Economic Empowerment For Dwellers of Mukuru Slum
Written by Shakur, VICCO Chairperson, a beneficiary of the Rotary Club of Lavington Jioni
First engagement as COVID-19 hit
When we first met with the Rotary Family team last year it was a blessing to the Mukuru Community. Together we identified critical needs lead by the VICCO team (A Community based organization called Viwandani Comprehensive Community Organisation) as the most important priority at the time. Covid-19 had led to a number of community members losing their jobs and access to three meals was a challenge. The first benefit we received was food packages. We distributed dry foods to over 300 families that were identified across Mukuru Sinai and Jamaica slums.
Economic activities for the youths and community members in the slums of Mukuru
Before the Rotary of Lavington Jioni, the youths were collecting garbage in the slums without proper safety gear like gumboots, overall, industrial gloves, wheelbarrow, and Handkart (Mkokoteni) for transport. This really exposed the youth to unhealthy working conditions and were always falling sick with communicable infections. There was low efficiency as we were collecting garbage from 300 households only. We felt we could do more.
Rotary Club of Lavington Jioni through their Youth Empowerment program donated to us full safety gear and equipment. We have now recruited 20 more community members and youths Due to better working conditions, the visits to the hospital or local pharmacy have been reduced. We are also able to increase the number of households from 300 to 500. We have managed to sensitize the community members on the importance of keeping our environment clean. Our returns have increased and we are now able to get a little more into our pockets to feed our families as well as save and pay school fees. By cleaning our Ghetto we get to live a happy life.
Through the Rotary Club of Lavington Jioni, we have also added a Children Day Care business, whereby women can safely leave their children for a fee as they go to look for casual jobs in the nearby industries. This initiative has offered a rotational economic opportunity to the young mothers in Mukuru Sinai slums.
Through the Rotary Club of Lavington Jioni, we have managed to install and introduce an internet reseller business in the slum. We connect households to the internet and charge our clients a monthly subscription fee. These funds are used to support group activities as well as support our daily lives.
Social amenities
Through the Rotary Club of Lavington Jioni, we have managed to establish a Community library by the name of ‘Catch Them, Young’. By creating a safe and conducive environment, children from the entire Mukuru slum area come for their studies in the library in the morning and evening hours of the day.
Regards
Vicco Chairperson
