How to help needy slums children in Kenya

The Five with Drive Fanikisha Foundation
Soweto Slums, Kayole Estate, Nairobi Kenya, East Africa
P.O. BOX 5432-0056, Email: 5wdfanikisha@gmail.com, tel. +254722451987
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Members meeting held on 4th December at Shilo Community Center Prep. School at 10am.

Members Present: ............Institution:

1. Francis Kinyua................Shilo Community Center Prep. School
2. Steve Wanjie..................Wisdom Nest Community Education Programme
3. Millicent Oriyo..............MerryLand Community Center
4. Salome Muturi.................Waylight Education Center
5. Everline Nabwire..............Emmanuel Children & Care Support
6. Maureen Ombima................St. James Academy Soweto

Absent with apologies:

7. Benjamin Maina.............Country Rep. - FWD Fanikisha Foundation
8. Grace......................Highlight
9. Elijah Ngugi...............Jan-Kean Learners Center

Agenda:

1. Confirmation of last meeting minutes
2. IM-instruction materials
3. Emmanuel Children & Care Support plot purchase
4. Micro Finance
5. Library
6. Feeding program
7. Any other business

Pastor Francis said the opening prayer.

Minute 1 Confirmation of last meeting minutes

The secretary read the minutes of the last members meeting held on 23rd October at Jan-Kean Loaners Center. The minutes were confirmed.

Minute 2 Learning materials

Madam Millicent Oriyo proposed that learning materials be given priority because there is an acute shortage of textbooks and other essential learning in all schools. She was seconded by Mr. Wanjie who observed that lack of Instruction Materials was adversely affecting the academic performance of students. In a show of hands all members present passed the proposal without an opposing vote.





Minute 3 Emmanuel Children & Care Support plot purchase

Pastor Kinyua proposed that we compare all available plots as a group to enable Madam Everline of Emmanuel Children & Care Support gets a good plot at a reasonable price. Pastor Kinyua was seconded by Madam Salome who added that the group should be careful in order to avoid buying a troublesome plot. Salome continued to say that proper search should be carried out to ensure that the plot is genuine and all the papers are original documents. Mr. Wanjie added that the plot buying process go through a lawyer to make sure that everything is done within the law. Madam Millicent observed that most plot owners are asking between Kshs 400,000 to Kshs 500,000 for their plots on sale. The proposal was passed by 5 votes for and one vote against.

Minute 4 Micro Finance

Pastor Kinyua informed the meeting that Mr. Francis Maina is proposing that a micro finance be started so that parents can have access to small loans for income generation. This according to Mr. Maina would enable parents pay school fees for their children and at the same time support their families financially.

Mr. Wanjie observed that the idea of starting a micro finance is a great one and therefore should be extended to cover all community members to help fight poverty in Soweto slums and its environs. He added that the first priority should be given to school parents.

Madam Salome proposed that social security be used as the loan guarantee systems (security) to enable slum borrowers take credit because they have no other form of credit security that they can use to borrow money from the micro finance. She added that borrowers be organized in groups of 5 people well known to each other. A loan taker will be guaranteed by other group members so if one defaults on loan repayment the group as a whole is responsible for the defaulter and thus will pay the unpaid loan balance.

Salome continued to say that there be a small interest of 8% charged on each loan to enable slum dwellers access and repay loans. At the same time this interest will ensure that the loan fund grows.

Millicent said that borrowers save for at least 3 months before accessing credit and that the loan is 3 times one’s savings. The groups of 5 signs to allow one of its members take a loan. Everline Nabwire’s contribution was that every borrower should sign an affidavit before a commissioner of oaths before they can be allowed to take a loan. She said that regular weekly savings be made compulsory for anyone in need of credit facility from the Micro Finance. Everline observed that a micro finance can really help fight Soweto slums poverty.




Maureen Ombima in her contribution said that the schools be allowed to borrow from the Micro Finance and be given a loan repayment grace period of 4 months at interest rate of 5%. Maureen added that member schools be given up to 6 years to repay the loan because the intention of the schools, the Micro Finance and 5WD is first and foremost to help poor slum children get education and not to make profits.

A school can borrow funds to start a project to help sustain and contribute to the school’s income-sustainability is important, said Maureen. All members present felt that the Micro Finance is an important tool for fighting community poverty and thus the motion was passed without an opposing vote.

Minute 5 Community Library

Mr. Wanjie proposed that a library project be started to serve students in member schools such as Shilo, Meryland, Emmanuel and Wisdom Nest and all community children in Bahati zone of Soweto slums. He added that it’s important to serve all the children in this zone regardless of which school they attend. Members agreed that a community library would do a lot of good to all the children in Soweto slums. Thus the meeting agreed that the library be built at Shilo Community Center Prep. School and Pastor Kinyua agreed to offer his center to host the Library project.



Minute 6 Feeding Program

Millicent Oriyo proposed that every school start and maintain a feeding program to help children stay in school. She observed that a significant number of children miss school because of hunger. She was seconded by Everline who said that a hungry child can’t pay attention in class. She noted that many children in Soweto slums go without food thus making learning so difficult for them.

Minute 7 Any Other Business

There being no other business the meeting was closed by a word of prayer from Millicent. The meeting ended at 1.15pm.

Signed:

Secretary……………………………………………………………Date…………………

Chairman……………………………………………………………Date…………………

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