Rachel's Development Programme
Rachel's Development Programme is a National Kenyan NGO that has worked with rural Kenyan communities for the past five years. The organisation has been particularly active in Thika District, where it was founded. It also runs a Children's home which takes care of orphaned girls.
For several years, Rachels Development Programme has worked with women's groups, church groups, self-help groups (small-scale enterprises) youth clubs and other organised groups in several initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty amongst the rural poor in Thika District.
The situation is compounded further by the fact that this area has been virtually neglected by organisations working in the area of HIV/AIDS.
Origin
Rachel's Development Programme was started in 1995, initially registered as a Community Based Organization (CBO) based at Kamwangi Division- Thika District. It was duly registered as a National NGO in July 2003 under the NGOs Act. The organization works in collaboration with Self-help groups and is currently associated with many self-help groups in Thika DistrictKenya.
Philosophy
Rachel’s Development Programme believes in participatory approaches to community development. The NGO believes that communities are endowed with resources, which, if properly and effectively utilized, can bring about sustainable development. Community ownership of the project is the hallmark of the organization. Indigenous technical knowledge is an avenue of community mobilization and development. The NGO believes that poverty can only be fought through joint effort with the communities.
Focus
Rachel’s Development Programme’s focus is support and care of orphans and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS, Widows and people living with AIDS (PLWAS) using community centred approaches supported by our partners.
Rachel's Development Programme
P.O. BOX 1065 - 01000 THIKA - KENYA
TEL: (+254) 067 22844
(+254) 020 228835
MOBILE: +254 720468777
EMAIL: info@rachelsdep.org
WEBSITE: www.rachelsdep.org
Mandate
Rachel’s Development Programme being a legal entity with a legal status to work as National NGO after being registered under section 10 of NGO?S Coordination Act. Certificate number PO 218/051/2003/082/2687.
Mission
The NGO initially started as a merry go round Table Banking Programme that was assisting rural women to fight poverty, ignorance and diseases. The initial merry go round had twenty members who used to meet every Saturday of the week to ballot for winning numbers in the merry go round. During these meetings, issues related to HIV/AIDS, sustainable agriculture and micro credit were discussed. This merry go round committee registered itself into a community-based organization and subsequently to an NGO with its activities initially based in Thika District and later growing to all the eight Provinces namely: Nairobi, Central, Eastern,Coast, Western, Nyanza,Rift valley and NorthEasternProvinces.
Vision
Rachel’s Development Programme vision is that of a community without poverty, ignorance and diseases.
This vision can be realized by fighting poverty, HIV/AIDS and other diseases by creating awareness, education and capacity building for the NGO primary stakeholders.
Objectives
The main objective is poverty alleviation while the specific objectives are:
* Provide food security, nutrition and income generation activities in the largest areas of Thika, Kiambu, Machakos District and NairobiProvince.
* Support and care of PLWAS, orphans and vulnerable children.
* Community health: Malaria, HIV/AIDS/ Tuberculosis.
* HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
* Cultural activities and community empowerment.
* Community capacity building.
* Human right advocacy.
* Revolving Micro-credit.
* Fight against female genital mutilation (FGM).
* Care and continuum of PLWAS and people with disabilities.
* Reduce chances of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS through pregnancy and breastfeeding (PMTCT)
* Water and sanitation
The NGO has been working with many Self-help groups hence thousands direct beneficiaries in poverty alleviation project especially HIV/AIDS, food security and micro- credit. The NGO is working with many orphans and Scores of people living with AIDS.
Ongoing Projects
* FREE MEDICAL CAMPS: Over 5000 people have benefited through outreach mobile clinics at Kiandutu, Githurai and Kiambogo in Thika District.
* Voluntary counseling and Testing (VCT): The NGO has a stand by VCT centers at Gatukuyu and KanyoniVillages.
* Orphans and vulnerable children care and support: A rescue home is going on at Mwea village Plot number 36 with eighty children who are provided with basic needs, community re-integration and early childhood education (ECD).
* Income generation activities: Carpentry, welding, mechanic and salon trades are going on at Mwea village field office to assist youth out of school PLWAS and girl children.
* Community Development: Home based care training activities, business management seminars revolving micro-credit, kitchen soup project and food groups activities and capacity building for self- help groups.