What We Do
The Centre for Advocacy and Interventions on Talent, Healthcare and Sanitation (CAITHS)- also nicknamed "Okoa Maisha" (saves lives) Centre is a CBO which works with the communities in Rusinga Island to holistically and primarily address issues of education and talent development; healthcare improvement and sanitation among the vulnerable orphans and widows living in Rusinga Island through broader and fairer methods of advocacy and interventions.
Rusinga is an Island on Lake Victoria where fishing is the MAIN economic activity. Rusinga Island records the highest percentage of deaths caused by HIV/AIDS and STIs, as a result, many orphans and widows are left behind helplessly. These vulnerable families (orphans and their widowed mothers/caretakers) move in different beaches around the Island in search for fish to sell. Because of this movement, these vulnerable orphans drop out from schools, and in most cases, some do not attend school completely and resort to fishing, criminal activities and early marriage or premarital sex (for girls), this increases rate of ignorance, HIV/STIs infections, poverty and socio economic insecurity in the Island. On the other hand, widows and young orphan girls move in different fishing villages buying and selling fish which they get in exchange with unprotected sex with fishermen. This act puts HIV/AIDS infections and unwanted pregnancies in the rise in the Island. These families also live in poor health status and poor sanitation. The CAITHS target this vulnerable population and aims at protecting, empower and give them physic-economic support in improving their living standard.
The Centre uses Volunteer Network System as a method to deliver to the target group and getting the community involved in addressing these issues affecting them. The Centre also uses international (nonprofessional and professional) volunteers in different fields (education, health/sanitation or different talents) that may show interest in offering their service to the Community. Currently the selected target group converge for training sessions every evening, weekends and when the schools are closed (for school going orphans). However The CAITHS have a future plan of creating an academy for these vulnerable children.
SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
1. An Academy: providing a learning institution (currently age 18mos-8 years) and talent developement platform for orphan children living in Rusinga Island
2. Community Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Program (WASH): targeting households and fishing beaches where our clients/vulnerable kids live
3. HIV Education, counseling and testing: targets those who are living with HIV and those who are at risk of acquiring HIV.
4. Girl-child Health and Education Initiative: Providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education plus the provision sanitary towels to the vulnerable school girls and the school drop-outs
5. Youth and Women Empowerment: targeting vulnerable youth and widows living in the Island to direct them to activities that better their health and livelihoods.
6. Tree Planting and Management Initiative: targeting environment management in the Island to help ease deforestation and crop loss
The Centre for Advocacy and Interventions on Talent, Healthcare and Sanitation (CAITHS)- also nicknamed "Okoa Maisha" (saves lives) Centre is a CBO which works with the communities in Rusinga Island to holistically and primarily address issues of education and talent development; healthcare improvement and sanitation among the vulnerable orphans and widows living in Rusinga Island through broader and fairer methods of advocacy and interventions.
Rusinga is an Island on Lake Victoria where fishing is the MAIN economic activity. Rusinga Island records the highest percentage of deaths caused by HIV/AIDS and STIs, as a result, many orphans and widows are left behind helplessly. These vulnerable families (orphans and their widowed mothers/caretakers) move in different beaches around the Island in search for fish to sell. Because of this movement, these vulnerable orphans drop out from schools, and in most cases, some do not attend school completely and resort to fishing, criminal activities and early marriage or premarital sex (for girls), this increases rate of ignorance, HIV/STIs infections, poverty and socio economic insecurity in the Island. On the other hand, widows and young orphan girls move in different fishing villages buying and selling fish which they get in exchange with unprotected sex with fishermen. This act puts HIV/AIDS infections and unwanted pregnancies in the rise in the Island. These families also live in poor health status and poor sanitation. The CAITHS target this vulnerable population and aims at protecting, empower and give them physic-economic support in improving their living standard.
The Centre uses Volunteer Network System as a method to deliver to the target group and getting the community involved in addressing these issues affecting them. The Centre also uses international (nonprofessional and professional) volunteers in different fields (education, health/sanitation or different talents) that may show interest in offering their service to the Community. Currently the selected target group converge for training sessions every evening, weekends and when the schools are closed (for school going orphans). However The CAITHS have a future plan of creating an academy for these vulnerable children.
SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
1. An Academy: providing a learning institution (currently age 18mos-8 years) and talent developement platform for orphan children living in Rusinga Island
2. Community Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Program (WASH): targeting households and fishing beaches where our clients/vulnerable kids live
3. HIV Education, counseling and testing: targets those who are living with HIV and those who are at risk of acquiring HIV.
4. Girl-child Health and Education Initiative: Providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education plus the provision sanitary towels to the vulnerable school girls and the school drop-outs
5. Youth and Women Empowerment: targeting vulnerable youth and widows living in the Island to direct them to activities that better their health and livelihoods.
6. Tree Planting and Management Initiative: targeting environment management in the Island to help ease deforestation and crop loss
