk with you every step of your mission,” Caritas Nairobi director Sr Mary Mbaci assures.

Step 2 Caritas Nairobi will assist the group in making a constitution and identify the social and economic activities of the group. A group should have at least eight members to register with Caritas Nairobi.

Caritas Nairobi then vets, trains & gives the group a registration certificate. The group is then guided into making the government registration. With the two certificates & training, the group gets the Youth Fund loan.

Step 3

PROMIC AGM

“Over eight years empowering women”

By Hellen Kuria

A

ugust 2015, the Promic Programme at Caritas Nairobi held their 8th AGM with the theme “Pamoja Twaleta Maendeleo” meaning “together we bring development.”

You Transformed Me

M

ary Irungu, above, is a beneficiary of the PROMIC programme. She has been a member since the inception of the programme in 2003. Her comment today, “you transformed me!”

Mary joined Promic when the minimum savings was KES 100. She could not save more because she did not have much.

Upon attaining a savings of KES 1,000, she qualified for a microfinance boost from Caritas Nairobi where she got KES 20,000 to start a business.

Ever since, her life has drastically transformed. She has been able to educate her four children with much ease. She participates in all the groups and was recently appointed the chairlady of the group.

The Riruta Promic Group does basketry using locally available materials, mostly nylon papers. Most of the members are increasing their savings to qualify for loans for personal economic development. They are also looking forward to the Caritas Nairobi’s partnership with Women Enterprise Development Fund which they are set to benefit from.

The group also gets much support from St John the Baptist Riruta Parish, where they are allowed to exhibit, market and sell their basketry products during church activities and on Sundays.

By Solomon Irungu Ngoru

In his homily, Fr Immanuel Ngugi noted that the spirit of Pamoja (togetherness) was initiated by Kenya’s founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in the harambee spirit. He called on women to support and empower each and deviate from anything that would lead them to lose focus.

Referring to the recent comment by the President of the United States, Barack Obama, Fr. Ngugi appreciated the good work Caritas Nairobi is doing in empowering women to help them contribute and participate in national development. In quoting Robert Stevenson, he also urged women to not only be more interested in what they plant but on what they harvest.

Caritas Nairobi director, Sr. Mary Mbaci thanked Promic board members for the work they have been doing in ensuring teamwork and expansion of the programme. She urged all members to embrace the spirit of working together in order to encourage growth.

“Unlike Catholic Women Association (CWA) which a spiritual group, Promic is socio-economic empowerment group that brings women together for empowerment,” she said. “Promic is now open to men like you can witness today, therefore, men are welcome to journey together in development.”

Sr Mary highlighted some of the notable progress with the program including growth in membership, increased surplus and new partnerships that are in the process of being established to provide beneficiaries with alternative sources for loans for individual and groups as well as expand the scope of operations. The director concluded by inviting members during the launch of the said partnerships and encouraged groups that had not registered with the Ministry of gender and social welfare to do so in order to benefit from the initiative.

Promic is now open to men like you can witness…

Promic Programme has made tremendous growth and members are scheduled to receive surplus for the period ending December 2014 which will be distributed as dividend. The program is in the process of transferring its accounts data to the new system, Mifos X. This will ensure that all update will be automatic and real time.

QUICK FACTS

2000+ Current number of all Promic Members 16,000,000+ Investment in members share capital in Kenya Shillings KES 8,000 Average savings per member KES 20,000,000 Amount borrowed in loans 30 number of parishes with the Promic Programme Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015 11 11

PICTORIAL

Caritas Nairobi director interacting with children in Soweto

A lady takes her farm produce for offering

Beneficiaries from Soweto

Caritas Nairobi Agriculture Coordinator inspecting a rabbit at Munyu Business at Caritas MFB banking hall Demo Farm

Caritas Nairobi Refugee Programme Officer during a house visit to one of the empowered beneficiaries

Exhibition during AYEP at 1 12

Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015

Caritas Nairobi officials during a training at CRS

Cheque Presentation during AYEP at 1

PICTORIAL

Exhibition during MUCOLIP anniversary

Food donation in Rescue Dada

Entertainment during Mathare Peace Building Festivals

Hand skills by beneficiaries in Eastleigh

Interns and volunteers farewell celebration

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NAIROBI INTERNATOINAL TRADE FAIR HOSTS CARITAS NAIROBI

About the Agriculture Programme Agriculture, water and environment and program is a major programme within Caritas Nairobi. It aims to alleviate poverty and promote self-reliance within the farming communities in the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

We target to attain food security to over 10,000 households (HH) by 2018 in line with Caritas Nairobi’s strategic plan. We are presently reaching out to 500+ HH with food security interventions.

We reach out to urban farmers in the county of Nairobi and those in semi-arid (SA) areas and vulnerable areas in Kiambu County. Our main areas of operations are in Thigio and Munyu (SA), Mutunguru, Ituru, Kamiti and parts of Limuru.

Our model is based on the following: Capacity Building- The program trains small holder farmers in organic agriculture and sustainable livestock production techniques.

We have demonstration farms in Munyu and Limuru where farmers learn practical skills for application in their farms.

Agro Financing- Having received training, the small holder farmers receive capital funding for example to purchase heifers, indigenous chicken and rabbits. In this area we have the heifer and dairy goats exchange projects.

Marketing linkages- This programme assists farmers to market their products by providing market information to the small holder farmers. We have created partnerships with companies like Rabbit Republic where our farmers sell their agricultural products.

We practice and advocate for socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

We invite you to partner with us as walk into helping thousands of people in need of our empowerment.

Timothy Njeru, Agriculture,Water and Environment Programme Coordinator

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Utume Magazine, Nov - December, 2015

John Waweru 28th September to 4th August was an additionally busy week for Caritas Nairobi Agriculture, Water and Environment Programme. The week marked the annual Nairobi International Fair Trade, an event held at Jamuhuri Park in Nairobi. The theme of this year’s event which has been running for years was “Enhancing Technology in Agriculture and Industry for Food Security and National Growth.”

The theme was in line with one of the objectives of our agriculture programme. Caritas Nairobi therefore had a stand at the show ground in partnership with Youth Enterprise Development fund, one of the key partners of Caritas Nairobi through the Archdiocese Youth Empowerment Programme.

The Nairobi International Fair Trade offers opportunity to regional and global exhibitors to demonstrate their services particularly on agriculture; these also offer opportunities to visitors mostly farmers to learn on emerging farming methods and technologies.

Caritas Nairobi participated in this year’s fair trade with the main objective of educating farmer in venturing into rabbit farming. Rabbit farming has grown from raising a few rabbits for domestic consumption to a larger commercial operation.

Currently, Caritas Nairobi agriculture programme farmers are the producers of the highest amount of rabbit

meat. There are 1,000+ mature rabbits that are presently being reared by these farmers while the breeding still continues.

During this year’s event, a total of 2,452 visitors comprising farmers, students and youth were exposed to general practices of management and handling such as rabbit housing, types of breed, proper feeding, disease and pest control and marketing.

Besides rabbit marketing and production, the stand also addressed the point of establishing rabbit farming as a commercial enterprise particular in urban areas and areas with minimal land holding and to youth as a source of employment.

2,452

number of visitors at Caritas Nairobi’s stand at the show ground “Our visitors were exposed to learning in areas of breeds of rabbits that are available and adaptable to different ecological zones, capital required starting a rabbit commercial rabbit enterprise, ways of breeding and breed management and proper feeding of rabbits,” says Solomon Irungu, Caritas Nairobi Communication Officer who spent a day at the stand. “Visitors also learnt how to slaughter rabbits and make delicacies out of the meat and on the market availability of rabbit meat and by products (urine, meat, skin),” he adds.

Farming God’s Way

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Timothy Njeru

C

aritas Nairobi Agriculture, Water and Environment Programme is stimulating agricultural practices that are in line with Catholic Social Teachings and Biblical Perspectives of God’s will for mankind.

Our Agriculture Programme promotes sustainable agricultural practices for small holder farmers in an environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially acceptable manner.

In the beginning, God Used words to create everything save for the human being. We all possess a part of God .We are

the cream of the creation, the icing on God’s cake. He provided humanity with everything and was pleased with his work. The first occupation of man was to be a farmer i.e., God created man and bestowed authority on him to take care of his creation.

In the contemporary world, in Kenyan situation to be specific, farmers have not been able to have optimal produce for their farms. This greatly affects food security. For example, on average, one acre currently produces 5.3 bags of maize, whereas the potential of one acre is 62 bags as shown in the table below.

Maize yields in East Africa (FAO) Average yield 1,200 kg/ha=

480 kg/acre=

5.3 bags/acre

Maximum potential for maize yield 14,000 kg/ha=

B

y 2050, the world will need 70% more food to feed its population.

Africa will however need to double its food production by 2050(FAO).

Land degradation and climate change pose the greatest challenges in improving crop yields in Africa. In response, most farmers result to opening more land for farming with minimal results.

In the near future, farming could be the greatest threat to forestation in Africa.

Over time man as continued destroying land through deforestation, lack of soil erosion control measures, use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides, burning and poor farming methods. Farmers have continued suffering from poor yields, long dry spells resulting to drought and starvation from food insecurity.

To mitigate these challenges Caritas Nairobi Agriculture

5,600 kg/ac=

62 bags/acre

Program adopted and is now promoting the model of Farming Gods Way. Faming Gods way seeks to restore God’s Creation through understanding and living in accordance with the will of God towards taking care of his creation.

It bases its principles in understanding of the word of God, production management at farm level and use of technology.

It is simply a tool of equipping the poor to help themselves.

God is the master farmer who has been farming this way since the beginning.

Recently Caritas Nairobi held a workshop for training farmers on this model of farming. Farmers were taught on using natural and organic farming techniques and how to improve their yield. Caritas Nairobi Agriculture, Water and Environment Programme continues to empower farmers in this new method of farming and mentoring them into maximum farm outputs.

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REFUGEE SUPPORT Through sensitization meetings in St. Teresa Parish Eastleigh, Rahina was selected as one of the direct beneficiaries of the Refugee Project after meeting the Caritas selection criteria. She was trained in peace building, HIV/AIDS, financial literacy, business skills and development and also given post trauma counselling to help her adjust to new life in the City. It was hard for her to keep up with life but through frequent meetings, and support groups, she learned to accept her situation and live on.

Rahina Umar in her house

BREAKTHOUGH FOR UMAR

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Linnet Aguma

ahina Umar, 38 is a Caritas Nairobi Refugee Programme Beneficiary. She is of Ethiopian origin. She has lived in Kenya since 2011 with her four children. Her first two-three years in Kenya were marked by resilience for the sake of her children, but life has since changed since she was registered a beneficiary at Caritas Nairobi in 2013.

Rahina came to Kenya after the war that broke out in Ethiopia.

She remembers the day in pain the fateful day when her husband Farhan Fantah went out to search for water. As he was away, the war broke out and Rahina had to flee with her three children, leaving behind her daughter who was out with his father. Through a rescue bus that was coming to Kenya, Rahina managed to cross the border. The refugee camps could not accommodate her; through friends she was able to manage to Nairobi, Eastleigh area.

Life in Eastleigh was difficult.

Rahina suffered from trauma especially when escapades of what had happened back home and the paranoia of what could have happened to her other family ran through her mind. She did not have someone to share her worries with as those who were living around her were suffering the same misfortune.

Caritas Nairobi met Rahina during one of their community needs assessments. Caritas Nairobi carries out community needs audits to identify needy cases that need humanitarian interventions. After the identification of these cases, Caritas Nairobi does continuous capacity strengthening and empowerment before introducing community based development projects. The coordinating office then mentors the beneficiaries through these projects until successful completion and exit of Caritas Nairobi from the projects once the needy cases have been fully mitigated.

Caritas Nairobi took Rahina for a catering course at Imani Marianist Center where she learned how to cook and sell different Kenyan foods and Oromo special dishes tailored to fit her target customers.

After completing her course in 2014, she was given a business start-up capital of 12,000/=. She has running her food selling business which has enabled her to repay the money given for capital; currently she has a balance of KES 1,000.

Rahina came to Kenya after the war that broke out in Ethiopia.

“I am committed to repaying this money so that Caritas Nairobi can benefit other people just like me,” she says. Rahina loves her work; she sells her food in Section One of Eastleigh in a small Kiosk near her rented one room house which she shares with her family. Though faced with many challenges, Rahina is able to pay her house rent and put food on her table. Two of her small children are able to go to school and she hopes to expand her business to a small Hotel in future. A story of hope, faith and confidence defines Rahina Umar.

“Thank you very much Caritas Nairobi,” is all Rahina says.

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PEACE BUILDING IN MATHARE Caritas Nairobi Communication Office

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t. John and Paul Youth Group – Mathare are seated outside their canteen having a hearty conversation. They are seemingly discussing their new business that has been thriving and has now received a boost from the Catholic Relief Services, one of the partners of Caritas Nairobi. Behind the canteen is an ablution block with bathrooms and toilets for both men and women. This is one of the peace building projects of Caritas Nairobi and Missio, in the heart of Mathare Slum. On top of the block is a hall that is hired for different activities including music and drama festivals, meetings, conferences and trainings.

The St. John and Paul Youth Group – Mathare is a group of six ladies and nine men from St. John and Paul Catholic Church in Mathare.

They are a one year old group but their contact with Caritas Nairobi is less than that. They have been solely a group that has been helping the church in the mentorship of the Pontific Missionary Children (PMC) as well as singing in the choir. The youth, after a discussion with Caritas Nairobi, identified a few needs in Mathare, including the high levels of insecurity in Mathare, conflicts and ethnicity. There was also the major problem of the unclean environment characterized by narrow littered roads and open sewers full of foul solid waste.

Caritas Nairobi trained this group on peace building, environmental conservation and entrepreneurship.

The group was empowered with the construction of the toilets and bathrooms where residents can always use the washrooms. The project has also brought the youth in the area together, benefiting not only the youth in the project, but also the church and the community around. The members of the group manage the washrooms while

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a caretaker they have employed manages the canteen. The canteen sells different commodities that include personal effects for use in the washrooms including soap, toothpaste and other sanitary effects. Members of the public are required to come with these needs when using the ablution block. John Mutie, the secretary of the group says that on a single day they receive five-ten people taking a shower in the mornings and evenings and more than double the number over the weekends. The number using the toilets can not be estimated.

“Since the inception of this project, there has been improved sanitation because there are no more flying toilets. We are also engaging other youth in transforming our environment from a filthy one to a very clean one as you can see,” he says.

The essence of this project is that it unites people of diverse backgrounds thus reducing conflicts and promoting peace in the community.

Samuel Kioko, a member of the group says that they interact and have forums with other groups in Mathare to facilitate cohesion. “You will find other groups coming to borrow water from us when there is water shortage and we always give them because we will also approach them when we have a different need,” he says. The group recently benefited from a 1,000 liter water tank and a generator from CRS to promote their project. They are

encouraging other members to join them. “We are in the forefront in peace promotion, acting as role models and discouraging being idle because idle people are the ones who are discouraging peace (sic) in Mathare. We promote our members and the community at large like last week we gave a contribution of KES 10,000 to the church fundraising” Kioko adds.

During a visit by Caritas Nairobi and CRS officials, there were five members present. They said that the group works in shifts to ensure that all the members are engaged. The group also uses its social hall to promote activities like drama and music and other peacebranded activities that engage as many people as possible to create oneness in Mathare.

“We realized that we cannot survive in a community that has no peace.

We intend not to jubilate when a thief is killed but rather to change the person before he/she becomes a thief,” Robert, a member, says.

Grace, the manager for Peace and Justice Programme at CRS, encouraged the group to continue reaching out to others and encouraging them to be Christ-like.

The group also applauded Lynnette Aguma, Peace Building Officer at Caritas Nairobi for always being there for them. “I in turn encourage you to join our other activities like Ayep,” Lynnette said in response.

CARITAS MFB Ruiru. He says that he needs a bank that will affordably finance him whenever he needs to expand any of his businesses. This is the niche that Caritas MFB comes in to fill.

Daniel Kaberi In Caritas MFB Banking Hall

Reaching the YOUTH Solomon Irungu Ngoru

Caritas MFB has in the last three months since its opening been spreading its reach to many parts of the Archdiocese of Nairobi.The bank, which is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya on a nationwide license, has hitherto enrolled individual members and groups from Kiambu and Nairobi counties.

Daniel Kaberi is one of the members who recently joined the bank with a current account. Kaberi came to know about the bank through Utume magazine and later visited the Caritas Niarobi and Caritas MFB websites to learn more.

Kaberi encourages more youth to be enrolled to banking and to adopt a savings culture. He says that it is there where they will be exposed to loans and into discipline with their money. “Some of us are really spend-thrift, thus when you have a loan, or you know that you have to save at the end of every month, you feel obliged to take the money to the bank and not to misuse it,” he says.

Caritas MFB provides a wide range of finance products including savings and current accounts, junior accounts and a wide range of loan products that are Some of the products that Kaberi’s boutique sells offered at very competitive interest rates. The bank also offers a platform for corporate institutions to bank with them.

Kaberi runs small market enterprises More information about the bank within the city and in Ruiru. He has an can be found on their website MPESA shop and a clothing boutique in www.caritas-mfb.co.ke the city and a car wash in

He attributes his choice of the bank and the specific account to the easy access to his cash as he runs his business near the main branch. The bank’s current aim of introducing agency banking before the end of the year is also one of the things he admired about the bank as he would be able to access his cash even as he runs and manages a few youth projects that he has in his rural home in Ruiru Constituency. “I realized that there is are monthly or annual ledger fees,” he says, “the bank also has no minimum operating balance, so I will still have my account operating even .“ Utume UtumeMagazine, Magazine,Nov Nov--December, December,2015 2015

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RUN THROUGH

NEW OFFICE IN RUIRU

By Solomon Irungu Ngoru

The Caritas Nairobi Office that was in Thika Pastoral Center has now moved to Ruiru. The new office is based at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ruiru Parish, 400 meters from the central business district of Ruiru. The office relocation is meant to create accessibility by all stakeholders especially those in around Kiambu County. “We plan to bring services closer to the people and that is why we moved the office to a central location,” says George Kihoro, the self-help assistant coordinator.

WEDF PARTNERSHIP

The Gender and Youth Programme is in the process of finalizing a partnership with Women Enterprise Development Fund. The partnership will see women group benefit from loans for business start-ups and to boost existing businesses. PROMIC members will be among the beneficiaries. This comes after the PROMIC guideline launch which now allows men to join PROMIC groups. This partnership is expected to be launched before the end of 2015.

SELF-HELP GUIDELINE REVIEW The Self-help/Microfinance Programme is in the process of reviewing the underpinning guideline.This is being done in representatives from Caritas Nairobi and advisory and management committees. The Self-help/Microfinance groups plan to have a guideline that will steer the groups and the individual members into economic excellence.

MUTUNGURU ANNIVERSARY

Jubilant members of the Mutunguru community on () celebrated the first anniversary of MUCOLIP. The project that was launched by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue in 2014 empowers the community with the dairy goats farming, commercial rabbitry and organic and fruits farming. It has since benefited households.

AYEP ANNIVERSARY

The Archdiocese Youth Empowerment Programme (AYEP) conducted the first AGM since its inception.Youth groups and officials from Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Mount Kenya University, Archdiocese of Nairobi and Caritas Nairobi board of management were present during the day. Speaking during the day, Professor Wanderi from MKU encouraged the youth to utilize the resources they have. “Adding innovation to your business will help in you to be highly competitive in your business,” He said.

On that day, youth showcased the different products they make at their groups and () groups were later funded with KES 1,000,000.

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2015 HIGHLIGHTS

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Our Partners

Caritas Nairobi acknowledges the trust that all our partners have bestowed on us. We thank you for choosing to work with us as we all work towards a just, self-reliant and value-based society. Our professional team will keep walking with you to continually advance human dignity and the fullness of life to all our beneficiaries. We invite more partners to join in this journey. You may support us by filling in the form below and sending it to us.

Caritas Nairobi | Archdiocese of Nairobi, 7th Floor Cardinal Otunga Plaza, P.O. BOX 41353 – 00100, NAIROBI, KENYA Tel: +254 -20-4950000 | +254 726 056 763 caritas@caritasnairobi.org | www.caritasnairobi.org Facebook: Caritas Nairobi

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DONATION OPTIONS: MPESA PYBILL No.: 527502 DIRECT BANK DEPOSIT: Account Name: Archdiocese of Nairobi Caritas Emergency Account Number: 0880297707257, Equity Bank OTC Branch