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Creating Opportunities Through Villages of Hope
 The four SOTENI Villages of Hope are Mbakalo, Ugenya, Mituntu and Kuria in rural areas of Kenya. Each has its own distinct character and priorities. Below is a list of some of their accomplishments:
- SVH-Mbakalo opened a health dispensary/clinic in 2005 which cares for over 300 people monthly. The staff treats opportunistic infections, minor injuries and other ailments. An expansion plan awaits funding.
- Twelve AIDS Barefoot Doctors bring home care, prevention education and hope to victims of HIV/AIDS and others in the Villages of Hope Mituntu and Mbakalo.
- SVH-Mituntu sponsored a Women's Empowerment program that has resulted in over 750 women being trained in business management, entrepreneurship, human rights, gender issues and HIV/AIDS.
- SVH-Kuria celebrated the fencing of 29 acres of land donated by the local county council. At the celebration in May, the Member of Parliament pledged 1 million Kenyan shillings to develop the land for income generation through sustainable farming and the building of a community education and girls rescue center.
- SVH-Ugenya completed construction on a community building to be used for future projects.
- SVH-Ugenya has also planted over 400 banana seedlings at our Rambula Farm site to generate income, enhance food security, and expand the opportunities of local growers. The first harvest is expected in the next few months.
For more information on SOTENI Villages of Hope accomplishments, visit our website. |
"SOTENI has given me life and opportunity!!"
 Eric Kirema, 20, is an excellent student in his final year at St. Pius secondary school in SVH-Mituntu! In 2003, when he was in 6th grade, his parents died of AIDS. He went to live with his grandmother who also was alone and very poor. There was little money for food and none for high school. Eric was a young boy with much grief and little hope!
That all changed in 2005! SOTENI heard about Eric's plight and accepted him into the Sponsorship Program. A Cincinnati couple, Gail and Howard Jackson, agreed to be his sponsor. They've stood by Eric ever since!
"Since the time SOTENI brought me on board, my life has changed tremendously," said Eric. " I've had the opportunity to pursue my education through payment of school fees, provision of food and clothing. Today, I feel like other privileged children. I also have sharpened my leadership skills and improved my social life through meeting and sharing my worries, fears, strengths and weaknesses at SOTENI gatherings with other sponsored children.
"Today I can stand before people and talk openly about HIV/AIDS! I can interact freely with my fellow youth and see life in a positive way, as opposed to before when life had no meaning. The counsel I received from Ezekiel, our Sponsorship Facilitator, and Randie Marsh, SOTENI Director, has given me life. Now it is my obligation to work hard and help other less fortunate children in my community."
"Thank you, SOTENI, for this opportunity; and thank you, my sponsor Gail and family." |
Opportunity! is represented by the the "O" in SOTENI and is the second in our series about SOTENI's Six Guiding Principles!