KIKUNDI CHA CHAWAMAKI (GROUP OF CHAWAMAKI)

CHAWAMAKI (Chama cha Wanaoishi kwa Matumaini Kilimanjaro) (The group of People Living with Hope in Kilimanjaro).

Alumni References: Ivan Martin: Imveets@aol.com

Overview:

Kikundi Cha Chawamaki was established in 2006 and has been operating under the umbrella of Kiwodea Women’s Group. This group consists of seventeen (17) members; fifteen women and 2 men who have been brave enough to go public with their affliction with HIV. Chawamaki has formalized their organizational structure with a chairperson, a finance committee, a secretary, and a treasurer. They hold regular meetings where minutes are kept and recorded.

Among the purposes of Kiwodea is to serve the needs of member organizations operating under its umbrella by researching granting sources and providing funding to individual dues-paying members through its micro-loan programmes. Kiwodea also professes to provide relevant training such as financial seminars, health seminars, business clinics, and HIV/AIDS information seminars

Chawamaki’s common plight of being marginalized and stigmatized inspired them to develop economic enterprises to support their endeavours to eventually provide outreach and shining examples to the many other HIV afflicted persons in their district. Also, the group is trying to set aside resources in a benevolent fund for the continuing support for children of members left behind as orphans.

Needs of Kikundi Cha Chawamaki:

The primary need was investment capital to:

• Create an agricultural project to produce sufficient food to feed themselves and members of the extended family which numbered approximately 102 adults and children inclusive;
• Create profitable enterprises to generate income to care for inactive members of the organization as well as to provide for children left behind as orphans;
• Support their desire to engage in an outreach programme which would target other HIV/AIDS individuals in the community who are reluctant to publicly disclose their condition; and
• Receive health and nutrition education.

The above needs of Kikundi Cha Chawamaki apparently could not be met by Kiwodea given the fact that the group has tried unsuccessful over the past 12 months to secure funding for their organization. The preconditions precluded them from ever been able to qualify for such loans. Therefore, other sources of funding needed to be located specifically to serve this group, considering their unique circumstances.




Projects Ongoing:

1. The Piggery
2. Vegetable Production
3. The Chicken Project

The Pig Project was funded with 593,000 Tsh to procure one (1) pig, eleven (11) piglets, vet and food for six months. The Chicken Project was allocated 663,000 Tsh to build a chicken coup to house at least 50 chickens, six months of feed, medicine and vet services. Both the Pig Project and the Chicken Project have been fully funded for six months. It is anticipated that these two projects will prove profitable to the extent that no further infusion of capital will be necessary.

Land is being allocated, by the Village Council of Msaranga, to the group to start vegetable production pending a formal contract between Kikundi Cha Chawamaki and the Council. The Vegetable Garden Project should provide enough food to satisfy the needs of the members with the surplus to be used to generate income; also spoilage to supplement pig feed, providing a reduction in operational cost in the piggery.

A separate bank account has been established at the National Microfinance Bank. Fifty percent (50%) of any profits from the above enterprises should be deposited into the account. These funds will serve as revolving source to fund new ventures. It was suggested that the other fifty percent be deposited into the group’s general account, twenty-five percent (25%) of which to be reserved for the benevolent fund, while the other twenty-five percent (25%) can be distributed to individual members in a manner to be decided by general membership vote.


Volunteer Activities

• Research for funding for which CBO can qualify and can then be pursued.
• Provide continuing health/nutrition seminars to reinforce good eating habits.
• Assist with business management, budgeting and accounting, cash-flow analysis, etc. These functions are critical for the success of the enterprises.
• Ongoing on site inspection and evaluation of the projects.
• Establishing a database of professionals able and willing to assist this group.
• Arrange for seminars on the execution of wills (members request).
• Follow-up on Village Council’s land contract execution.
• Follow-up with Village Council regarding agricultural specialist to assist group in crop selection, etc.
• Sharing with them on how best they can live positively.
• Sensitize the community against STIGMA which is very high.
• To share with them on how they can create and manage small projects so that they can support themselves, orphans and the seriously ill.
• Share also on how they can manage to market their products.
• Visit and support the sick in various ways.
• Strategies on fund raising in order to support the sick, the neglected children and orphans.
• Help them with project write up.
• Strengthen and coordinate networking with other HIV /AIDS NGOs within the region
• Share with the women the activities which can enable them to get immediate money
Prior to assessing the needs of Kikundi Cha Chawamaki, it was imperative to develop a mutually comfortable and respectful relationship. Cultural norms will be observed and practiced throughout the many meetings and discourse. The use of humor, in presenting new and different ideas to the group, made it easier for the members to respond, deliberate, and accept ideas that were foreign to them. (We strongly advise that ANY volunteer working with this group ought NOT to relate to members in a condescending manner. See them as proud, capable, productive, and able-bodied.)