Our Fursa initiative in the Kibwezi region of Kenya has been running since 2019. FURSA (meaning Opportunity in Swahili) is an initiative to assist disabled people and their families to create their own sustainable enterprises.
The Kenyan region of Kibwezi, particularly Makueni County, is mostly rural and there is a lot of poverty and literacy levels are low. There is very little public welfare and people with disabilities rely on family support to survive.
Together with Fursa initiative coordinator Dr Cecilia Nyaga and our local Disabled Peoples Organisation partners we are striving to secure sustainable future livelihoods for all Fursa group members.
Since being awarded joint pilot funding from the Welsh government’s Wales and Africa programme in 2019, our Fursa initiative initially enabled three cooperatives of disabled people and their families to trade independently in order to sustain their future livelihoods. There are now thirteen Fursa groups with over three hundred members which is a testament to project coordinator Dr Cecilia Nyaga and her team, of who have Fursa group membership lived experience.
Each Fursa cooperative group has a democratically elected committee to have control of micro loans to enable group members enterprises to develop and grow organically, in accordance to members abilities.
Loans are paid back at rate of interest that is considerably less than what money lenders demand which would normally be the only access to funds. The interest generated contributes to the groups operational expenses and support new members of the cooperatives. This has proved to be successful and many Fursa group members enterprises are now self funding or able to borrow larger amounts from the micro loan funds to develop their enterprises.
The therapeutic, financial and community benefits enterprise can provide to people with disabilities and their families is priceless.
Due to the success of the Fursa initiative further joint funding from Welsh Governments Wales and Africa Programme has enabled Fursa groups to have access to digital technology, solar power and advice on soil type/structure using organic methods to protect the environment and improve yields which is also lessening impact on the environment.
Many Fursa group members grow fruit, vegetables and grains in small plots and in areas where they live and pesticides are often the cause of illness. The Fursa cooperatives now benefiting from organic farming methods, improved growth yields, digital and solar technology and access to information is alleviating poverty and increasing inclusion .
Several of these remote communities have no access to the power grid and are now able to network in order to sustain their livelihoods. All the Fursa groups and their members have independently set up the Kibwezi Fursa PWD’s Empowerment CBO (fursalife.org).
Through lived experiences so much is being continually learned that the Fursa initiative will soon be able to be spread to other regions of Kenya and beyond.
With our partners we have been excavating to source water in Ngulu district of Makueni County in readiness to sink a solar powered bore hole due to serious drought. The high cost of transporting water into the region is creating hygiene and health concerns for poor communities.
After drilling to a depth of 200 meters in Ngulu on 17th November, water of sufficient pressure was found and water quality testing results have now been received, showing that the water is fit for domestic use.
We are are partnering with Rotary Club Kitengela and working with the Makueni County Government to ensure that all the necessary procedures will be in place for the water to managed and distributed fairly.
Climate change and water management awareness guidance have been provide to all Fursa groups and community groups throughout the Kibwezi region in order to generate a greater understanding in order to sustain the future livelihoods of all those in this drought stricken region of Kenya.
This water excavation, climate change and water management awareness project was joint funded by Welsh Government’s Wales Africa Grant scheme, administered by WCVA.
Continued support from like-minded individuals, groups and organisations enable us to co-produce projects in order to achieve our aims and continue in positive directions. Serious fund raising in order to install the necessary pumps and infrastructure by solar power is now taking place as this area is off the power grid.