Supporting orphaned and vulnerable children through community-led social enterprises

In May 2011 WVP Kenya began working with the community of Nyajuok. The majority of families in the community are subsistence farmers and work hard to provide food for their families. Many of the group members have also run or helped manage smaller community groups in their local area. Within the community there are a large number of orphaned and vulnerable Children. WVP Kenya has worked with local community groups to mobilise the wider community and  find solutions to the problems faced. In July and August 2011, 142 community members undertook facilitative training. The adults of the community were trained on topics including caring for vulnerable children, project management and financial management. 80 children of the community were also trained on the rights and responsibilities of children, using local facilitators. After training, the community members proposed that they could run a business hiring tents, chairs and a public address system to local functions. The group chose this business due to the prospect of fast returns and relatively easy maintenance of equipment. WVP Kenya staff helped the community to refine and add detail to their proposal and after approving it made the necessary purchases with funds from the Stichting Liberty. Since mid-October, 2011, the Nyajuok community has been running a fully operational social enterprise and their accomplishments so far have been impressive. As at the end of March 2012 the profits from their business
operations have been used to support 74 vulnerable children within their community. Children supported ranged in age from 5 to 19 with an average age of around 13. The vast majority of children supported were attending primary
school. Children to benefit from the project were selected by the community itselft through an open process where vulnerability of children proposed to be supported was discussed at group and community meetings. Support has been highly targeted as children and their guardians were asked what they needed most to attend school. Support included paying school fees, purchasing required uniform items, or purchasing needed school items like a school bag. A total of 34,520 KES was spent directly on the child beneficiaries by the end of April 2012 (see Table below. [1] Ksh 34,520 spent on items for orphaned children. Remaining profits to be spent on child beneficiaries mid 2012.).

The  community describes themselves as “experienced, lucky and developmental”. They hope that through their efforts the vulnerable children that they support shall become role models for the community. The group members are particularly proud of the planning and co-ordination they feel they have demonstrated so far in running a business, identifying the vulnerable children in their community and purchasing the specific items they require. The
groups business has continued to make profits and from these profits they intend to support an additional 80 children within their community mid-2012. This project is likely to run for many years ahead and support and an ever growing number of children.

Nyajuok community members during a project committee meeting