From Nairobi to Eldoret: ERD's visit to Kenya

Our Programme Manager Michael Hanly visited Kenya in April for the Ruben Centre, a monitoring visit to Education for Life (EFL) and to represent ERD at the Mission Capacity Support Team workshop.

The Ruben Centre is located in the Mukuru community in Nairobi, and provides quality education, health, financial and social services to children and families. Michael met various people at the Ruben Centre’s Health Clinic, which initially began in a tin shed in 1992. A new clinic was built in 2003, and since then it offers a range of services, which include: outpatient services, nutrition services, asthma clinic, child welfare clinic, antenatal clinic, cervical/breast cancer screening, laboratory services, TB clinic, dental care, reproductive health and has a well equipped pharmacy. Michael met staff members at the Ruben Centre and witnessed the great work happening there. Programme Manager Liz Mwangi gave Michael a tour of the community health clinic. Michael also met with Clinical Officer Zippora Njeri, Director of the Health Centre, who has been supporting the expansion of the maternity services provided at the clinic, and Belinda Kamuni who is the HIV Testing Coordinator and Child Protection Officer at the centre.

Michael then traveled to Eldoret, Kenya to visit the Education for Life (EFL) programme. EFL focuses on offering psycho-social support to people living with HIV and AIDS. The programme aims to empower people with life skills and knowledge to make informed and sustainable decision for a healthy lifestyle. EFL support approximately 450 families, and also supports over 600 orphaned and vulnerable children affected by HIV by providing them with food and assistance with school fees, materials and uniforms.

Michael was able to attend one of the weekly meetings of the Savings Income and Loans Club at EFL. This club is part of the larger economic empowerment activity taking place, and has been a success at EFL. The club provides saving and lending services for essential needs, and for the running of small livelihood enterprises. Michael was also treated to a performance by EFL’s award-winning choir. We thank all those at the Ruben Centre and Education for Life for their warm welcome.

We thank all those at the Ruben Centre and Education for Life for their warm welcome.