Equipping poor families with HIV/AIDS life skills
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Updates from the Field:
Updates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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Index of Updates from the Field
GEMINI VCT CENTER
By STELLA AMOJONG - DIRECTOR, June 20, 2008 06:55 PM
Dear friends,
GEMINI has always tried to keep you informed of how your donations are being spent. Every step of the way! The aim is to make you own part of the process and feel actively involved in empowering poor communities.
We thank all of you for your continued support.
After the post-election violence in Kenya, a lot of women/girls were, unfortunately, sexually abused. Most continue to languish in camps, with little medical and psychological support.
With your donations, we responded to the crisis. Now that its over, we need to reach out to all the survivors of sexual violence with confidential, free HIV testing.
We are carrying out a Special Appeal that seeks to mobilize funds to set up a specialized VCT center that will provide women/girls with these services.
But we need you help.
We are kindly requesting you to read the attached newsletter that provides some background information on this very important project.
And we are also requesting you to act and make a donation to any of GEMINI projects to enable us accomplish our goal.
Thanks so much and please, remember, any donation will be highly appreciated.
Attachments:
Esther Mudhasia (Part 2)
By David Kiptum - Project Officer, June 09, 2008 06:59 PM
Esther Mudhasia's story moved many. The response was great and with your donation, the never-say-die 73 year old granny is back!
Esther was one of the beneficiaries of your kind donations last month. She is now the proud owner of several sheep. Thank YOU!
You can also read a summary of how GEMINI utilized your donations.
And we are waiting to hear from you
Attachments:
Reaching out to grandmothers
By David Kiptum - Project Officer, May 22, 2008 06:31 PM
One of the most overlooked aspects of HIV intervention is the role older caregivers play.
Very little research has been undertaken to gauge the impact of HIV/Aids on grandmothers who are quickly filling the gap left behind by able-bodied parents who have succumbed to the disease.
Well, GEMINI has been at it, reaching to feeble grandmothers who, at tjeir advanced ages, have to start all over again in caring and providing for their grandchildren.
Starting today,we shall begin sharing the heart-rending stories of these resilient grandmothers who are suddenly becoming entrepreneurs, parents, caregivers and home-makers...all over again!
Please read Esther Mudhasia's brief story.
And once again, we really appreciate what you are doing for these hapless women. Its so touching!!
Attachments:
From the Beneficiaries' mouths!
By Joe - Communication Officer, May 13, 2008 05:26 PM
Over the past few weeks, GEMINI has introduced a new, interactive session that brings together project beneficiaries. One of their tasks is to write personal letters to their supporters.
GEMINI shares some of them with you and we hope we will be doing that as frequent as we can.
We continue to extend our appreciation for all your warm hearts.
Enjoy the readings!!!
Attachments:
Summary of post-election interventions
By Stella - ED, May 08, 2008 07:34 PM
The full impacts of the post-election violence that rocked the country are beginning to be felt.
As reported earlier, GEMINI's intervention was swift, timely and effective in reaching out to affected families, especially children, women and girls.
In January, your support enabled us provide basic necessities to over 1,000 people at the Majengo Church. Most of them had just been evicted from their homes without carrying any clothes, food or medical suplies.
We responded by providing them with fundamental needs as well as psychological counseling.
Please go through the attached brief summary of the figures and as usual, we look forward to your positive response to our activities.
Thanks so much for all your support!!!
Reaching out to Internally Displaced Persons
By Joe - Communication, March 19, 2008 05:35 PM
A huge sigh of relief is almost audible from all parts of the country after a terrifying post-election period.
As usual, GG supporters came in their droves to support us in this trying moment. At a time when all the shops were closed, streets deserted and mayhem reigning, GEMINI volunteers were moving from camp to camp, providing much needed assistance.
"I had no idea that a packet of sugar could come in handy!!" exclaims Mwikali, an internally displaced person at the showground, where over 4,000 people are still stranded.
"Its during a time like this that we appreciate the value of friends. What GEMINI has done cannot be quantified!" she adds.
She was among the 320 persons that benefitted from GlobalGiving donations.
Besides providing basic commodities like sanitary towels, beans, sugar and drugs, we were able to provide psychosocial support to affected families. We also organized outreach activities, including sports, Fashion show, board games and a lot of entertainment.
We are planning to initiate peace-building activities in the affected communities in the next few weeks.
Thanks so much for all your support!!
What a Year!!
By Nelly - Beneficiary & Peer Educator, December 10, 2007 05:51 PM
When this year started, I remember telling Stella, my director, that they should give me a crash course on Will Writing.
At that time, I was so weak and depressed I felt I would be gone before the year ended. Its now December and I've never felt stronger!!
The best gift we received for the year was the donation from GlobalGiving in February...that really rejuvenated our spirits and prepared us for a challenging year.
For HIV+ persons like me, we feel as if our lives have just started...we have been so busy providing moral and social support to other PLWHA, counseling couples, advocating for their increased participation, providing VCT services....and we still feel we have a lot to offer!! (Who said about Will writing?)
The World Aids Day was also another first: as one team interacted with street families and vulnerable orphans, we were busy conducting a door-to-door sensitization campaign on how to use both the female and male condoms, a very important component in stemming new infections.
We believe next year is going to be more exciting, more challenging and more inspiring.
But this is only possible with your continued support....so far, I can't compain...you have been very dependable.
I hope I can personally count on your increased support? I really feel like I need to continue living, that more people need to draw from my strength, others need to learn from my mistakes. So that we can all continue to live.
Thanks for your presence and support, enjoy your festive season!!
See you Next Year!!
Nelly
Busy October!
By Joe - Communication Officer, October 15, 2007 03:54 PM
Just like last year, October has been a busy month for GEMINI. Our organization has been instrumental in facilitating acquisition of bursary funds from the government for orphans from HIV/Aids affected families.
Since the introduction of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) some three years ago, we have assisted more than 40 orphans access the funds.
This month alone, we have done the same for 8 more orphans.
With plans for the December World Aids Day in high gear, our volunteers have stepped up their door-to-door campaigns, sensitizing families about free ARVs in public hospitals. In the first three weeks of October, we referred 19 PLWHA to care centers.
Starting next week, we will be going from one residential estate to another to offer public education on Home Based care. Our personnel will encourage affected families to form social support groups which are vital in providing care, counseling and pyschosocial support.
Thanks to your continued support, GEMINI can confidently look towards the future with a smile!
Keep up the good work, GlobalGiving donors!
Still Going Strong!
By Nelly - Project Beneficiary, September 28, 2007 05:16 PM
I'm writing this report just to express my gratitude for all those donors who have been supporting our work.
You wouldn't know just what $10 is capable of doing here in Kenya. And to a person like me, its simply a miracle!
I've been living with HIV for the past few years, with my children depending on me for their basic needs. At one time, I contemplated committing suicide and murdering my kids. But that is a story for another day.
Last month as we held our usual door-to-door campaigns, something struck me: How many other people are in the same situation that I was a year ago?
Helpless, desperate, sick and hopeless?
But I'm glad for people who visit GlobalGiving and donate to our project. It may not seem like you are doing much, i.e. donating $10, $50 or any amount.
To us, its a matter of life and death. And we have YOU to thank for.
Kindly receive my heartfelt "Thank you!" and as we start the homestretch towards the festive seasons, please spare a though for us.
Thank you so much!!
Small-business update
By Joe - Commuication Officer, August 22, 2007 09:22 AM
Economic stability is key to empowerment. We have been empowering vulnerable women with business skills and the results are just in!!
Please read their brief stories...and if this is anything to go by, then a lot more is in store!!
Attachments:
Successful Training!
By Stella - Director, August 10, 2007 05:08 PM
About a month ago GEMINI stumbled upon an opportunity to provide selected community members with special training on Home-Based care.
We managed to raise $750 locally and sent out a Special Appeal to GlobalGiving donors to fill the gap.
YOU responded with a definite YES: We received $1,000!! The training was an successful!! We trained 25 health workers and introduced them to community work, tasked with offering social, nursing and basic clinical support to People Living with HIV/Aids.
Their comments?
"This was a godsent opportunity for me! I feel more empowered to deal with HIV and assist my family members cope better,"-Kemboi
"I wish we could have more of these sessions...I'm definitely volunteering three months of my time to support GEMINI,"-Chumba
Well, thanks so much and we hope the best is yet to come!!
Special Appeal
By Stella - Coordinator, June 15, 2007 02:07 PM
GEMINI needs to offer some basic training for rural communities with high rates of infection yet with little information.
Kindly assist us meet this special need to empower community members readily access information and reduce infection.
We acknowledge your help.
Attachments:
April and May activities
By Nelly - Project Beneficiary, May 30, 2007 05:41 PM
Dear Supporter,
Greetings!
Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been behind the success of our organization. We humbly appreciate every single dollar you donate to our projects.
I’m Nelly, a peer educator at GEMINI. By taking part in project activities, I have come to discover that being HIV+ is only the beginning of life. Four months down the line, my life has completely changedÂ…courtesy of your support!
In April and May, I was instrumental in facilitating several group discussions within the community. Members are becoming bolder in requesting VCT services, joining support groups and coming out in public to talk about stigma.
We were able to build the capacity of members through training, group counseling and outreach activities. We are getting very optimistic response from community leaders, whose support is crucial in destigmatizing HIV. Local chiefs and church leaders are coming out to support us during public meetings.
We are also glad that more families are becoming self-sufficient through the establishment of small-businesses. It bolsters their self-esteem and they no longer expect handouts to survive. This is very encouraging.
We will be holding outreach meetings the whole of June and we will continue to update you on our activities. We hope you will sustain your support to us. We really acknowledge you!!!
Best,
Nelly
Easter updates
By Stella Amojong - Program Coordinator, April 19, 2007 06:51 PM
GEMINI took advantage of Easter holidays to intensify its campaigns. We held a community outreach, offered counseling services and provided training to local leaders on Communication skills.
Our new community resource center is a tremendous success! We have books and videos on diverse social issues.
We are appealing to all of you to assist us acquire more books and thanks so much for your continued support!
Grassroots Empowerment Initiative
-GEMINI-
Easter Update
Date: 4th April
Event: Door-to-door campaign
Beneficiaries: 32 families
Activities:
* Sensitized over 115 people on Home based-care for patients
* Offered counseling to 16 families
* Identified 21 at-risk orphaned children
* Provided mosquito nets to 12 families
* Provided informational materials to over 169 people
Date: 7th April
Event: Outreach Campaign
Beneficiaries: 150 people
Activities:
* Offered counseling to 65 people
* Introduced 3 new support groups
* Empowered community with life skills
* Acquired support of local chiefs in HIV campaign
Date: 10th April
Event: Training
Beneficiaries: 15 local leaders
* Empowered them with Communication skills
* Enlisted their support in forming support groups
Expansion!
By Joe - Communication Officer, March 28, 2007 05:43 PM
We have come of age, or have we? The Advocates for Teen Mothers (ATM) undergoes a major organizational restructuring, changing its name to Grassroots Empowerment Initiative (GEMINI) and expanding the scope of its activities to cover a whole district!
This is an exceptional achievement, all thanks to your continued support!
Attachments:
Thanks for your Help!
By Abel - Project Beneficiary, March 26, 2007 05:49 PM
My name is Abel. Though HIV+, I live my life to the limit. I'm a peer educator with GEMINI (formerly ATM). Through your constant support, I have been able to achieve so much...you just can't believe it!
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU! for your constant support...please read my brief report on how I have benefitted from your generous donation.
Attachments:
Dec-Jan Donations
By Stella - Coordinator, March 25, 2007 09:20 PM
You won't believe this!! Our project was able to reach more than 15,000 beneficiaries for the whole year! We have expanded our activities to cover the whole district now. We still hope for your support as we strive to expand our impact within the community.
Attachments:
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