- June 3, 2020 Association, Community
From Sisters Angela Faustina (LA) and Maureen Freeman, Consociate Anita S. Duckor (SP), Consociate Anne Hannahan (SP) and Associate Dorothy Hathway (A)
We introduce you to an amazing project that is staffed by sisters and ACOF who, along with Kenyan and American laity, volunteer with Kenyan school personnel assisting school children who live in one of its poorest areas.
Growing Community Roots (GCR), a nonprofit cofounded by Consociates Anita Duckor and Anne Hannahan, was established in support of the community development work that Sister Rosita Aranita began as she walked with the leaders and people in Western Kenya during her visits in 2006-2007. Their visits identified 36 schools in West Karachuonyo of the Rachuonyo District in need of potable water and safe sanitation facilities for their students. Growing Community Roots took on the task of raising funds to create and supervise the construction of these essentials.
The challenges were clear. Children need clean water for drinking and bathing. Sanitation systems are essential to prevent disease. Schools, which serve their students a nutritious lunch, need water for cooking and cleaning. Our international team’s efforts have successfully completed eight school projects, safeguarding and enriching the lives of more than 5,500 students, faculty and staff.
GCR partners with IMBO Community Action Program, a certified all-volunteer NGO in Kenya that was founded by Mary Lieta and Serphine Mambe, two Kenyan consociates. IMBO Community Action Program is also an all-volunteer organization. Our GCR Board of Directors includes representation across the congregation.
Sometimes it helps us minister to our Kenya neighbors when we understand their culture and their environment. After all, we are all “neighbors at a distance” and share similar needs. While we need to know about the schools their children attend and how children manage to attend classes, we also need to understand the value parents and educators place on education and how Growing Community Roots (GCR) supports them in their efforts. It’s a matter of hard work and love, common sense and sacrifice.
Why is our support needed? Why are basic, ordinary needs unmet despite the best efforts of good people? Here are some illustrations.
School Funding
Schools are funded by the Kenyan government and the community. The government funding used to be approximately 60% of the school’s operating budget, but it now is about 40%. Some of the poorest communities in Kenya must provide money for teachers, buildings, electricity, etc. Catholic and other Christian dominations do not provide funding even if the school names (which are selected by the community) imply sponsorship.
Shortage of Water and Dangers for Young Women
Lack of water is a continuous problem, and fetching water, often from a distance, is traditionally considered a task for girls. Girls are still subject to being targets for the local fishermen near Lake Victoria. When girls go to Lake Victoria for water, they continue to be solicited for sex by some fishermen who give them gifts. Girls are simply not safe.
Problems in Nutrition and Families
Nutrition for children is a concern due to the poverty of the areas we serve. Some families have been decimated by AIDS and a lack of adequate medical care. Grandparents may need to raise their grandchildren. Young children (girls, especially) contribute to household chores (cleaning, providing dinner for the family) so that other family members can work to earn money needed to provide for their family and pay for their education. Single mothers/fathers cannot earn enough money without the help of their children who then do not have time to devote to their studies.
Inadequate Sanitation
The lack of adequate sanitary facilities carries risks. The inability to maintain cleanliness is a clear danger to health; however it also keeps pubescent girls at home several days each month as they are unable to maintain proper personal hygiene. They miss school and miss opportunities for growth.
Learning Respect for Earth
Respect for Earth grows when students plant trees as part of the GCR required reforestation program. The Kenyan government provides seedlings and students plant them in order to remedy the effects of severe deforestation. This project also has a secondary effect of encouraging litter-free school grounds.
In summary, Growing Community Roots brings Kenya water catchment systems for the schools and families, and sanitary facilities that offer the children dignity and privacy for their personal needs. We provide fencing for their gardens that grow kale, onions, parsley and tomatoes for school lunches. One school garden included oranges, lemons, mangoes, a few wattle trees and vegetables. The children learn gardening with school-staff supervision, and the vegetables produced provide their lunch, often the only full meal some students eat.
We are committed to systemic change. Dismantling racism and building trust between GCR and Kenya’s professionals, families and children is an important component. GCR’s concern for Kenya’s children enables strong relationships with their parents and caretakers. Our ability to listen to parents, teachers and students and advocate for their needs provides a meaningful remedy to their historical deprivation and exploitation. Relationships are built on a foundation of trust and friendship, and where those are present, racism gradually fades away.
Our mission is to bring them hope. And what do they bring to us? They teach us to listen to them with great respect and love and motivate us to offer them the best we have. God willing, we will see and learn, in depth, the riches of their culture and share in the joys of their families.
To learn more and see how you can help visit growingcommunityroots.org.