A Sustainable Source of Income for Women Living with HIV/AIDS and Orphans in Nanyuki- Poultry Keeping Project  REMIX 

Background information

Kenya ike most of the subsaharan countries is greatly affected by the pandemic of HIV and AIDS. most of the urban cntres have a high prevelence rates indicating that almost every family is affected.Nanyuki is one of such urban centres.located in th Laikipia East district,Rift valley province,it is among the major tourist destination since is located on the leeward side of Mt Kenya,and along the equator.There are several military force base in Nanyuki.These features has result to the town being highly populated and mainly a commercial town.

The climatic condition is semi arid there little agricultural practices take place.Most of the population live aroud Nanyuki town and mainly in the two slums Majengo and Likii slums which are locate within the vicinity of the town.Due to the large population a large proportion of the population is unemployed leading to a large number of idlers.This has inturn lead to growing numbers of youth who engage in risky behaviours such as drug abuse,crime and prostitution.these can explain the high HIV/AIDS prevelence rates.

The cosequences include the ever increasin number of households lead by women after their husbands have died from HIV/AIDS and more orphans being left behind by thier departed parents.

Due to the low income and poor econamic status most women continue to engage in risky behaviours which expose them to chances of reinfection.Most of the child led family suffer financial crisis forcing the elder siblings to seek employment to be in a position to support the younger ones.Due to their lack of a god educatin the opt to get involved in such activities as early marriages for the girls or prostitutions leading to teenage pregnancies and infections with HIV/AIDS.

My idea is to put up a project that would create a sustainable source of income for such families.This would reduce their indulgence in such risky behaviour since it would.

The Poutry Keeping Project

The overall goal of the project

The project focus mainly on contributing to poverty reduction,improved health and food production and security among households of women living with HIV/AIDS and orphans in the Nanyuki Township.

Objectives of the project

The project will purpose to

• create a source of sustainable source of income for the targeted households and improved livelihood of the target group.
• improve access to education of the orphans who are most of the time neglected in the society.
• improve food security of the targeted household and hence improved health.
• empower the women living with HIV/AIDS through seminars and education forums held by the group meant to equip them with essential living skill.
• ensure proper project management and sustainability

Inputs

Piece of land-which is readily available

wiremesh,wood and ironsheet to make the shelter

labour-to be provided by the group members

a day old chicks(200 to start with)

Chicken feeds-commercial or locally available eg leftovers from the members homes.

Processes to engage in when setting up the project

Identification of the target group-women living with HIV and orphans -the starting group size would be 150 women with HIV/AIDS and 150 orphans.

Mobilization of the group

Procure the supply of the building materials,the aday old chicks and the feeds

Training them on how to take care of the chicks

Outputs.

Target group identified

Mobilization of the group

The shed is constrcted by the group with minimum support of a proffessional

After the chicks have been introduced it would take upto thre months to start seeing the products of the project.

Outcomes

Less idle time since the group members are to look after the chicken in shifts following a schedule which they will participate in making.

a sustainable source of income from the sale of the products such as eggs,chicken meat to the local htels and restaurants and to local grillers.

Improved food security for their familities since every member wiil be receiving a tray of eggs from te project every two weeks and the net profit will be shared among the household.

The orphans will get a chance to access and complete education therefore putting them in a better position to secure better employment and a bright future.This would be possible since the returns from the projects would be used to pay for their schoolfees .this would be in line with UNESCO goal of achieving education for all.

It will serve as a social group where people meet and share their experiences and problems therefore reducing their pschological burden.a problem shared is a problem half solved.

Reducate the chances of those already infected to be re infected and cases of new infections.

This project would also increase the productivity of a group rather discriminated in the society therefore serving as an example that should be emulated by others.

This project is sustainable since chicken keeping involves simple activities which are easy to learn and therefore can be done by the group members with minimal support from a poutry veterinary.

There requirements are also locally available since they can be purchased from the local market.The availability of a large readily available market increases its feasibility.

The money from the ARC contest would be used to purchase the building materials and the chicks.some will be used for paying the initial schoolfees of the orphans before the project can start generating income.

Later the income earned from the sale of the products fropm the project would be deposited in the groups bank account and used to give monthly wage to the group members while each rphan is alocated some money that would go to paying their schoolfees.