From: Chak Rachar
Date: Thu, Sep 12, 2013 at 6:47 AM
Subject: Foundation on poverty alleviation
To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”
FOUNDATION TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AMONG KISUMU CHRISTIAN WOMEN.
By Chak Rachar
A Christian movement based within Western Kenya based in Kisumu advocating for the needs of the poor communities in Kenya and Africa has embarked on a recruitment mission of Christian women within the seven constituencies making Kisumum County namely;Kisumu Central,East,West,Nyando ,Muhoroni ,Nyakach and Seme laying a lot of emphasis on Christians women empowerment .
According to the Chairperson of the Africa Churches Foundation Bishop Pheobe Onyango their mission is purely pegged on their relationship with their partners through mutual respect, trust and accountability.
Bishop Onyango while Speaking after leading a procession which led to recruitment of other women Christians within Muhoroni Constituency in the company of Tony Rozee leader of Connect International Ministry and who is also a senior leader of the New Forest Community Church in Hampshire in United Kingdom added that they are currently prioritizing to serve the most marginalized and exploited members of the community.
“The African Churches Foundation women initiative which I am presently involved in is a wing within ACF structure which champions women spiritual and development programme and the key therematic areas are; spiritual growth, access to education,socio-economic empowerment programmes,Health/ Reproductive issues, sexual and gender based violence and transformative leadership and governance” she added.
She further said that among the core values of ACF are; networking and collaboration, active participation, support for the needy and the poor.
“Muhoroni is the last constituency in our itinerary after transversing Nyando,Kisumu East,Kisumu,Central and Kisumu West together with Seme and Nyakach” she added
She further added that presently ACF women initiative is involved in water and sanitation, women empowerment, Health, spiritual development and disaster relief and recovery.
Asked about the achievement so far of the women initiative, Onyango said that so far they have been able to mobilize and organize women within and outside Kisumu County as well as initiation of income generating activities at the constituency level.
“In order to ensure sufficient, safe and nutritious food which is both available and affordable, we are in the process of offering training in agriculture eg irrigation,water harvesting ,organic fertilizers ,diversification of farm products ,animal rearing and even product marketing” she added.
Bishop Onyango also stressed that ACF women Initiative will work with their partners to restore local environments as well as promoting access to quality basic education through support for pre-primary education, community managed primary schools where government schools are not available, teacher training as well as adult literacy classes and life skills education vocational education and training.
She added that presently they are partnering with churches, Faith Based Organizations, Government, Development Agencies, International bodies as well as Local and International Business Partners.