Kibwezi Group members in Kibwezi are working on making bricks, planting tree nurseries, and beekeeping. It is hard to succeed at these activities without adequate water. The water sources are far away, and Beatrice reports that the women are often confronted by wild and domestic animals like elephants. Kilome This month, the training was on a type of poultry called Uzima or Sasso chickens. They discussed the advantages of this breed, the costs, and how to prepare for keeping them. Susan says, “We had a wonderful time, and most members were very interested some immediately ordered for chicks.” Kisau Groups in Kisau are doing well and saving to purchase multiple tanks. They trained on vegetable farming and beekeeping. They visited a member with a successful farm to learn about tree nurseries. Older groups are mentoring newer members. Kola Groups are working on vegetable and tree nurseries and also doing table banking and merry-go-round banking. The cluster trained on body fitness such as walking and jogging. Annah asks for your support and well wishes so “that every woman conquers every challenge.” Malili A Regina says that the cluster is struggling with climate change, and the weather has been unseasonably cold. Aka ma Uiini Women’s Group made sweaters and sold them. Many group members and their families are suffering from illness and hunger. Malili B Group leaders are training on record keeping and how to encourage group participation. Groups are selling ballast for construction, making sisal ropes, and doing casual labor at neighboring farms. Makueni Women in Makueni are struggling due to the economic situation in Kenya and drought. The leaders are training their groups on how to plant drought resistant crops and starting income generating activities that require less water. Several groups received training on using wonderbags and fireless cookers to save fuel and be more time efficient. Mbooni Agnes’s leadership continues to help groups be creative with their income generating activities. Kwiiyumya Women’s Group is “selling avocados like hot cakes. They all carry buckets full of avocado and sell alongside the roads.” Other groups are making school bags for children, harvesting passion fruit and tree tomatoes, and selling firewood and charcoal to help people heat their homes during this cold season. Agnes started this month’s cluster training with a question: What makes some groups do better than others?” Her answer: spiritual leaders and members, commitment, team work, no gossip, being compassionate, good training before formation, and being transparent and accountable! Tulimani This month, the cluster received training on drug abuse among the youth so that they are able to speak to their children and hopefully prevent drug use. Women are anxiously waiting for the protests in Kenya to cease. The protests are disrupting markets and making it difficult for the group members to sell their ballast and other goods. Yandue This new cluster still faces challenges as many members are not educated and are learning to overcome selfishness and meet group expectations. Agnes notes that these are common challenges in new groups and trusts the women will overcome them. Groups have been successful in selling food items including porridge and ice cream. One group is collecting sand from a riverbed to sell and another group has pounded rocks into gravel and sold it for construction projects in Nairobi.

“My dream has come true.”

Monicah (Tulimani) – Group reports this month are full of the bad news from the floods – roads and markets closed because of heavy rain, cereal harvest destroyed by rain and worms, and even “poor attendance at meetings because many members cross rivers.” Harvest is anticipated to be poor, too. Sue (Makueni) – A new group, “Petal Sisters,” has started in Makueni, and they are already starting their savings while they are being trained. Rains and flooding really disturb them, however, so that their challenges this month were “sickness and death among members, floods, mud slides and most homes swept away by water and strong winds.” Their training was on leadership and the responsibilities of their group leaders. Agnes (Yandue) – Agnes describes her new cluster thus: “Most of the women are not educated, others don’t go to church, many girls are drop-outs from school.” She asks for prayer that these circumstances would change. They were highly motivated by meeting women from all over PFP at the Work Team marketplace, so she is hopefully to see change. Susan (Kilome) – “Great and very devastating is the floods caused by heavy downpour of rain. Banks overflowed, dams, landslides, farms washed away, and others got leached, falling of houses, dropping of toilets, etc.” Beatrice (Kibwezi) – Beatrice also talks about devastation in her area, and how in their meetings they discuss how to help members’ families when life is lost. They continue to share as they are able, however, Nyota Ndongo women’s group continues to struggle. Agnes (Mbooni) – This area has really struggled with flooding and mudslides because it is hilly. Sue (Kisau) – This cluster is doing well, and with so many groups graduating but wanting to stay involved, so this last months’ strategy was around their targets, meetings and trainings. Annah (Kola) – Our new RPM is reinforcing the skills and IGAs of the current six groups, while looking for new women’s groups to join in Kola. She just trained leaders in writing minutes. Heavy rains have affected the crops, and women are feeling discouraged. Regina (Malili A & B) – Floods are a major problem in Malili, affecting houses, health, markets and movement. She says, “tarmac roads are washed away by heavy rains, no vehicle or motorbike can move.” Women have piles of rope and gravel ready for sale, and no buyers because of the situation. For many IGAs, it’s also too muddy to work, such as collecting stones and casual labor, a main activity in Malili. The group that grows and sells vegetables and fruit had to throw out their rotten produce for lack of sales.

The community views a single mother in a new light

Welcoming a new leader for Kola cluster

“I flashed back and saw how I trekked for water for so many years.”

A group that has walked the path from poverty.

February 2024: Update from our Regional Program Managers

Several years ago, two men on the Olympic Peninsula met regularly to cut and donate firewood to local auctions and families in need. Through the Sequim Sunrise Rotary Club, they learned about Path From Poverty in 2018. The men agreed that Path From Poverty was a good cause and decided to lend their support! The group of woodcutters grew by several members, men ranging from their 60s to their 90s. Each week, this team of lumberjacks meets to cut wood that has been donated by tree removal experts. The trees are cut and delivered to Jack’s home, where the lumberjacks get to work. They cut the wood into logs and then deliver the cords to the local community. Most of the cords are sold and the proceeds are donated to Path From Poverty, while some are given to families in need. In 2022 alone, the team put in 1,000 hours and drove over 6,000 miles delivering cords of firewood. Since 2016, the Woodcutters team has donated over $63,000 to Path From Poverty, making a significant impact in the lives of Kenyan women. Jack notes, “Besides the donations we make to PFP, we benefit from the exercise but mainly we enjoy each other's company and have become close friends.” Read more about the Woodcutters at the Sequim Gazette: Sequim woodcutters find friendship while raising thousands for nonprofit | Sequim Gazette