LEADERSHIP

As we grow Nyanam, Nyanam widow mentors are at the center of supporting the realization of our mission and vision. This means, they are responsible for leading and supporting in the orientation and induction of new groups of widows, and training them in the different Nyanam programs. To make this possible, we trained 41 Nyanam widow mentors on our leadership circles curriculum and strategic plan for Nyanam’s growth.  We equipped the widow mentors with essential knowledge, skills and resources in readiness for the massive growth of the organization. The training covered communications and branding, effective facilitation, program monitoring, reporting and evaluation and a refresher training on Nyanam’s programs, activities, vision, mission. 

After the training, we were thrilled to partner with 39 of the trained widow mentors in orienting 51 groups of 1108 widows this year. Together, in September, we oriented 48 groups with a total of 1065 widows. Of the groups oriented, 34 groups of 735 widows met our eligibility criteria of becoming leadership circles with Nyanam.

We are planning to enroll the 34 groups come January 2024 in line with our mission of creating an Africa where widows thrive. This will double our impact in the community from 700 widows to 1435 widows connected and supported. 

JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Navigating land, property rights and inheritance issues is a tedious process that requires one to be mentally, financially and emotionally prepared. This year, we secured a grant with Project Redwood to support 50 Nyanam widows through their land ownership journey. To achieve this, we hosted 3 community leaders sensitization forums reaching 159 clan elders, 11 chiefs and 9 community members with knowledge and information on widows land and property rights. Further, we have trained 29 Nyanam widows on land and property rights, 10 widows' paralegals and conducted 4 legal aid clinics reaching 121 Nyanam widows with knowledge and information on their land and property rights in partnership with Transparency International and a pro bono lawyer. During these legal aid clinics, we were able to identify 25 cases needing legal support and have since filed 2 cases in court while conducting restorative justice mediation sessions for the remaining 23 cases. 

In addition to land and property rights, our dream for good housing for Nyanam widows is finally being realized. We are happy that our partnership with Onsite ICF and First Presbyterian Church has successfully built 4 dignified three-roomed modern houses for 4 Nyanam widows. Currently, the construction of 6 houses is ongoing for us to reach our target of 10 houses in 2023.  We are committed to building 60 houses in the next 5 years.

A good house equals good health. 

HEALTH

Parenting is  pivotal in every human life.  For widows,, parenting marks a new journey of being both a mother and father to her children. This year, our counselling sessions was based on our Voice of Change curriculum on "parenting in widowhood". 

In this quarter, together with our widows, we journeyed through widows parenting personal stories, analysis of widows parenting styles and group social actions. In addition, we got to explore the different parenting stages including parenting: during pregnancy, when a child is a toddler (0-5 years), teenage years, boys, girls, and adult children (parenting parents). During these discussions, widows agreed that it’s important to create a friendship relationship with your children for better parenting. 

In the three months, we conducted a total of 65 group counselling sessions to all the 29 leadership circles reaching about 500 widows every month, 83 individual counselling and 33 tele-counselling services offered. Further, led by 4 Nyanam widow CHVs, we reached 13 Leadership circles with Knowledge on HIV testing, prevention and treatment.  

Furthermore, we were able to train 165 widows from Uasin Gishu County of Trauma healing during an outreach in August. We are committed to ensuring widows mental, emotional and physical well-being is taken care of.

LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

We believe, that when all Nyanam widows are able to produce their own food, collectively we will be ending poverty among our widow community. In this quarter, led by our Livelihoods coordinator and 10 Nyanam widow mentors, we facilitated in group and at home sustainable agriculture training and follow ups to 29 LCs supporting 600 Nyanam widows with knowledge and information on innovative farming practises and water harvesting techniques.

Further, to ensure widows continue to practise their micro-business, supported by widow mentors, we trained 29 LCs reaching 504 widows on microbusiness and table banking. We are thrilled that these training continued to impact the lives of Nyanam widows and adding to our soap making training that reached 22 Nyanam widows from 14 LCs having been trained on soap making, we are positive that Nyanam widows are expanding their income sources. Our plan, is to continue exploring soap making as a cooperative business venture with the trained LCs as an alternative source of income to Nyanam widows.

We are happy to see Nyanam widow’s commitment to creating their own food using their kitchen and multistorey gardens and gain more income through micro-business.

YOUTH EDUCATION

Equipping widows children with necessary knowledge, skills and tool for improved living is a core goal in our youth programming. We are thrilled with the amazing progress our Youth Education programming is making. Through the gift we received this year from Harrison’s family under CAF, we have been able to continue engaging with Nyanam youth as we build their capacity in the different programs.  

In the month of August, led by our summer interns and the youth team, we visited and trained 397 widows' children from all 20 youth mentorship groups on sustainable livelihoods and agriculture. During these youth group visits and training, we distributed 800 pawpaw fruit tree seedlings, 20 packets of pawpaw fruit seeds, 397 hybrid chicks, and 265 packets of pads.  

In addition, as of September, we have supported 100 Nyanam widows' children each with a $50 partial secondary school scholarship paid to their schools as school fees. In total we spent $5000 support widows' children schooling journey.