1,522 children and 864 women were treated at our clinic
21,352 people in 6,745 homes were visited by our Community Health Workers
1,588 women received pre or post natal services
1,853 adults received HIV/AIDS education
304 children received standard childhood immunizations at our clinic
241students received a quality education at our Vutakaka Junior School
(Grades K-7) where students consistently score the highest in the
Kilifi District which includes over 30 schools
251 adults were tested for HIV/AIDS
95 adults are attending adult education class, 90% are women
More than 400 children received free after-school tutoring
Our programs and services continue to expand with your support!
A great way to make your contributions go even further is by checking to see if your employer matches charitable donations!
Many companies do! Check with your Accounting or Human Resources department to find out. Typically, you can still request to match funds from donations you made in 2009!
We would be happy to fill out any forms or send any supporting documents that your companies requests.
The East African Center is a 501c3 charitable organization and our EIN # is 91-2161222.
If you are a federal employee, you can donate to the EAC through the Combined Federal Campaign. Just indicate our CFC #, 12297, on your enrollment form.
On Saturday, May 8th, nearly 200 individuals gathered together for our 2nd Annual Evening for Africa in Seattle, WA.
It was a wonderful evening dedicated to fostering hope and raising funds for the EAC's programs in Kenya. Together we raised over $30,000! Thank you to everyone who showed their support surrounding the event.
We
have now finished the 8 outreaches funded by the 6 month National AIDS
Control Council grant for Home-Based Care Training. The outreaches
were held in Kanyumbuni, Mwakuhenga, Kayanda, Takaungu, Majajani, Vuma,
Kazinuni, and Kibaoni. At these outreaches, we tested 277 people: 196
females and 81 males. We also gathered names and contact details for
trainings on home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS.
In
May, we held the first 2 of the 3 trainings that include HIV/AIDS
services, psycho-social support, and palliative care, with a follow up
training in economic empowerment, village savings and loan groups, and
sustainable livelihoods. The first training in Takaungu had 23
participants, made up of people living with HIV/AIDS and their
caregivers.
Thank
you to EAC staff members Valerian Malasi, Mohamed Said, Joyce Charo,
and Joy Tsuma, who are doing a wonderful job organizing the outreaches
and trainings!
Experience the EAC
Learn about the programs and services of the EAC
and how the teachers, community health workers, parents, students and
staff are making a huge impact on the lives of thousands living in
rural Kenya.
This amazing video was produced with footage shot by Bryan Isom who lived and worked in Takaungu last summer as part of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. John Burkhart and Taylor Janes worked together to produce and edit the video.
Farewell to Valerian Malasi
I would like to thank the EAC donors, Boards of Directors,
Administration, and Kenya staff for being supportive throughout my
three year tenure in service as a nurse for the EAC. I was called by
the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to be a nurse in Bamba
sub-district, one of the poorest areas in the whole country. It is
estimated that there are more than 100,000 underserved residents. I
will go there to Bamba with the mission of the EAC in my heart, and
continue to serve those who need me most. My dream is to see the EAC
expand some of it's wonderful programs into the Bamba district, and I
pledge to work with the EAC administration in whatever capacity I can. I want to make clear how upset I am to leave my current position - I truly believe that I have been called as a nurse to serve this area,
but I wish I was staying in Takaungu with all my friends at the EAC.
I
thank Kate Crowley for being very supportive and for teaching me so much. I am proud of her work and of the work of the EAC.
Asante Sana - Valerian Mshila Malasi
Valerian has been a valued staff member of the East African Center for the past 3 years. As Head Nurse, Valerian oversaw the Vutakaka Health Clinic. He is a skilled nurse, a trusted member of the staff and the community, and he will be missed a great deal. Thank you to Valerian for his dedication and spirit!
Grant Awarded
Earlier this month, the American International Women's Club of Genoa (AIWC) raised $1,200 to fund the building of a water well.
As part of a larger project to create a sustainable farm that will provide food for the school's lunch program, the well addresses one of the most important parts of this preparation. That is,
assuring a constant supply of water.
The
school has tap water for day to day use, but using tap water for farming would
raise monthly water costs to extremely high rates, especially during the dry
season. This well which will be built on the school's property means that the school is
assured a constant, free supply of water for the farm.
We are currently approaching the AIWC, and other funders, to complete this project as part of our mission to build long-term, sustainable programs with projects that can be managed by
the community and continue without a large amount of outside funding.
If you are interested in contributing to this project, please contact Jen Hill (jhill@eastafricancenter.org or 347.330.2670).
Thank you to Margaret Canepa and the AIWC of Genoa!
New Classroom Update
Earlier this year, the Takaungu community raised nearly enough to build an additional classroom for the Vutakaka Junior School (VJS). With matching donations from individuals such as yourselves, this year's classroom is in the process of being built.
We have purchased enough cement blocks for two
classrooms, as the factory was shutting down in Takaungu. Building will begin on
the first classroom in the coming months and on the second classroom as soon as funds are secured.
This classroom will provide a space for the VJS to expand to 7th grade, allowing the students who started at VJS
to continue receiving the best education in the area through junior
high.
Once finished, we plan to dedicate the
classroom to the Takaungu community, and our biggest donors, Member of
Parliament Fahim Twaha and the Seattle Jaycees.
EAC in the News
News of this year's Harambe spread all the way to Darien, CT where Kenya Program Director Kate Crowley grew up (read below). In May, both Crowley and the US Program Director, Jen Hill, were featured in the New School's Alumni Newsletter.
Darien woman helps raise money in Kenya Date: March 11, 2010Section: Business
Recently, nearly 200 individuals living in rural Eastern Kenya came together to raise money in support of a local non-government organization. The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children, whose program director is Darien High School graduate Kate Crowley has operated a school, clinic and team of community health workers in
the village for nearly 10 years. It operates out of Seattle and New
York City. Vutakaka Junior School parents' committee initiated and
organized the Harmabe, which is Swahili for fundraiser.
It was attended
by community members, students, teachers, EAC staff, current and former
Ministers of Parliament, the local chief and sub-chief, and
celebrities. Together, they raised $3,000 by auctioning off donated
ducks and pieces of thatched roof, as well as a general collection.
In rural Kenya, where most people survive on less than $1
per day, every cent counts. The average attendee gave $20, which is
almost 15 percent of the average annual salary in Eastern Kenya. The current economic climate has hit Kenya hard making this declaration of support for the US led organization even more powerful.
"This inspiring event is a strong testament to the community's commitment to its partnership with EAC and its future".
The East African Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children is a non-profit, non-government organization aimed at increasing literacy for women and children, eradicating poverty, and providing care. The organization serves a community of 20,000 living in coastal Kenya. It operates out of New York City and Seattle.
Thank you for staying connected to the EAC and the people of Takaungu! We would love to hear from you! How did you come to know the EAC? What would like to hear from us or see us do?
igh rates, especially during the dry
season. This well which will be built on the school's property means that the school is
assured a constant, free supply of water for the farm.
