Income Generated Activities (IGAs) - an explanation..

Akhonya Trust UK has exciting news………….

 We are very proud to announce that due to the great support and dedication we have received from everyone we will be in a positive position to handover to the Akhonya Trust Kenya by April 2010……….

The aim of the Akhonya Trust UK was always to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable members of society and to empower people to create sustainable futures through Income Generated Activities (IGAs).

The three arms of our Trust are The Children’s Home, SAIPEH (Support Activities in Poverty Eradication and Health) and EARC (Education, Assessment Resource Centre). There is more indepth information within the website.

The below is an outline of each IGA with great potential for future sustainability. These IGAs have only been possible due to the dedicated support the Akhonya Trust UK has received over the years.

Container arriving at the home               Off loading all donations

Firstly, let us update you on the children at the Ematundu Children’s Home.

Children outside the home                       Children in the class room

There are 40 children passed the school leaving age still living at the home. We are presently co-ordinating an exit strategy which will find employment within our own IGAs for these young people. Training will be given in the area most suited to the individual. The employment will furnish them with the ability to support themselves. It will allow positive re-integration back into their local community. There will be help, advice and support in all necessary areas eg: financial, land ownership etc.

It is also a possibility of the existing farm land to be sub-divided and used to train in horticulture and agriculture. (see below IGAs)

There are 30 children who already have established links with extended family in and around the community. This is the best option for an orphan child. It is expected that the number of children will increase.

SAIPEH is an excellent successful role model, in that, each child who is reintegrated into the community is allocated an animal which is then given to the guardian. This then not only helps feed the family but also generates an income for the family.

There will then be approx 30-40 young children living in the Children’s Home. This number of children will be far more manageable for the initial handover of the projects to the Kenyans, however, it is expected that the number will increase.

Secondly, The IGAs. It is envisaged that the income generated from these IGAs will be split 60% to the Children’s Home, 20% to SAIPEH and 20% to EARC:

Breeding programme

The care of the Breeding Programme will be passed to Justin Mutobera. Justin has had outstanding success with the ‘Give a Gift’ programme. They have their own vets, dispensary, drugs for animals and vehicles from ‘Riders for Health. There are great benefits to this programme, in that, they will produce meat, milk and eggs from cows, goats and chickens, which will not only feed the children at the home but will be sold to generate income.

Metal work shop

There is now a unique piece of equipment in the Western Province of Kenya in the form of an industrial lathe. Omar Masimba (Provincial Workshop manager & former counterpart of Richard Young) identified that this piece of equipment could generate enough income to sustain the Children’s Home on its own. Posho Mills are a vital part of daily life in rural Kenya, the maintenance of these mills can prove difficult as spares are few and far between.

Posho Mills in use at the home

 The posho mills all run on turned shafts of which at the moment are bought from machine manufacturers at a very high cost. The lathe could be used to mass produce these items to sell to local business and local community. An extension to this would be to manufacture posho mills.

Lathe and other donated equipment

Because of the containers going out we have welding and cutting equipment and enough hand tools to fully fit a metal workshop which could service the needs of the local community.

Woodwork

Through the container there were fantastic donations of a saw bench, pillar drills, woodworking lathe, hand tools etc. all of which again can fully furnish a wood working facility. There is a great need for all types of repairs etc., in the community. Local marketing will generate a good income.

 The Farm

The children living at the home can be trained to maintain the shamba farm project (allotments) by growing vegetables on the different shambas. An experienced gardener will be employed to train the children on the exit programme. The training will focus on helping all the children to grow and look after their own produce. The teaching of these agricultural skills will not only give the children the required life skills but will also generate income from the sale of the vegetables.

Computing and typing

A type of ‘Cyber Café’ is to be set up at Ikolamani. There are rented buildings where the computers will be set up. Electricity has already been recently connected due to Ikolamani being in the encashment area of the Children’s Home. The Computers are donations sent in the container. The potential of this café is again great, we envisage a small sales unit being attached to the café which will sell milk, eggs and vegetables produced by the children on the shambas (allotments). There is also the possibility of training programmes being established to train local people in typing and key board skills.

Tailoring

There were sewing and knitting machines sent via the container and also there was a great donation of fabric. There will be experienced people employed to train the children in tailoring and knitting skills. There is the potential of making uniforms for schools and local communities, offering dress making facilities etc. All of these areas should give a good income.

SUMMARY

As Akhonya UK will be kick starting and investing in the initial supply of materials etc. Guidance will be given by Akhonya UK who will monitor closely the development of these IGAs.

This is how people will be empowered to make the projects ultimately self-sustainable and will ensure capacity building with the local people.

The ethos of development is empowerment and sustainability as opposed to the ‘handout’ philosophy of other charities.