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Women are the future for Mgongeni and Kenya. They take responsibility for the children
and are the main breadwinners in most families. They wake every morning knowing
that they have to earn £1 that day to give their children a basic meal. They do
not have permanent jobs and rely on their inbuilt ingenuity and survival instincts
to exist.
Tausi women's group
Under Kenyan law women have equal rights but in reality this is ignored and tribal
laws based on a patriarchal society take precedence. The law fails to support women
who complain. In a male dominated society domestic violence is endemic: women are
subjected to abuse and beatings and are often abandoned with the children.
Mustard Seed is working to empower women, to give them the courage, determination
and confidence to fight for their rights and to start their own businesses so that
they can be independent.
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In Kenya there is a tradition of women forming small self-help groups to support
each other. Pilot programmes are working with 10 of these groups providing
training, education, advice and support
to start businesses, arrange microfinance and
demand their rights to equality.
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Taratibu Women's Group
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The women have set up and registered The Mgongeni Development Committee (MDC). It
is fully constituted and has representatives from each of the women’s groups. Mustard
Seed is working with this organisation to introduce
urban horticulture,
health care,
education, social reform and economic independence to the many single
parent families.
Major concerns for women and children are the lack of any affordable
healthcare facilities in the community and the inadequate supply of
clean water. Many people die of treatable disease including 15% of children
who die before their fifth birthday mainly from water borne diseases. Mustard Seed
is beginning to address these serious issues by building a well, providing
basic health training and setting up a first aid station with a nurse and
midwife. Progress is slow through shortage of funds.
Updated January
2011
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