Kilifi Ringers - raising money for local children

In April 2024, we interviewed John and Debbie about their ringing and charity work, in Kenya. They are now asking for our help with their latest project...

WEZESHA, ENDELEZA

PROJECT PROPOSAL.

THE MISSION OF THE PROJECT

The mission of WEZESHA, ENDELEZA is to improve the lifestyle of children in the outskirts of Kilifi and ensure that they grow spiritually, emotionally cognitively and socially.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The proposed project name will be WEZESHA NA ENDELEZA which is Swahili name meaning to ENABLE and SUSTAIN.                                                                

Wezesha na Endeleza aims to provide hope and peace and ensure sustainability even when the program comes to an end. The main programs offered will be advocating for holistic development of children and youth in kilifi. Some of the focus areas shall be;

·      Shelter improvement,

·      Cognitive development,

·      Physical development,

·      Drug and substance abuse,

Shelter improvement;

A good shelter either permanent or temporary provides a sense of privacy, security, personal safety, protection from the weather and prevent health challenges and diseases. Through this initiative we hope to reduce vulnerability and build resilience to the community, we want to protect people’s dignity and make them live a normal life. Around Kilifi we have families who sleep out in the cold due to their structures being blown away by the winds and washed away with the rains. This program will seek to restore the houses and put up simple permanent structures with the help of the caregivers and well-wishers. For the first phase we hope to do six houses and help the families live a normal life. Putting up structures by these caregivers is difficult because they are not employed and they have children to look after thus it is expensive for them to construct thus children and their parents have to contend with the pathetic environments.

Cognitive Approach;

Many children in Kilifi are not attending school because their parents cannot afford paying school levies which includes exam fees that is required in primary school where as those in secondary school are sent home because of school fees. This has made transition from primary to secondary school very low as many of the children drop out when they finish grade 8. They are left with alternatives options hence seek for child labour, some indulge in abusing drugs, prostitution and others become criminals. This also makes children and youth an easy target for radicalization.

Our aim and goal in this program is not to leave any child behind, we aim to ensure all children in the community are enrolled in schools as well as make a follow up and ensure 100% transition from primary to secondary school.

Physical approach;

 Unfortunately, research suggests that being homeless and poor living standards can increase the risk of several health concerns, including;

• Foot conditions

• Chronic diarrhea

• Cognitive impairments

• Vector borne conditions ie Body lice, Head lice, malaria etc

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Physical injuries

These conditions can develop to be more severe over time and become fatal, so it’s essential to address them urgently. Some communities can provide limited care services but can offer a variety of hygiene supplies to help prevent specific issues from developing further.

We hope to work with the available medical practitioners and medical facilities to provide mobile clinics into the communities that are affected. We also hope to engage counsellors to provide services to parents and children. Lack of access to clean water is a major factor contributing to illnesses and lack of farming. We hope to drill community bore holes which will ensure access to clean water for everyone.

Drug and substance abuse.

Kilifi being one of the counties affected majorly by drug and substance abuse, we hope to create awareness against the use of hard drugs, help the children and youth who are already into drugs by linking them to rehabilitation centers and following up to change their character and develop a positive life style free from drug and substance abuse. We also hope to work with the local authorities to ensure that there is security for everyone in the community.

We intend to do a comprehensive mentorship program to walk a journey with participants to develop their character into becoming responsible and making sound life choices.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The main objective of the project is;

·      To establish and run a mentorship programme to the children and youth.

·      To promote positive parenting.

·      To enable the children and youth choose good health practices and are physically healthy

·      To establish small micro enterprises and an entrepreneurship culture in the community.

NETWORKING PLAN

The main targeted group will be individual children and youth from the highly populated Kilifi town and outskirts, primary schools, organizations around Kilifi, social events and public gatherings. This project will also aim at protecting the rights of the young girls and boys who are vulnerable in the society and those who drop out of school; thus, we will work with the national and county government and other organizations that advocates for the rights of children.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

WEZESHA, ENDELEZA will have several personnel who are expected to carry out their several respective duties. All personnel in this project shall offer voluntary services. The villages that we work in will have a public relations officer who will be a community liaison person. The Volunteers shall be drawn from different expertise mostly psychological counsellors.

FINANCIAL PLAN

This will show all the financial transactions made in the project for a given period of operation enabling us to be accountable to our stakeholders. The program shall run in different phases upon which we shall be doing an evaluation to see the impact of our operations, for the beginning phase we intend to raise an approximate of kshs 11,730,000. This amount shall be contributed by well wishers who will commit to contribute small amount every month and those who will wish to donate in kind, as well as those who wish to donate in one phase. We shall also work with the national and county government through the area member of county assembly to consider these challenges as they budget for the county strategic plan.

INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

·      The registered children and youth to take up social responsibilities e.g. beach cleaning, visiting the sick in hospitals, preaching to the prisoners and campaigning against drug abuse.

·      More children enrolled and going to school is a positive indicator of success of the project.

·      Children and youth demonstrating appropriate understanding of their physical body and are physically and mentally healthy.

·      Reduction of social evils in the communities e.g. reduction of hard drugs uses which is prevalent in Kilifi, reduction of crimes etc

·      The increase of caregivers engaging in small and micro enterprises is also another indicator of success.

·      Reduction in illnesses among the children and youth demonstrate the rate of success for this project.

·      Exhibits effective interpersonal and intrapersonal relationship skills is an indicator of success

·      Children and youth applying self and social awareness in making responsible life choices is an indicator of success.

The budget.

BANK DETAILS;

BANK; Co-operative Bank

BRANCH; Kilifi branch

ADRESS; P.O BOX 96-80108 KILIFI

ACCOUNT NAME; Maldeb Enterprises

ACCOUNT NUMBER; 01192779917400

BANK CODE; 11108

SWIFT CODE; KCOOKENA

Conclusion

1.     We are requesting support for Wezesha, Endeleza project to change the life of children and youth in Kilifi County.

2.     The establishment of this project will be a major milestone in this community because, it will empower children, youth, parents, church and the community at large.

3.     It is a direct tool towards eliminating poverty within this area and at the same time reduce negative social behaviors like prostitution amongst minors, drug abuse, early marriages, radicalization and child labour.

4.     The general economic advantage goes beyond the community to the entire Country at large, hence this is a worthwhile project for social investment.