The population of the community surrounding Nakuru Baby Orphanage is approximately 500,000. Poverty in the area is widespread and contributes to malnutrition and poor health amongst the adults and children.  HIV related deaths also adversely affect the community, leaving many children orphaned.

Women do most of the household work and take almost full responsibility for raising children in the home.  Due to low income and lack of running water, women spend a large proportion of their time collecting water, firewood and grinding maize.  This food processing is strenuous and time consuming and the results are often not nutritionally diverse or adequate.  In addition, mothers often do not have time and attention enough to contribute to raising the children in their care.

MIA has identified a need to build a community centre which would address multiple needs in the community.  These include:

• Educational seminars on issues such as health care, AIDS education, sex education, pre-natal care, ante-natal care and the value of good nutrition.  MIA already has accommodation huts at the orphanage which would be available to those skilled or professional people who were prepared to educate the community on these issues.

• Community events and functions such as weddings, church services, training seminars, sports hall for the school and receptions.

• Wet weather play area for children. It could be used for a ‘vacation care’ for our community children. 

Working with and educating the community is more difficult due to the lack of meeting facilities such as a community centre.  These people suffer from endemic malnutrition with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities.  As well, water collection and food processing is time consuming so mother’s do not have the time and attention to contribute to raising and educating the children in their care.  Diseases such as anaemia, malaria, pneumonia, HIV and diarrhoeal diseases are common amongst both adults and children. Access to school for children is limited by the family’s ability to purchase, school uniforms, books, desks or chairs for the students.  .

Education is the key to equipping community members with the knowledge and skills to take responsibility for their own health care and education.  Educational programs will empower people to:

• Improve their level of nutrition by teaching them to grow a variety of fruit and vegetables rather than only maize, which is not nutritionally diverse or adequate when it is the only source of food.  

• Improve the health & hygiene of the household

• Prevent the further spread of HIV & AIDS by increasing knowledge and influencing behaviour change of the community members

• Increase their awareness of the problems of drinking over-proof alcohol and glue-sniffing

• Increase their awareness of the importance of providing children with the opportunity and financial means to attend school

• Learn about self sustaining, entrepreneurial opportunities

A community facility will provide the people with an opportunity to socialise and meet for functions such as weddings, funerals and church services.

Education is foundational to the future success of the children of the community.  A community centre will provide a facility for children to participate in wet weather activities, 

literacy and numeracy programs to supplement their schooling and other social activities such as game playing and sharing.

Project Description

This project plans to build a community centre on land already purchased by MIA.  The proposed building will be 35 x 15 meters and comprise a double door entrance with two side doors and a back door.  The main auditorium will have a smaller room off each side which will be useful for counseling or speaking one-on-one with people from the community.

The building will be equipped with a fully functional kitchen, running water, electricity and six toilets.

It is proposed the building will be big enough to seat approximately 400 adults and 100 children, as well as providing standing room. 

Goal

The goal of the project is to improve the health and welfare of people living in the community in the area surrounding and including the MIA orphanage located in Nakuru.

Purpose

To provide a venue for educational activities, meetings and social activities in the community

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