REPORTS

Project Background:
One of Possibilities Africa’s community transformation work is in the larger Namawanga
Community in Western Kenya. Here our partnership includes supporting two projects – dairy
farming and poultry farming - which have grown since their inception. The projects target small
holder farmers with the aim of helping them embrace different poverty alleviating practices and in
support of the energy generated in our community organizing efforts.

Since its inception the communities have recorded the following growth: The project began with an initial investment of 10 cows provided by Possibilities Africa. Each cow was loaned to a select farmer chosen by the community with the condition that the farmer commits to provide good care for the cow, sell milk to make an income, share part of the milk to a needy neighbor and pass on the first calf to and train another farmer to also benefit. From the 10 cows, already 7 have passed on their first calf to another farmer. Some of them already have a second calf which they will keep to start expanding their fold. The project has contributed to great improvement in the standard of living among the members. Their earnings have averaged KES 200 (Or US$ 3) per day, a very good income in a community where majority live on less than US$ 1 a day. Members contribute part of their milk sale income to help the group finance their breeding and veterinary costs. Each member can be facilitated through this joint microfinancing. The project has opened the eyes of the community to how their lives can change and now almost everyone wants to join this project. The project has also served as a rallying point for the community to attempt other initiatives. It has also brought inspiration to different groups in the community to see the possibilities of taking responsibility of their life challenges.

8. The project members have organized several demonstration and training on dairy and crop production which have benefited a wider community and contributed to community cohesion and also comprehension of the dairy industry.
9. Other benefits have included increased support of the vulnerable in the community especially HIV and AIDS widows and orphans by those who have the dairy cow.
10. Milk has provided a new source of capital that has enabled diversification to other projects.
11. Increased peer review mechanism helps group members keep each other accountable.
12. New innovative ideas are also being generated including making of home based creamery.
13. There is great improved nutrition among the children below the age
    of 5 years for accessing milk where before they did without.
14. Cows have served as collateral for members to get loans from microfinance
    institutions.

Challenges:
Nevertheless these successes have not been without their fair share of challenges which include:

1. Low capital to deal with recurrent costs of treatment, to invest in achieving better farm
   hygiene. This has partly let to the loss of two mature cows and two calves
2. The large overheads associated with maintaining dairy animals especially during dry spells
   have been discouraging.
   
3. Lack of sufficient capital for expansion with a long list of community members willing to
   get a cow but not having the means.
4. Limited knowledge of farming and dairy industry. Expert knowledge is expensive to access.

Project Summary:

In addition, there are other 7 farmers who now have calves from the ‘passing on first calf idea.’
They are waiting for them to grow to milking age in under one year. The greatest challenges they
face are:

• Lack of funds to assist other waiting farmers get a cow faster
• Funds to secure high grade cows and services to effectively run their projects

THE YOUTH POULTRY PROJECT This project was begun by a group of youth through an initial investment by P. A. This is part of our effort to empower the youth to pursue income generating initiatives as away of addressing unemployment and poverty in the communities. With an initial investment of Kes 50, 000 (US$ 700), the youth started a free range poultry keeping project So far they have sold 35 birds generating Kes 7, 000 ( US$ 110) They still have a total of 60 adult birds and 32 chicks. They also sold 200 eggs generating US$ 15 From the sale of the poultry over the months they have been able to diversify their micro enterprise to include brick making enterprise. They produced 17,000 bricks, sold 11,000 bricks to generate US$ 850. This money is to be re-invested into the business. The skills they have acquired in this aspect of brick making has resulted in job creation for some of the members who were involved since they are now called upon by other individuals to help in brick production. Through their success, other members of the community are now prompted to pick up this enterprise. The members were also able to use the proceeds from the business as a boost to their group’s mini-microfinance kitty. The nature of the work is high intensive providing an occupation for the youth who would otherwise be involved in destructive activities.

Challenges:

1. The need for expertise and knowledge to improve on their business products
2. The need for more capital for expansion and to ably manage their current project
   

SOLAR LIGHTING PROJECT
This is a project of PAK facilitated and implemented by LOTI – www.lotint.org – It was started by
Loti educating the community members on the benefits of solar energy and
undertaking installation of a number of lights for farmers and in some
community establishments. So far the project has benefited the community
in many ways including:

• They now have better lighting for their village huts where before
  they relied on kerosene lamps.
  
• The new technology saves the community money that they would
  have spent on purchase of ever costly kerosene
  
• The new lighting is better for students who can now study for extra
  hours hence improving school performance
  
• The old lamps produced dark smoke that made users sickly. The new
  light is user friendly and has reduced on regular coughs and
  illnesses.
  

Way Forward
PAK is reviewing with the community on ways of expanding all the projects to achieve:

1. Increased and qualitative productivity
   
2. Community wide penetration
   
3. Diversification
4. Entrepreneurial value