This is part of a series of articles, here at African Christian, that profile African Churches that are working to fight poverty in Africa. We believe the hope of Africa is the local church and prayer for more leaders and churches to be raised up who will lead the way in Africa and world in showcasing how local churches and care for and alleviate local poverty.
The Nairobi Chapel
The benevolence of the Nairobi chapel can witness by the number of individuals who have benefitted from the ministry. The Nairobi chapel tries to address the personal needs of different individuals affected by poverty in Kenya and in particular the Kibera slum. Kibera slum being the second largest informal settlement in the world and the second in Africa has many cases of human suffering stories which can only be described as heart breaking. Some of the stories from Kibera give us the reality of what affects the poor in the slum and especially women and children who are more venerable. Apart from the personal story, the winner chapel has been a key sponsor for Beacon of hope, an initiative by Jane Gathome, a woman who saw need of dealing with the negative effects of HIV/ AIDS and its contribution to poverty in Kenya. Beacon of hope is based in Ongata Rongai in Kenya,
The mission of Beacon of hope
“The mission of the Beacon of Hope is to bring hope to women living with and affected by HIV/AIDS within poor communities by empowering and equipping them to meet their spiritual, physical, emotional, economic and family needs in a sustainable way.”
The organization hopes to achieve this by engaging the women affected by HIV/AIDS in income generating activities so as to sustain themselves and their families, training them on basic business skills to equip them in opening sustainable enterprises, assisting the children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, providing counseling services to women affected by the scourge, providing women affected by HIV/AIDS access to networks that assist them in getting necessary resources and harnessing the resources for their development. This will assist in reducing poverty in Kenya.
Projects
Vegetable garden- The women in Ongata Rongai have come up with a vegetable garden to grow foods that would assist them in meeting their dietary requirements and to raise some money for necessities.
Business training- This program is aimed at passing business skills to the women for them to start businesses for them to sustain themselves and their families.
Training on home based care– The women are taught on how to take care of themselves so as to live quality lives despite being infected or affected by the HIV/ AIDS problem.
Voluntary counseling and Testing (VCT)– These services are offered to encourage people to know their status. By knowing their status, they can effectively deal with life, if infected, one can take good care to live positively and if not, then one can take steps and avoid being infected.
Orphaned child care and support– The parents who die from the HIV/AIDS pandemic leave behind children who suffer and contribute to the vicious circle of poverty and contributing to poverty in Kenya. The program is aimed at giving the children shelter, clothing, food, education, medical care and security. Without parents the children remain vulnerable and are easy targets for exploitation and abuse.
The Nairobi chapel by supporting this noble initiative has contributed immensely in the reduction of poverty in Africa.
We’d love to hear the story of how your church is working to end poverty in your community – Make a comment below or email us your thoughts.
More information or to contact the church – CLICK HERE
Thanks for keeping me updated we are eradicating poverty in a remote area outside Nairobi.In Laikipia North by educating children importance of education.That we may decrease school drop outs,Fgm in the area,Teaching them about HIV/AIDS and how to take care of People Living With Hiv/AIDS.How can we get connected to you and give personal touch to this people.We are doing this as a charity event that we will do follow up by educating the community on all mentioned above..Regards Peris