The Sustainable Livelihoods program enables Women living in urban slums and villages to make the transformation from a mode of ‘day-to-day survival’ to one of ‘planning for the future’. Families are able to send more children to school, and their increased earnings and savings contribute to improved nutrition and better living conditions. Ultimately, this translates to lower incidences of illness and a more secure and prosperous future.
Most Widows and Women headed household in slums and villages, can’t meet their child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. This seriously increases the chance of serious impairment in a child’s mental, physical, spiritual, and moral development. Failure to properly supervise and support these families to protect their children from harm, and a lack of shelter and nutrition are just some of what puts these households at increased risk.
UCESCO team has identified them and now taking them through focused education, technology exposure, and shared personal experiences, which has developed their skills and talents, as a platform for them to live an independent life.
OUR PROGRAMS
In an effort to promote vulnerable women, we are empowering women to turn hunger and poverty into hope by bringing sustainable agriculture, train them handcrafting and commerce practices.
Below are some of the open general psycho-social assistance we also offer to our beneficiaries
Crisis Intervention
Women and families who are in crisis and in need of assistance can come to our office to share their situation. Job loss, sickness, injury or family turmoil may have taken them by surprise, creating an overwhelming situation beyond their control. Volunteers and staff social workers provide the support needed to help clients deal with these difficult life issues by listening, providing financial assistance, and coordinating with other social services.
Christmas Program
This is volunteer-run program matches low–income women and individuals who want to provide them with gifts for Christmas. Volunteers coordinate their efforts with other county agencies to help as many vulnerable women as possible every year.
Caregivers Programs
Caregivers assist the elderly and disabled individuals in communities we are serving . Services include transportation, respite care, assisting with applications such as Medicare and social security, family support information, and referrals to further healthcare.
FORMATION OF WOMEN GROUPS
After the training, Women form groups and actively involved in empowering activities; voluntary savings and loans, handcrafting and small business and group farming. At least 15,234 community members in Kibera, Mathare, Kisii, Migori, Bungoma, Kayole and samburu have benefited indirectly from 1800 women we have empowered to date.
High impact strategies are actions taken to move a community from the current reality of poverty to a preferred future, particularly targeting women and families. One aspect of the preferred future is for women in poverty to utilize their resources in order to become economically self-sufficient and to meet other needs on a consistent basis so they can thrive.
Through groups, Women can find reasons, relationships, resources they need, and learn their rights in the society in order to thrive. The intention of forming groups is to change the community’s mindset in the following ways:
- From “some poverty is normal and tolerable”, to “no poverty is tolerable or necessary”.
- From “Women discrimination”, to “realization of women and girls’ rights, improving their access to jobs and livelihoods through entrepreneurship and trade”.
- From “full responsibility lies with the individual”, to “the responsibility is shared by individuals, the community and the Government”.
- From “providing piecemeal assistance”, to “helping Women completely out of poverty”.
- From “we deliver services to you on behalf of the community”, to we will help you to build a community around your family and neighborhood so you reach your dreams
