Sustainability for the Mary Ward Retreat Centre – Solar Energy
Partner | Loreto Eastern Africa Province
Location | Nairobi, Kenya
Overview
This solar energy project builds on the success of previous missio München supported sustainability work conducted at the Mary Ward Retreat Centre (MWRC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
This project aims to scale up the MWRC’s sustainability farm to its pre-pandemic capacity by harnessing solar power to create a reliable and efficient water supply. This will increase food and income while reducing costs and the effects of power cuts, drought, and water scarcity. Importantly, the project will provide young local people with the opportunity to be trained and employed in the use of solar energy in sustainable farming.
The purpose of the MWRC is to facilitate the spiritual, psychological and leadership development of youth, laity, and religious in Kenya and throughout the world. This project will enable the centre to focus on its core mission rather than channelling its energies and limited finance into securing food resources and funds for the centre’s ever-growing utility costs.
Challenges
In 2020, COVID-19 hit Nairobi, forcing the MWRC to close down at the direction of the Kenyan government. Despite this, the project was successful, enabling the centre to regenerate the land, grow a range of fresh produce, install and utilise two greenhouses, and keep various livestock.
Solarisation of the water borehole pump and the drip irrigation system has been identified as a way to further strengthen the centre’s capacity to become self-sufficient. Such a move will not only significantly decrease the operational costs of the centre and increase farm productivity, but it will also provide a platform for the centre and farm to adopt environmentally sustainable technology for the future.
Impact
It is anticipated that the agricultural yield from the farm will increase through the solarisation of the borehole pump and the farm irrigation system by creating a continuous water supply not reliant on the national electricity grid, which in Kenya is prone to regular power outages.
The profits accrued from the sale of excess farm produce will increase the centre’s income and make it more self-reliant and financially sustainable.
The project will also provide many young people with employment opportunities, a source of income, fresh produce, and knowledge and skills in sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.
Activities
This project will focus on the following activities:
- Expansion of the technology at the MWRC and its farm to create a reliable and efficient water supply.
- Scaling up the 2-acre farm to its pre-pandemic capacity by undertaking soil preparation for food production, aided by the implementation of a solar drip irrigation system to maximise efficient water coverage.
- Continuing to supply the MWRC with fresh quality produce.
- Selling farm produce not used by the centre itself to people from neighbouring communities, guests, agri-business firms and local business people, thereby generating income to cover some of the overhead expenses of the centre.
- Training and employing farm workers on the use and role of solar energy in sustainable farming.
Mary Ward International Australia thanks Missio München for their generous support of this project.
Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation
Partner | Loreto Eastern Africa Province
Location | Kajiado, Kenya
Overview
This project aims to create a community free from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), free from the fear of curses, myths and taboos, enabling young women to celebrate and enjoy a full life.
The Loreto Sisters initiated the project to eliminate FGM in 1998 in response to information from communities and alarming reports in the national media. Sr Ephigenia Gachiri ibvm has dedicated her life to ending the barbaric practise in Kenya, where it is estimated that approximately one in every four women and girls aged 15 to 49 has endured FGM. The latest estimates show that four million girls and women are at risk of mutilation every year, approximately 8,000 girls per day, a practice that violates the basic human rights of women and girls.
The project currently operates in over eight constituencies of the Rift Valley in Kenya with an established network of field officers who assist in coordinating the project, its progress and milestones.
Challenges
One of the significant issues in eradicating FGM is the level of cultural importance placed on this rite of passage, which is believed to prepare a girl for motherhood. To combat this, the project takes a holistic approach. Teachers, community gatekeepers, young people, local chiefs and lawmakers are engaged to ensure FGM is addressed as a community-wide problem rather than a women and girls’ only problem.
Most victims are cut by traditional villagers, including birth attendants in the home. However, girls are now increasingly being cut by health care providers to reduce complications – a practice known as the medicalisation of FGM. The project aims to increase the number of local trainers to reach more communities at the grassroots level. The focus area is Kajiado county, where the Maasai ethnic group often takes girls to Tanzania to be cut.
Over the past year, Sr Ephigenia has witnessed some disturbing trends in FGM. Because of the financial stress resulting from the pandemic, Sr Ephigenia has reported that increased numbers of girls are being subjected to FGM to better their chances of marriage.
The coming elections have also placed further pressure on families to get women circumcised. A recent victim of FGM was a chief’s wife, whose husband was not permitted to hold a leadership role in the community without his wife being cut.
Impact
Ultimately this project seeks to reduce the number of people falling victim to FGM through:
- Improved access to and awareness of the basic human rights of girls and women.
- Increased community acceptance and empowerment of women and girls who have not undergone FGM, a critical issue in the fight against FGM.
- Better protection and safeguarding of children in the communities.
- Higher numbers of people reporting on child abuse/FGM practice.
- Community awareness on the harmful effects of FGM and the benefit of an alternative rite of passage to adulthood.
Activities
The activities are customised to suit a particular audience and include:
- Train 320 girls and boys on an alternative rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.
- Conduct 10 one day school seminars for boys and girls on child safeguarding and rights.
- Train 120 community leaders, officers from the ministry of education, local chiefs and police.
- Hold one child protection seminar for 40 people.
- Hold two train the trainer sessions for 80 people.
Nyumbani Village Scholarships
Partner | Loreto Eastern Africa Province
Location | Nyumbani, Kenya
Overview
Nyumbani Village is situated in the Kitui District, Eastern Province of Kenya. Established in 2004, the village provides a stable home for those most vulnerable. Currently, up to 1,000 children and 100 grandparents displaced by the Kenya AIDS epidemic live in small cottage units as families. HIV/AIDS is still an enormous challenge in Kenya, with over 120,000 Kenyan children under the age of 14 infected with AIDS and an estimated 850,000 Kenyan children orphaned due to AIDS.
To help break the cycle of poverty, Nyumbani Village also provides residents with comprehensive medical care, education, psychosocial support, and food. The educational opportunities within the village include access to a primary school, secondary school, and a vocational training centre. However, some students pursue courses not offered at the vocational training centre, while others seek higher learning through university or college.
This project specifically aims to assist three students pursuing diploma-level courses at universities within Kenya.
Challenges
Over 3,200 immunosuppressant children either live in Nyumbani Village or are beneficiaries of Nyumbani programs. To protect this vulnerable community during the pandemic, the village temporarily closed its doors to visitors. At times, this has meant the students have not been able to return home during the lockdown.
Similarly, the universities and colleges closed intermittently. Although they introduced online learning for students, it has been difficult for them to keep up with the challenges of staggered education and limited contact with teaching staff. Promisingly, all recipients have resumed onsite classes and are well underway to completing the semester coursework.
Impact
This project’s impact is life-changing. Once a student has received an education, they can seek skilled employment. This goes on to benefit the village. As has happened in the past, successful students can afford to withdraw their siblings and grandparents from Nyumbani Village and care for them, thereby creating room for another child in need to be supported.
Activities
- Provide quality tertiary education scholarships to three orphaned young people from the Nyumbani Village:
– Recipient 1: Diploma in Chemical Engineering
– Recipient 2: Diploma in Supply Chain Management
– Recipient 3: Certificate in Tour Guide Operations - Help young people gain employment or start their own businesses to become self-reliant and financially secure.
