Visionary Women's Centre
Canada
Canada
US
US
Management Committee
Management Committee
Founder Lizette Gilday with Centre Director Benter Obonyo
Mangement Committee in front of our office in Turbo, Kenya. Please note that some board members are not in the picture.
Who are we?
The Visionary Women’s Centre is a small, grassroots, community based organization located in rural western Kenya. Our goal is to support local women & girls in their search for well being in all aspects of their lives. We provide the support, training and infrastructure needed to empower women and girls to rise above the poverty, lack of self confidnece and control of their life conditions.
Who do we help?
We support mothers, grandmother, girls, boys and families living in subsistence level
poverty, on small farming plots og less than an acre.
How do we help?
Through our well designed wokshops and support programmes described below.
MOTHER'S SUPPORT PROGRAMME
HELPING OVER
100 MOTHERS & GRANDMOTHERS
800 FAMILY MEMBERS
POULTRY RAISING ORGANIC GARDENING SAVINGS & BANKING SKILLS
F AMILY PLANNING HEALTH LIFE SKILLS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- Visionary Women's Centre has embraced the model of working with small groups as the most effective approach to supporting rural farming women in Kenya. We accept two new groups each year. Members form their own groups and live near one another. They must prove themselves by successfully completing a one year group savings project at which point they become eligible to move onto the poultry and organic gardening projects.
- Our Social Workers meet regularly with each group to encourage group solidarity. They provide guidance and oversite of the savings projects, poultry and gardening as well as information about maternal health, child rearing, family planning, nutrition, breast feeding, hygiene and life skills
- We provide depth training by experts in poutry raising and organic gardening. Materials for poulty sheds, basic poultry supplies are provided as are fencing wire, seeds and seedlings for the fenced gardens.
- We empower members with specific savings projects and skills which lead to access of bank loans for women. Entrepreneurial skills are supported and encouraged.
- Provide regular testing and support counselling for prevention of HIV within the community.
- Home visits: Social Workers visit all members every year to assess their progress in poutrly raising, organic gardening as well as to discuss reproductive health and family planning. This one- on -one counselling service is invaluable as it allows the women to be heard and supported in a private and compassionate setting. This in turn, allows them to gain the strength and courage required to solve
their own problems.
POULTRY PROJECT
ORGANIC GARDENING PROJECT
LIFE SKILLS in SCHOOLS
In order to reach the girls (and boys) of the next generation and teach them positive values regarding the place of women and girls in modern Kenya, we offer Life Skills in some of the local schools. This programme allows us to provide important life skills information while at the same time encouraging self esteem and assertiveness in the girls.
We teach both girls & boys about:
The essential role of women in society
Setting Goals
Effective Communication
Family & Peer Relations
Drugs & Addiction
Reproductive Health & Safety; HIV & AIDS
Education System & Career Planning
Hygiene & Nutrition
A school visit for Life Skills
SAY NO AND BE COUNTED
RAPE & BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAMME
for
CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS
In order to address a high rate of the rape of minors ( girls and boys) Visionary Women's Centre offers a dynamic six session workshop to the girls and boys of our community. The evidence shows that is important to educate both the girls and the boys if long term changes are to occur. The workshops are given separately to the girls and the boys with the exception of the self defence training and the exchange of feelings and experiences.
The girl's workshop is called THE GIRL POWER IN ME
The boy's workshop is called THE HERO IN ME
The workshops cover the following:
Evaluation of social values and traditional female /male roles in Kenya
Definitions of different types of sexual abuse and bullying
Effective communication skills
Safe self management behaviours
Self defence and protection techniques taught by a martial arts teacher
Consequences of rape both emotional and physical
Post-rape protocol at the medical, legal and psychological levels
Role of family, friends, teachers and community in rape prevention
Dialogue between the girls and boys about their feeling and concerns
MAGGIE SILVERSTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR GIRLS
It is with much appreciation for the generosity of the family and friends of Maggie Silverston that Visionary Women’s Centre has been able to create a scholarship fund for girls. The research now shows unequivocally that when a society educates their women and girls its people enjoy a higher standard of living on many levels.
Maggie Silverston was born in Scotland but spent much of her adult life on the Isle of Man. She worked as a physiotherapist, raised two children and was a much loved member of her community. After a long and brave struggle with motor neuron disease Maggie ded on January 21, 2016 at her home in the Isle of Man.
The criteria for eligibility for this fund is to be a girl child or adolescent who is living in extreme poverty to the point where she cannot afford the fees and uniform for school. Many of the girls are orphans who live with their Grannies. We will support girls in primary and secondary school. If they have the ability we may also try to support them in career training courses. Reflecting the nature of our Visionary Women’s Centre, this will be a modest program but one that nevertheless makes a big difference in the lives of the girls it touches which will in turn send ripples out into the community.
Our Management Committee is composed of volunteers who are dedicated professionals from the Turbo area.
They know how to move a project forward and have the respect and contacts within the community to build support and credibility for The Visionary Women’s Centre.
© 2018