Electric Aid Project of the Month

A sweeter life in Turkana, Kenya

This project aimed to upskill women's groups in Turkana - a hot dry and extremely poor province of Kenya by getting them involved in income-generating projects. The trainees were selected in consultation with the community. They received phased training in vegetable cooking, fruit preservation sweet, pastry and cake making, meat and fish preservation and soap making.

The training went well. The beneficiaries were motivated and enthusiastic. The produce of the projects is now selling across the local community, producing a real income for the women, as well as additional benefits of better nutrition and hygiene in the community. (Soap had previously been an unaffordable luxury.)

After a participatory analysis and review, the groups have decided to commercialise their sweet production and marketing, tapping into an existing market and hopefully generating a bigger income stream for the women. The overall project knowledge and capabilities are now embedded in the community; through the activities of local facilitators the know-how is spreading to a wider audience.

This project was co-funded by Aidlink and managed by MCPSA (Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle). It is an excellent example of a small project (ElectricAid's commitment was €7,000) making a big difference to a poor and vulnerable community.

ELECTRICAID