SUMMARY

Implementing Agency:                      I and I movement Youth group

Funding Agency:                                Any well-wisher

Postal Address:                                  Box 8833 Nairobi. 00100

E-mail address:                                  erickokoth34@yahoo.com

Physical address:                               Ratieny

Project Area:                          Winam Sub location

Location:                                            Kadem west

Division                                              Nyatike

Constituency:                                     Nyatike

District:                                              Migori

Province:                                            Nyanza

Project Duration:                               On-going

Amount Requested:                           US$:175,000

Contact Person:                                  Erick Ochieng Okoth

                                                Tel.+2540735780280/0723433285

Bank Account No.                              Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Homa bay branch, A/c no. 0110048568800

ABBREVIATIONS USED

AIDS:                         Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

ARH&D:        Adolescent Reproductive health and Development

ART:               Anti- retroviral Therapy

ASRH:            Adolescent sexual reproductive health

BCC:               Behavioral change communication

CBO:              Community based organization

FP:                  Family planning

GTZ:                German Technical cooperation

HIV:                Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HBC:               Home based care

IGA:                Income generating Activity

KDHS:            Kenya demographic health survey

MOH:             Ministry of Health

NACC:            National aids control council

NGO:              Non-governmental organizations

OVC:               Orphan and other vulnerable children

PLWHD:         Persons living with HIV/Aids

TB:                  Tuberculosis

VCT:               Voluntary counseling and testing

YFS:                Youth friendly services

INTRODUCTION

I and I movement youth group is a community based organization (CBO) formed in 1998 by youth residing in Kadem West sub location.

It began with 12 members which had a common interest in initiating positive change for the benefit of the community they live in. Their teamwork achievement influenced more youth and membership swelled to hundreds of youth.

The group was registered on 23/12/2004 under ministry of gender, sports, culture and social services of Kenyan government. The group got permission to collaborate with other ministries i.e.  Ministry of health, education, agriculture at the community level to effectively address project issues.

To date, the group continues with team spirit to achieve total commitment of the community in the struggle against socio-economic, political, environmental and cultural structures that causes and perpetuate poverty, ill-health and powerlessness in the community.

As a group, any amount of material, financial and technical contribution/assistance from well- wishers will be highly appreciated and appropriately employed in the project. Direct contact with the group is preferred to avoid links with corrupt government system which receives aid and does not trickle own to the CBOs.

Project Objectives

Broad

1)      To sensitize youth to actively participate on fight against HIV/AIDS in the community

2)      To mobilize youth on environmental conservation activism

3)      To initiate and promote youth friendly service/friendly dissemination centers

4)      To initiate income generating activities in the community

Specific

1)      To initiate and promote innovative behavior change communication designed depending on age and gender in the community

2)      To fight HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in all project activities and giving the opportunity to talk out the information/ benefits of VCT/ART to the community

3)      To initiate and intensify adolescent reproductive/sexual health in schools and advise to seek guidance and counseling where necessary

4)      To initiate and encourage participation on income generating activity (IGA) apart from fishing and fish mongering i.e. brick making, tree planting, vegetable and fruit farming which benefit them and the community in general

5)      To encourage socialization among youth to share ideas and help fight drug abuse

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The project area is found in Winam sub-location, West Kadem location, Nyatike division, Migori district, Nyanza province in Kenya

Winam sub location is one of the potential areas in the district in terms of economic activity. Fishing and fish mongering is the main economic activity since it covers mainly Lake Victoria shores and beaches in the district

There are two seasons in a year i.e. dry season from the month of May-October and rainy season from the month of November-April. There minor crop farming in the area due to insufficient rains

Transport and communication system is fair with murram roads which are good during dry season. Telephone/wireless mobile network is also available. There are health facilities at community level both private and public schools which the group collaborates with in its project activities/ implementation.

There are four NGOs but none of them deal with youth issues. The project area is blessed with four scenic sites which attract tourists.

PROBLEM STATEMENT                          

Constant money flow from fishing and fish mongering activity has attracted influx of foreigners from neighboring Tanzania and Uganda and other inhabitants from all over Kenya to small beaches along the lake shore, this has led to increased immorality whereby fishermen buy sex from school girls and older women enticing young boys into sex by paying for it

HIV prevalence among sexually active population in the districts is 17 %( KDHS 2006) with more cases concentrated along the lake shores (project area).

There is high rate of school drop out among youth i.e. boys joining s\fishing industry while girls being lured by money into prostitution or marriage at early age

Drug abuse is also in the rise due to easy availability and peer influence. Increased number of unplanned pregnancies which leads to life threatening abortion is also a problem. Diseases such as TB are in the rise, this proves that many residence of the area are likely to be immunosuppressed.

Main domestic fuel source is charcoal and firewood from forests which has led to land degradation. This call for re-a forestation. With the above mentioned problems, I and I youth group stands to bring a change to this community.

PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

In respect to the monthly work plan, community based forum, outreach, tournaments and school visits will be conducted. Music being a common interest of all generations will be used with the help of a mini-disco to pull crowd at the site of campaign

Interactive/participatory behavior change communication designed by youth depending on age and gender will be conducted by trained youth counselors to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and skills to youth at school and village on issues of health (reproductive/sexual health, HIV/AIDS) environmental conservation, Human rights and life in general. This will help youth in making informed choice and decision in life, create demand for better health service and build mutual understanding and trust among the key actors, community and service providers)

Clear information on where and who to contact to find acceptable, affordable and appropriate service and information designed for youth (freely where necessary). Available at convenient hours for school going youth i.e. evening and weekends.

Effective mobilization activities will be carried out to ensure that youth interests is created, motivated and influenced to take action or support initiatives that are beneficial to the community in general. Clear information on HBC for PLWHA, VCT, ART, STIs, TB and other health issues will be put clear in both school and villages campaigns

PLWHA will be involved in all areas of the project to help fight HIV/AIDS stigma which is the major cause of ART/TB treatment difficulties

Mobilization will be carried out through village gatherings, seminars, prints, youth groups post test clubs, tournaments, village tree planting day, chief barazas

PROJECT JUSTIFICATION

Effective education and counseling programs through peer education, outreach campaigns will equip youth with proper knowledge hence make informed choice and decisions o life skills to fight/prevent STIs (HIV) transmission i.e choice to:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               i.             

1. Abstinence/secondary virginity
2. Proper and consistent use of condoms
3. HIV counseling and testing
4. Delay of sexual debut
5. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of STIs and TB
6. Compliance/adherence to ART
7. Contact tracing and follow-up, being faithful to one uninfected partner
8. Avoid drug abuse hence reduce chances of risk i.e. rape
9. Choice to use family planning

With the above choices, there will be reduction in:

1. Number of school drop-ot due to unwanted pregnancies
2. Reduced death due to unsafe abortions
3. Reduced rate of HIV transmission

Initiation of income generating activities (IGA) apart from fishing for youth/community like vegetable farming will reduce dependency ratio created by unemployment since idle youth will find something to do

Farming will provide nutritional requirements to the community and PLWHA under HBC

Tree planting will give the environment attractive look, provide domestic fuel to the community, stop soil degradation, and provide timber for housing and furniture making purify air

Data kept at the project records would be of demographic importance to researchers

Group members in collaboration with the health facilities will help trace the TB treatment and immunization defaulters hence improve treatment adherence and increase effectiveness of treatment in the community.

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Training needs         

There is continuous need to train more youth counselors, youth community health workers since health HIV/AIDS knowledge keep changing and expanding day by day as research continues

Material needs

-training materials

- Income generating activity materials

- Spacious building dissemination centre

Financial Need

-         project running cost

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

There is monthly effective monitoring and evaluation of all group activities by the group officials and committee members in respect to the work plan

Quarterly monitoring is also done by representatives from the following groups/collaborators

-         ministry of health

-         CACC/GTZ

-         Ministry of gender , sports, culture and social services

Representatives from any donor willing to support the group in whichever way is highly welcome in monitoring and evaluation of the project once their contribution has been received or put in use by the group

BUDGET BY OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES 2008

Summary of Budget (in US$)

1. Training of Youth Educator/Project Service Providers