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Worldwide projects |
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Daystar Hostel - Machakos, Kenya
Swansea and Brecon MU responded to a request for funding from the Provincial Worker and Bishop. The sum of £2500 was raised towards employment of a night watchman who ensures that there is proper security and maintenance. Also the funding provided bed linen.
The MU hostel is in high demand and parents of the Daystar University students are requesting more rooms. It is hoped that the second wing will be ready within two to three years. Healthy home delivery training programme in Kitui, KenyaKitui is another of our link dioceses. Members are supporting birthing project in Kitui, Kenya by raising £3600. The project not only look after the needs of expectant mothers but aims to increase knowledge on general health issues in the community including HIV/aids, TB, nutrition. The Mothers’ Union Worker, in Kitui is overseeing the project.
There is a great need for this as mothers often deliver their babies at home. Hospitals are too far away, expensive and require mothers to possess specific items of clothing for admission. Many mothers, in low income groups, cannot afford such financial demands at the time of delivery. A small number of birthing attendants have been in role for some time but do not have the necessary up to date knowledge. Pennies into PoundsLast Christmas, after three years of drought in northern and eastern Kenya, 2.5 million people faced starvation. Many people were travelling long distances on foot each day in the hope of finding food, some even resorted to eating wild fruits, and/or contaminated maize which is a health hazard. Women, children and the elderly were worst affected by the crisis. Grants made from the Mothers' Union Relief Fund enabled MU workers in the area to purchase emergency food supplies to distribute to those in need. Swansea and Brecon MU donated £1,300 to the MU Relief Fund. Members and families were asked to think of those suffering from famine in our link dioceses in Africa and donate at least 20p each, when having their Christmas lunch and family celebrations.
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Machakos, in Kenya is one of our link dioceses.The Daystar Hostel provides basic accommodation for young women who attend the nearby university, at a reasonable charge. Accommodation is expensive in this area and the young women often turn to prostitution to earn the rent.
The Diocese of Machakos intended to put up two wings, containing 24 rooms, each wing with a common dinning hall and a kitchen. Each room was to accommodate 2 people. Financial problems, meant that the diocese managed to finish one wing. This included the installation of electricity, water and telephone. The diocese has employed a housekeeper. There is also the grounds man and a watchman. There are 12 members elected to run the hostel.
Initially, 40 women are to be trained and they will train local Home Birthing Attendants, to assist mothers in the villages. 