The following are the activities that took place during the month March, 2022 in Kakamega County – Maua and Mabuku Villages and in Vihiga County – Maseno/Coptic Lela Villages.
The target families have been trained on how to make Kitchen Gardens and each household have got their own in the near reach of their homes where they are easily accessible. Most of them have now started harvesting the vegetables as seen in the pictures above. Those who have got small land have been trained on how to make portable kitchen garden in sacks and even in cement bags where they grow the vegetables
2. Follow up on Children Monitoring and V.C.T Services
Child Monitoring was done and weighing of the children with their parents/guardians during Voluntary Counseling and Testing of Children. Those found to have tested HIV positive were referred to the nearest hospital immediately for a start-up on A.R.Vs. The parents and guardians also who tested positive formed Support Groups whereby these groups they will be receiving their medication at a nearby village since outreach programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health was formed. In Vihiga we got38 children who tested HIV positive and 42 Adults also tested positive. In Kakamega we received 29 children who tested positive while 34 adults tested positive. The adults have now formed support groups from proper follow up of adherence to medication.
3. Transportation and Distribution of Poultry – Kenbro in the communities
Above are members of Vihiga and Kakamega Counties receiving their Kenbro Poulltries. Each target family was receiving two pullets and one cockerel to upgarde their eggs and for the children to eat. The eggs being high in protein, will support the child’s growth and development. The children who are malnourished whom we are targetting when they eat eggs it ensures that the metabolism of the body remains in a healthy shape. The protein helps keep a child’s immune system strong and thus help him fight off diseases-causing bacterial and viruses. The surplus of eggs will be used to hutch into more chicks and thus servevs as a multiplication strategy in the community. The eggs can also be used to sell and purchase the house utilities that they target families do not have e.g. kerosene, salt matchbox, salt etc.
4. Planting Season in the Communities
The planting season is here with us with rains symbolizing the seeds will germinate well. Target families were taught how to use Micro Fertilizing method whereby small quantity of fertilizer is put in the holes, followed by organic manure then the seeds of maize and beans follows before filling the hole with soft soil. This prevents the direct contact of fertilizer with the seed just in case the rains go away for a while the seeds remain safe in the hole. Above left is a member taking organic manure to put in the holes where little micro dose of fertilizer has been put then another person follows with seeds and then fill up with the top soil. This method was applied in our Pilot Program last year and we saw very good yields to our target families.
5. Planting Fodder for the Dairy Goats
On the left is Potatoe Vines followed by Moriinga leaves and
Our children most of whom are at home during these school holiday are happy to showcase Moringa Seeds which has a lot of benefits as a source of nutrition and as the basis for agroforestry in home gardens. The leaves are also a very good fodder for the dairy goats Other benefits will be trained in the coming second quarter of Dairy Goats in the groups.
Target families have prepared to plant fodder as they expect to receive Dairy Goats later in June,2022. All the household expecting to receive goats and even those attached to each first line have planted enough fodder and they shall be helping each other to feed the goats. Above are Potato Vines and Caliandra being planted by target families who are more than ready with the fodder.