Hi friends,

Studies indicate that the number of orphans in Kenya continue to soar and will be hitting the 2million mark before 2010.

Grandmums continue to fill the gap left behind by able parents, caring for vulnerable grandchildren.

GEMINI's approach to filling this gap has been acknowledged after the region's leading newspaper, Daily Nation, carried an article about grandmothers' new role as parents.

The article quotes GEMINI Director, Stella Amojong saying old caregivers need to learn new parenting trick to keep up with the growing demands.

For information on the article, please follow the link below:

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/652070/-/umr3wo/-/index.html


And..thanks for the great support from all of you

Hi,

As I write, Kenya is reeling from crisis after another. Failed rains. Power rationing. Lack of water. Political meltdown.

But for Mama Steve, life must go on. For the sake of her only son. Though HIV+, she still believes she must accomplish much more before her time comes.

A donation of $10 enables GEMINI field officers to make weekly visits to at least 8 families.

Your donation has enabled us form various support groups for HIV+ people. Like Mama Steve.

"I feel part of the solution when I join other volunteers in spreading hope," she says.

Maybe you should hear directly from her just how crucial your donations are. Go on, read the short letter from her...

And we love to hear from all of you...

Attachments:

• A_word_from_Mama_Steve.pdf (PDF)
  

Michael Acton is a student who traveled throughout Africa and visited a number of GlobalGiving projects. On March 24th he visited "Equipping poor families with HIV/AIDS life skills." When asked what he would tell his friends about this project, he said: “Great: They are making a difference."

We met up with Stella in GEMINI's Eldoret office. It was in a small office building with offices where they offer HIV testing and counseling services for local services. We then walked over to the matatu (mini-bus) stand and took a bumpy ride to the rural town of Moi's Bridge. In Moi's Bridge we saw two of GEMINI's field sites including one for this project described below.

We rode down on bicycle taxis carrying our luggage to the workshop for the grandmothers. We were greeted by a large group of singing grandmothers who shook our hands and gave out great big hugs. We listened to a village elder describe the difference that GEMINI's project is making, especially after the post election violence last year. The grandmothers were from many different villages surrounding Moi's bridge, each with a t-shirt of the word for peace, happiness, or love in Swahili. The GEMINI Moi's Bridge volunteers also spoke with us.

We visited one of GEMINI's projects for teen mothers before visiting this one. The description of that visit is on that project's website.

Hey,

Hope each one of you is doing fine...despite the economic crunch.

I'm posting a detailed report that seeks to highlight the recent visit to our project by a GlobalGiving evaluator, Leah.

We always appreciate all your feedback...it makes us stronger.

NB: We are also posting a brief summary of financial expenses since Jan.

Attachments:

• INSIDE_GEMINI.pdf (PDF)
  
• JANAPR_FINANCIAL_SUMMARIES.pdf (PDF)
  

Leah Ambwaya visited this project as part of a GlobalGiving evaluation. She said:

On the 8th of May 2009, we met Stella Amajong; she picked us from the hotel to Gemini offices at Siro house in central business district of Eldoret town. As we drove around through the town, I asked, what inspired you at your very young age to start this organization? Looking quite apprehensive she responded, “I am the first born in a family of 5, my father died when I was 17 years and my mother when I was 20, I had to take up the responsibility of being the head of the family. She did not want to get into the details, so we skipped the interview at that level. After building a rapport with her, she again opened up and quipped, “Leah, do I look so young?” to which I carefully responded in the affirmative. “Yes am young, but am a mother of three” This was great because she was now warming up to our visit. This young woman has a mission to help young girls and the grannies that are suffering the effects of HIV/AIDs. I could see a humble young woman, who has stepped up an initiative to serve, looking into her eyes; she was full of inner strength. As we approached the building; we were welcomed by a big banner hanging on the rooftop with the words GEMINI VCT.

She led us into the second floor of the building into a room 207, here we met the receptionist and she spotted such a huge smile, next to her a television screen and some beautiful coaches. For once we thought we had entered someone’s residence, too welcoming and too comfortable. What we learnt later was that the clients need to work in a homely environment.

I asked her if she is a counselor, and true she was. We sat in her little office that was well furnished with just a few files in the shelves on the wall behind her. She informed us to be a little patient as we waited for the arrival of her communications officer, who works for the organization on voluntary basis. “He has most of the information and he is better placed to respond to your questions” she says. This was very true, because this young lady, is more conversant with the issues on the ground where she spends most of her time, but feeds in data to Joe, a man who offers such invaluable services to this organization in terms of packaging information and sending to donors present and potential.

We asked for information on the level of funding from Global Giving, she again did not have this, “we have a volunteer accountant, who works as an accountant in one of the schools around and she maintains and keeps all our financial records at a small fee of KSH 5000.”

She listed members of the project advisory board, which is very well constituted with very high ranking professionals in the region. There are doctors and social workers represented. “They bring a lot of value to the project and we are happy to have them around, we consult them very regularly”.

We have a governing council that constituted by beneficiaries both girls and the grannies. This council acts as monitoring tool to ensure that our services reach the beneficiaries as per the project objectives.

We sought to know why all organizational documents and records are in the hands of the volunteers, but not the office, in her innocence, she says. “I did not realize, that it was not ok, but I now I see the logic behind keeping all office documentations with the office”. We asked her if the organization has ever been audited since inception, we realize that she did not even understand what a financial audit was. “we have received a reasonable amount of money both from Global Giving and other donors like MAMA CASH, we are glad that you have seen some gaps in the way we do our accounting, and keep our records, we take that very positively as an organization and promise to hit the road running to put in perspective some of this recommendations that you are making”

We left for the field to meet some of the beneficiaries, and our first stop was the bakery at Moi’s bridge, we could see the baking ovens, the room was filled with the smell of fresh bread, but we only found one student, the recruitment was ongoing, we learnt this from Stella. We bought some scones for kids that were hanging around and left for the next project site.

Just as we were entering the car, a man screamed “Mayii” meaning mum, we ask her who that guy was, “he is one of our beneficiaries from the OVC programme”, we request to have an interview with him, but he declines, though he mentions that he receives food stuffs form the programme and school uniforms for his five children, we learn from Stella that the guy is a widower and is also HIV/AIDS positive. His legs were all covered with mad, and he tells Stella that he came to say thank you after receiving the fertilizer and seeds. He had come all the way form his farm to thank Mayii (Stella). We then left for the next site, where the tailoring school is, we found a group of eight girls busy working on sewing machines, each one of them was deeply engrossed in what they were doing under the keep eye of their teacher that they did not even notice that we had walked in.

We did not want to interrupt them; we checked the records in the field officer. The office some records, but they needed regular updates, so much had been done i.e distribution of food, uniforms and fertilizers according to local purchase orders, but the disbursements had not been updated since July 2008. “We are ready to learn and do things better for the sake of this community” says Stella. Meanwhile an old lady approaches her calling out Mayii (mum) she was referring to Stella, the community hold her in high esteem, she is their silent hero, they talk in low tones then she introduces her to us as one of the grannies the project supports.

Leah said she would tell her friends that this project is great: They are making a difference.

GlobalGiving is committed to incorporating many viewpoints on our 600+ projects. We feel that more information,especially from eyewitnesses helps donors like you continue to support organizations doing great work in the community.

Hello everyone,

I'm just checking in after the long Easter holidays.

But I have some good news!

Last month, we distributed fertilizers and seeds to some of our members after receiving donations from you.

The women were so ectastic, so emotional, so overcome with surprise...we had to buy a few handkerchieves for them to wipe their tears of joy!!

Rebecca is one of the beneficiaries. We talked to her and filed the attached report for your perusal.

Pore over it and get back to us with comments or criticism.

We always love to hear from you. And we always love when you click that button and make a donation.

It makes people like Rebecca go gagga...literally!!

Thanks, folks...and keep on clicking the donation button!

Attachments:

• Rebeccas_Easter_miracle.pdf (PDF)
  

Dear supporter,

Last year was one of the most challenging for us & our beneficiaries.

We did everything in our power to make ends meet and to a large extent, we would like to thank all of you who contributed to this project, made encouraging comments and supported us through prayers.

Over the past six months, we received about $1,800 from GlobalGiving donors.

To all of you we greatly appreciate all your support.

Please keep up the great work and as usual, keep in touch, visit our projects and make that small donation.

In case of further information about how we spent your contributions, our future plans, our challenges etc...please feel free to write to us.

Enjoy reading!!

Attachments:

• Financial_summaries_2008.pdf (PDF)
  

Stigma is the worst thing that People Living with HIV/Aids experience. It makes them feel dejected. Unwanted. Unappreciated. Labeled. Cursed.

But for one Mama Stephen, defeat simply is not an option!

Like other rural women living with the disease, she is actively participating in activities that seek to change community perception of HIV/Aids and reduce stigma.

"Quitting is a word that I deleted from my dictionary...!" says this 42-year old fighter.

Read her story. Encourage her. Support her. Go on, read this piece!

And we appreciate your donations, even in the existing economic circumstances.

God bless all of you!!!

Attachments:

• Tackling_Stigma.pdf (PDF)
  

She is petite, very active and full of life. That is 84-year old Minayo. She is one of our beneficiaries and an inspiration to the community.

"Why should I cry?" she asked recently during her birthday party. Indeed, why should she?

With your support grandmothers like Minayo continue to discover life and have a reason to live.

Your recent donation assisted us purchase some fertilizers for a community vegetable farm that Minayo is part of.

Go on and read her story....and I promise you, she will still be here next year.

We look forward to your continued support!!

Attachments:

• Minayo.pdf (PDF)
  

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:

• Special_Appeal_Newsletter.pdf (PDF)
  

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:

• Thank_YOU_so_much.pdf (PDF)
  
• Summary_of_expenditure_May_08.pdf (PDF)
  

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:

• Down_but_not_out.pdf (PDF)
  

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:

• You_gave_me_hope....thank_YOU.pdf (PDF)
  
• Move_over...the_new_DJ_is_here.pdf (PDF)
  

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!!!

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!!

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

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!

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!!

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:

• Small business report.doc (DOC)

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!!

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:

• SPECIAL APPEAL.doc (DOC)

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 changed…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

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

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:

• Expansion.doc (DOC)

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:

• Dear ATM Supporter.doc (DOC)

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:

• ATM December Donations.doc (DOC)