Capacity Development
Programs & Impact
Community Grants
Women Entrepreneurs
Student Animal Husbandry
Water Harvesting & Delivery
Capacity Development
Our capacity development initiatives adhere to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) guidelines. Capacity development programs are effective:
when they are long-term and embedded in broader change processes that are owned and driven by those involved,
when they are context‐specific,
when they are as much about changing values and mindsets, as they are about acquiring new skills and knowledge.
Community Grants
Community grants initiatives work in conjunction with our One for One Scholarship Program which started in 2013. The first initiative involved giving each student a goat to raise and breed. The student goat project brought families together to work co-operatively in order to purchase calves. Individually families would not have been able to purchase a calf, but by working together they have witnessed the power of a co-operative venture.
In 2017, 22 parents or guardians, one for each student in the program, participated in a 1 week long Organic Farming and Nutrition course. in their community. Families came together to work collectively to double dig a large plot of land. This launched our community gardens where each adult was given a section land within the community garden to farm and harvest produce to consume or to sell. Families who have their own land have incorporated double digging to improve farming yield.
Women Entrepreneurs
Women in Kenya are hardworking, resourceful, and ambitious. Many who have the desire and tenacity to start and develop a small business, are quite successful. GAM has invested in Kenyan women, usually single mothers. We screen for women who have already made a personal investment to start their business, or those with a clear vision for a business venture. We monitor progress and provide direction and networking. Our partners in Kenya have experience and training in small business development which is a great asset for the women.
Student Animal Husbandry
Purchasing goats, calves, and rabbits has ignited a flame of hope within families. It has helped families of students to develop their farming capacity. We deliberately chose to involve students in these programs to help them grow in confidence and responsibility. These simple yet relatively inexpensive investments has provided food and assisted families economically. This was especially helpful during the pandemic when families suffered a lot of economic hardship.
Animal Husbandry
Calf Education Fund
Robert's Rabbit Business
Water Harvesting & Development
Water harvesting is a viable means of mitigating the devastating effects of seasonal drought. Collected rainwater can provide water for human consumption long after the rains have ended. Water harvesting is very important for capacity development. When women and children can stop daily walking long distances in search of water, they have time to attend class, grow gardens, and develop small businesses. They are able to develop as people and communities.
Initiatives
From 2011-2017, GAM implemented water harvesting initiatives in 12 communities in the arid and semi-arid lands of the Eastern Province of Kenya. These areas experience annual seasons of drought interspersed with heavy rainfall called “the short and the long rains”. We targeted remote communities where women walk long distances (10 top 20 Km) to access potable water. We installed gutters and 8000 and/or 10,000 litre water collection tanks, to harvest rainwater from the roofs of churches and schools. We also provided residential water harvesting initiatives to collect rainwater in smaller tanks for individual families.
This initiative has been very successful in assisting families and communities. Residential and community water harvesting systems are relatively inexpensive and have a tremendous impact relative to cost.
Remote Water Delivery
In January 2017, GAM purchased a Mitsubishi truck to deliver 9,000 litres of water to refill water tanks during seasons of drought. Our partners sold the water at fair market prices, and this provided funds to keep the tanks refilled. The impact was tremendous. A business venture was launched, and thousands of Kenyans now had access to potable water within their communities throughout the year.