Kenya
Above: Sunset on the Savanna
Kenya is a varied and captivating land, with a rich landscape and a long history.
But with the second largest slum in Africa, Kenya offers a unique and diverse challenge. Constant political turmoil and prolonged violence have wreaked havoc on the poor, the uneducated, and the unemployed. With upcoming elections in 2027, even the working class faces uncertainty as politicians vie for power with vapid promises of "prosperity for all," fostering a false hope.
1 By One works with people who live in the slums to bring assistance to those most in need.
Catherine is a volunteer who offers help to those most in need. She is the heart and soul of 1 By One in Nairobi.
Her compassion, coupled with her intimate knowledge of the slums of the city, make her invaluable in vetting beneficiaries and in providing assistance.
Right: Catherine at a dumping site
NOTE: Costs below are estimates, as the exchange rate can vary slightly.
PICTURE OF CATHERINE
Our Beneficiaries
These projects seek support to help the beneficiary achieve self reliance and improve their quality of life.
Assistance from the organization will have a long positive impact on the individuals and families.
Remember -- you can always designate funds for specific causes!
The slums of Kibera
Many young girls in the slums of Nairobi can't afford sanitary towels/pads. 1 By One is looking to buy SunnyGirl pads wholesale at $35 for 48 boxes that include 8 pads per box. We will distribute 3 boxes (24 pads) to each girl at a cost of a little more than $2.
$35 supplies sanitary pads/towels to 16 young girls.
1 By One is planning to distribute these towels to ~150 girls at schools and centers in the slums at a cost of around $350 per school, as funds are earmarked.
Fatima (below) was abandoned as an infant in the slums and rescued by a family that is raising her as their own. She has recently started pre-school and uniforms are required but not provided by the institution. In Kenya, books and supplies -- even in public schools -- are not provided but must be purchased.
1 By One is looking to provide educational opportunities for youths of all ages by paying for their Form 1-through-4 expenses.
("Form" is what they call their term sessions, four per annum.)
1 By One is currently paying for three students' form fees
(two pre-school and one secondary school).
Help Support a Child's Education!
Pre-school cost per form: $~166 (includes $31 for meals)
Elementary cost per form: $~186 (includes $31 for meals)
Secondary (grades 9-12): $~300 (includes meals/board)
And for only $31/month, we can provide school meals
for families of students that can afford only the school fees.
The slums of Mathare
Catherine at a volunteering site
Rose
Rose is a 56-year-old widow with two children living in Nairobi,Kenya. She survives by washing peoples' clothes but often lacks clients because of her age and health. She therefore has no stable source of income and struggles to provide food and school fees. Her home offers inadequate refuge from the elements because of holes in the roof and exposed wiring (landlords in Nairobi are not quick to remedy such things).
Objectives
a) Provide immediate food support
b) Provide capital to establish a sustainable business so that Rose can relocate to a safer home
Proposed Activities
Food support: Monthly food package for 6 months
Business support: Capital for a small retail kiosk
Training: Basic business and financial management training
Budget
Item Cost (USD)
Food support: $46/month for 6 months = $270
Business capital: $300
Training: $75
Total expenditure: $645
Catherine (left) with Rose
Business Loan Opportunities
<--- This is Grace Wangare (third from the left),
Grace is in her late 50s. She has 10 children and 4 grandchildren and has provided for her entire family by sorting waste for the past 10 years.
Objectives
To empower Grace's socio-economic well being and enable her meet her basic needs sustainably.
Proposed Activities
Grace now sells the waste to brokers, who sell it for three-to-four times more to the companies that use it. Grace can offer to purchase waste from other workers and offer them more than the brokers would, and then sell the waste directly to the companies herself, avoiding the middle man and making more than she does as a single worker.
Plastic -35 per Kg
White paper -15 per kg
Brown paper -20 per kg
Iron -50 per kg
This would require the purchase of a weighing scale for the waste and the rental of a secure warehouse for temporary storage.
These project seeks support to help the beneficiary turn her dreams to reality. They say garbage is wealth and these is a million dollar industry. She will be able to improve her life and still employ people to work for her therefore touching many households through her business.
Budget Item Cost (USD)
Heavy duty gloves (6 pairs @ $5/pair) = $ 30
Safety boots (6 pairs @ $6.75/pair) = 41
Reflective Safety jackets (2 @ $12 each) = 24
Protective overalls 4 @ $15 each = 60
N95 respiratory masks (15 @ $2.65 each) = 40
Vaccinations (incl. Hepatitis B) = 48
Sorting sacks/bags = 50
Handcart/trolley = 250
1 Digital Weighing Scale = 125
Extensive First aid kit = 80
Sorting table/platform = 80
Small storage space rental for 6 months @ $160/mo = 960
Storage containers = 120
Record books = 40
Transport budget = 125
Scrap purchasing capital = 400
Total expenditure for small business loan: $3,606
Workers at the waste site
A close-up of
the toxic waste