Jenga Village Volunteer Project

BACKGROUND
It’s a registered non-governmental, community-based organization which is based in Shibuname area In Kakamega County in western Kenya. It is aimed on the community development due to increase in poverty and illiteracy among the youths in the village as a result of disadvantaged due to their economic, social and cultural background. We work to help the community to realize and take action in what is important to them. Since the Community share the same challenges, we inform them that community development relies on interaction between people and joint action, rather than individual activity. We believe the communities we belong play an important part in our personal well-being. It is the source and root of many creative ideas, solutions, wealth and power, as well as the problems that arise often because of inequality in people’s environment, resources and opportunities. Jenga literally means ‘build’ had a main aim of improving peoples’ lives in the community especially the vulnerable as well as linking the community with other players in order to address the challenges faced by the local community. The mission of this organization is concerned with the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children, mistreated women, widows, widowers, men, women, people with disability and youths who are disadvantaged due to their economic, social and cultural background. The area faces various challenges, but many of them can be prevented at the village level. As the community becomes more and more developed, people will be exposed to less health, poverty and illiteracy risks and enjoy a higher standard of living, therefore higher quality of life.

JEVIVO DAYCARE CENTRE
Jenga Village Volunteers Day-care was started with the aim of supporting single mothers and widows who are the only hope for the family to meet its daily needs especially food. In most cases the elder kids are forced to miss out school days so that they can take care of the children as their mothers go in search of jobs or working on their own farm, this contribute to their lack of concentration in school and failure. Most of these families are living below the standard of living where they and if they get some temporary jobs earn around 100 Kenya shillings a day which is equal to 1$. As we help the mothers, we encourage them the importance and practicing of family planning methods during our meetings. We currently have managed to rescue around 15 children (aged around 2-5 years old). The children are brought around 8:30 am and picked between 1pm to 3 pm. JEVIVO day care offers these kids an opportunity to interact with each other as well as creating a conducive environment for their growth development. We have a farm where we practice model farming. We plant vegetables, sweet potatoes, maize and beans. We use these foods to offer lunch to the kids.