Upendo- Womens Groups by Miki Iwamura

Upendo is a grassroots non-profit organization that is comprised of a dedicated group of locals working to equalize the poverty gap in an agrarian community in Kenya. Almost all of the staff are farmers and have struggled themselves. Upendo’s mission is based on providing food security through farming, micro financing, and social justice is an incentive in all of their projects. They support farmers groups, womens groups and youth groups through various trainings such as conservation farming, beekeeping, and table banking. Through support from overseas partnerships, they also provide monetary support and scholarships for the high percentage of orphans in the community due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Upendo’s work is large in scope, and an example for how food, health, education, environment and socioeconomic are not separate parts but a linked system for a community to be self-sustaining.

The population in Homa Bay County are mainly Luo and devout Christians of different denominations. For many, God comes first, all else is secondary. This is deeply rooted in much of their actions and the support they give one another. They are guided by the principles of community minded individuals in tandem with an agarian society's mindset where no one can till nor harvest the land on their own.
â€‹There is a high percentage of orphans in the Homa Bay County area. This is due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic where many of the middle generation was affected. HIV/AIDS clinics and mobile clinics have been set up throughout the region which has alleviated the stigma associated with the disease. However, the spread of the disease is continuous which leaves many orphaned. Several of the womens group and others with big hearts take it upon themselves to care for the orphans. Few are also selected by Upendo and supported through mentorship, food support and/or scholarships through overseas partnerships. The common goal of members in the community to bridge the poverty gap also drives them to colllaborate with one another in identifying needs and how to give support to the disadvantaged.

Project for Photographers without Borders

Saturday is church day for Sev..., feeding and setting up camp.

Saturday is church day for Seventh Day Adventists. On this occasion, a camp was set up for an entire week of prayers and bible studies. Many in the community stop all activities to volunteer with cooking, feeding and setting up camp.

This man's expression ... as he listened to the sermon.

This man's expression gradually change from tension to peace as he listened to the sermon.

A young girl with her Adventur...e studies with other children.

A young girl with her Adventurer Club scout uniform. Just like the adults, they participate in bible studies with other children.

Ministers and delegates listening the sermon.

Bentar wears a headscarf to re...on spiritual gifts and powers.

Bentar wears a headscarf to represent Roho Msalaba, known as the holy spirit churches in Africa. They have had a history of rejecting Western culture and placing high significance on community empowerment. The churches are closely related to cultures of Africa, with a strong focus on spiritual gifts and powers.

Imbeke Development Center is a...s a haven for girls and women.

Imbeke Development Center is a well manicured open place that is a haven for girls and women.

Sophie is the director of Imbe...l, and young vulnerable women.

Sophie is the director of Imbeke Charitable Trust. A former Upendo manager, she opened a center for women as she felt the need for a safe space to empower women and girls in the community. Her mission is to educate teenage-mothers, girls who've dropped out from school, and young vulnerable women.

Regular check ups and &nbs...cted at the Imbeke dispensary.

Regular check ups and tests for HIV/AIDS are conducted at the Imbeke dispensary.

Imbeke trains the girls and wo...heir own shops in Oyugis town.

Imbeke trains the girls and women in activities such as tailoring, agriculture, horticulture and catering to improve their livelihood. Some have successfully graduated and have opened their own shops in Oyugis town.

Sisal.

Chairwoman of Ok  Bi ...es and bricks as extra income.

Chairwoman of Ok Bi Chaloni Womens Group holds strands of sisal for rope making.
Many of the women’s group need multiple income not just to sustain a living but to support the many orphans in their care. The Ok Bi Chaloni Womens Group make ropes and bricks as extra income.

Many of the women’s ...es and bricks as extra income.

Many of the women’s group need multiple income not just to sustain a living but to support the many orphans in their care. The Ok Bi Chaloni Womens Group make ropes and bricks as extra income.

Some members from the Tangchon...embers to use it as they wish.

Some members from the Tangchon Ber Widows Group walking through their farm. They do not own the land, but it was donated by one of their members to use it as they wish.

The widow’s face man...or for cultivating their land.

The widow’s face many challenges, as most do not have the title deeds to their land nor enough income to subsidize with tilling their land. The custom of wife inheritance, which allows a man's relatives to inherit his wife in case of his death, is also practiced by some in the community. Most widows are left with nothing to defend themselves. Basket making is one of the few income Tangchon Ber Widow’s Group make. They are sold in local markets and the money earned is used to buy materials to make more baskets or for tilling their land. There are many that make these baskets which drives the prices low. Tangchon Ber Group is always compromising between buying more materials or for cultivating their land.

A member from Tangchon Ber Wid...to other members in the group.

A member from Tangchon Ber Widows Group with the offspring of their first cow.
Tangchon Ber Widows Group practice what Upendo calls “pass on”. Upendo supplies the group with a cow. The members take turns caring for the cow so each household has their share of its benefits. When the cow produces off springs, one is given back to Upendo to give to other groups in need, the others are passed on to other members in the group.

Chairwoman for Koka Achievers ...advantaged youths and orphans.

Chairwoman for Koka Achievers Women Group listens during a monthly meeting.
Koka Achievers are 40 in number and have grown from each member having just a kitchen garden to owning maize and groundnut farming, and farm animals. Through table banking they’ve increased their income gradually over the past 5 years. As part of social impact, they also fundraise school fees for disadvantaged youths and orphans.

The women’s group ne...profits go and how it is used.

The women’s group need multiple income not just to sustain a living but to support the many orphans in their care. As part of the table banking system, the Koka Achievers Women Group collectively make traditional Luo clay pots, sell it in the market, and decide together where the profits go and how it is used.

Pots drying at a Koka Achiever...n Group member's home.

Pots drying at a Koka Achievers Women Group member's home.

The Koka Achievers Women Group...despite their economic status.

The Koka Achievers Women Group practice table banking. They meet once every month, place their savings, loan repayments and other contributions on the table, then borrow immediately either as long term or short term loans to one or a number of its members. It is a strategy to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, and bring each member out of poverty. It is based on mutual trust by increasing each other’s income despite their economic status.

Staff from Upendo looks at Kok...anking records and its growth.

Staff from Upendo looks at Koka Achievers' table banking records and its growth.

Stephen, age 21, is the head o...school fees for the next term.

Stephen, age 21, is the head of household for his three siblings. They lost both parents within the last ten years. He attends college in Kisumu and is home only during school holidays. During that time he looks for work so that he may pay his school fees for the next term.

Stephen and his siblings. Upen...hen Stephen is away at school.

Stephen and his siblings.
Upendo helps with food support for his siblings while the Pendo Letu women checks in on them when Stephen is away at school.

Materials for upcycle jewelry ...profits go and how it is used.

Materials for upcycle jewelry by Pendo Letu Womens Group.
The women’s group need multiple income not just to sustain a living but to support the many orphans in their care. As part of the table banking system, the Pendo Letu Womens Group collectively make the jewelry and decide together where the profits go and how it is used.

The beads are made of magazine...as less is used for materials.

The beads are made of magazine strips rolled and varnished. It is cost effective as less is used for materials.

Farmer artisans Dinar and Jenn...ade  upcycle jewelry.

Farmer artisans Dinar and Jennifer counting the collectively made upcycle jewelry.

St. Francis of Assisi Communit...th HIV/AIDS may be eliminated.

St. Francis of Assisi Community Dispensary is a level 1 dispensary working for the needs of people who have HIV/AIDS. The current building was constructed with support from Upendo. Their mission is to be closer to the clients and bring education to the surrounding population so the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS may be eliminated.

St. Francis of Assisi Community Dispensary.

"I am alone and just ...r farms through table banking.

"I am alone and just a farmer. I decided to stay with my medicine and God."
Zedicia's wife died in 1979. He's been a widower since with his 6 children. He was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and started taking medication in 2008. Zedicia is the Baba or manager to a self-help group of 34 members affected with HIV/AIDS. Together they are successful with their farms through table banking.

Maekswel lost both of his pare...he profits he makes from them.

Maekswel lost both of his parents to HIV/AIDS. His grandmother, who is also HIV/AIDS positive, is his caregiver. Maekswel is on treatment, taking medication and doing well. He is in class 3 and has rabbits and doves that he cares for. His plan is to buy his school uniform from the profits he makes from them.

David is one of four surgeons ...ipant rests after his surgery.

David is one of four surgeons at Assisi Clinic. He conducts circumcisions on boys and men as preventative measures for the spread of HIV/AIDS. There has been compelling evidence that male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection by approximately 60%. At Assisi Clinic, VMC (voluntary male circumcision) is free of charge and offered as a package with testing and condoms. Behind David a VMC participant rests after his surgery.

Raising awareness to HIV/AIDS ...tion in their community faced.

Raising awareness to HIV/AIDS and introducing male circumcision has been a challenge to a culture that traditionally do not practice circumcision. The younger generations are more willing as they are the children of the epidemic that the middle generation in their community faced.

Miki Iwamura

Also by Miki Iwamura —

Samburu

Upendo- Farmers & Beekeepers