Bread for Children
Nairobi, Kenya
Bread For Children-Kenya held a workshop in 2003 for guardians taking care of children orphaned by AIDS in Kangemi slum in Nairobi. The aim was to explore ways to enable families affected by HIV and AIDS to cope financially now and in the future.
As a result, Bread For Children-Kenya established a community micro-enterprise initiative. This grassroots project allows foster carers to set up small businesses to improve their living standards and provide for their families.
The credit-savings scheme started with 60 members. A grant from EngageHIV gave 300 people the opportunity to have a loan. Repayment rates are good and members of the scheme also receive training in entrepreneurship, HIV and AIDS and the psychosocial care of orphans.
The project leader, David, has a lot of experience in this area of work and his volunteer assistant, Gladys, is a widow who cares for seven children and three orphans herself.
Here are some examples of how these loans are changing lives …
Rose imports fabric from Uganda. She used her loan to start the business and has now repaid it in full. She has four children and takes care of an orphan. She would like another loan to expand her business for the future.
Eunice sells second-hand clothes. Her loan helped expand her stock and increase turnover. She has two children and cares for two orphans.
Truphosa runs a vegetable stall. Her husband is out of work and she has her four children and one orphan to support.
Rose W runs a café in the market. Her business was already up and running, but the loan enabled her to buy different food and expand her menu. The café is now much busier than before.
Bread For Children-Kenya also runs an orphan-support programme to help orphans who are living in the community with guardians or foster parents. EngageHIV makes it possible to educate, clothe and provide nutritional support for 25 of these orphans.
> Kenya country profile
> Micro-enterprise accountability in action
> More about micro-enterprise
