• home
• contact
• donate now
•  

 

Community overview

INTRODUCTION

Maisha Bora is an arid village in central Kenya, and the subset of a much larger town called Isiolo. The words Maisha Bora mean 'a better life' but this community is stuck in a cycle of poverty - with high levels of disease, unemployment and neglect.

The population of 1500 are spread over 200 simple wooden homes, like the one below;

One of the 200 homes from the community, housing 8 people

Life inside these huts is difficult; dark, dusty and smoke filled from the small open fires which are used for cooking casava or roasting corn.

For an insight, you can read about the Papalo family who are a typical example of some of poorest people from Maisha Bora.

For a written overview of conditions in the community overall, follow the menu bar on the right. Or, if you prefer, why not watch our 3 minute presentation which explains the needs, plans and hopes .

Written overview

HEALTH

Health is poor in Maisha Bora. HIV/AIDS has left nearly 200 children orphaned and a similar number of adults are HIV positive and struggling to support the needs of their families.

Douzens of families, like the one above, have taken orphans into their households, which increases their financial and emotional strain.

Other orphans are left to head their own homes or share crowded huts with other 'Chokora' (street children) from the community.

Poor health and disease have been compounded by a lack of running water and sanitation systems. Malaria is not rife in this region but a material lack of nets and other preventatives means this conidition is not entirely eradicated.

The absence of basic hygiene knowledge or misinformation on health issues have also compounded the poor levels of health and contributed to the prevalance of conditions like dysentery.

EMPLOYMENT

Unemployment levels are over 70% and opportunities are very low. People make a living through very menial tasks, like the lady below who makes rope using the remains of old sacks.

Because levels of illiteracy are so high, the opportunities for skilled work are non-existent within Maisha Bora itself and also limited within Isiolo.

A slaughterhouse, on the outskirts of the community, is the most formal form of employment available. Most of the work is done outdoors - under the shade of trees or out in the open on the arid, dusty land.

Women work outside in the midday sun to clean animal innards for selling

Workers, mainly women, sort out the remains of animal part in these conditions cleaning them by hand or removing scraps of meat from the heads of animals which are later sold. The work is basic, unpleasant and menial.

Nearly all workers today receive payments-in-kind (usually pieces of meat or animal innards) instead of a wage.

EDUCATION

There is a nursery within the community, as pictured below, but no primary school. This nursery can provide a very basic education for around 50 children but is massively under staffed and under equipped.

For those who can afford an education, there are opportunities in neighbouring schools from primary level upwards.

Children, the future of Maisha Bora

However, many children do not even get to primary school because their parents are unable to support them - with finance for uniforms and equipment, or the encouragement needed to stay in education.

Success in education comes hardest for orphans.

Those heading their own homes or living in over crowded huts with other families rarely find support for primary education, let alone secondary. Their focus is on the day to day struggles to meet their own basic needs.

CHILDREN

For many children out of education or lacking support, work on the streets has become their daily routine.

This can involve becoming servants to richer families, water or bag carriers for travelers in neighbouring towns.

Around 30% of children from Maisha Bora are engaged in child labour from the age of 13-a month's work can earn as little as �7.

children are losing their childhood to work and abuse at a young age.

Life for the most vulnerable children is significantly harder still. Within the neighboring town of Isiolo there are problems with both drug abuse and child prostitution.

The high volume of truck driver traffic from north Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan is fuelling a child sex industry with travelling men taking advantage of the social standing and vulnerability of children as young as 10 in exchange for food, clothing or tiny amounts of money.

The most abused are those from the poorest households with the least protection and support, like Jane Wangeci.

A NEW FUTURE

As an organisation Food for the Hungry first worked in this community in 2006, running an HIV/AIDS centre. We believe Maisha Bora homes hundreds of children and families with great potential who can be empowered out of their current situation.

Children, the future of Maisha Bora.

Working alongside the community, local staff from Food for the Hungry Kenya are today being supported by UK donors to run a community development programme to help the poorest children and families realise their potential and transform their community.

See how this community are changing their future.

return to top page

Food for the Hungry UK | Registered charity 328273 | 47 Burgess Wood Road South, Beaconsfield, HP9 1EL | 01494 674 898