Official Peace Corps Information on Programs in Kenya
Since 1965, the Peace Corps has been assisting the government of Kenya in meeting its development needs by providing skilled Volunteers in a variety of disciplines. It is one of the largest Peace Corps programs in Africa.
Peace Corps Volunteers support development in four key areas: economic development, education, the environment, and public health. To contribute to Kenya's economic development, Peace Corps focuses on activities which support creation of new jobs and income generating opportunities. Because Kenya exports teachers of math and science, there is an estimated shortage of 6,000 teachers in these subjects. The country faces challenges in improving the quality of all education, but especially in the areas of math and science. With an important focus on gender equity, the country is also seeking to expand girls' access to education and retention in secondary schools. In 2000, Peace Corps/Kenya launched a scholarship program for girls which will be expanded to include orphans of individuals who have died from AIDS. In addition, the Kenyan government continues to stress the importance of providing education to children with special needs so that they can be fully contributing members of society. The improvement of environmental health is also key to the government's preventive health care strategy, primarily in rural areas, where 80 percent of Kenyans live. To reduce environmental degradation, Peace Corps Volunteers promote environmental education and agroforestry with ministries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations.
Education
Volunteers assist the Kenyan Ministry of Education to meet the need for trained teachers in math, physics, chemistry, and biology. Over the past year, Volunteers increased their efforts to incorporate issues of HIV/AIDS and environmental awareness into their lesson plans. In addition to their teaching duties, Volunteers continue to be actively involved in extra-curricular activities at their schools and in their communities. Many have engaged in activities which help to ensure greater access to secondary schools for local students, such as the construction of classrooms, laboratories, dormitories, and libraries. In addition, teachers are initiating discussions about the importance of educating girls. They make an effort to incorporate female education themes into their lessons and evaluate the curriculum to reduce gender stereotyping. Female Volunteers serve as role models to girls, and are also available to their students as a resource for information on gender roles and self-esteem, as well as family decision making and safe motherhood.
In response to the Kenyan Ministry of Education's focus on education for children with special needs, the Peace Corps reintroduced deaf education in primary schools and integrated deaf education into other aspects of its education project. In addition to teaching, Volunteers conduct community outreach to educate parents and the community about deafness and the importance of providing support to deaf children. They also give deaf sensitization talks at secondary schools.
Volunteers have successfully created a more conducive learning environment for their students, improving access to necessary resources such as books, stationery, sports equipment, and potable water.
Health
Volunteers work with counterparts in the Kenyan Ministry of Health to support communities' efforts in addressing their public health needs. This includes hygiene education, sanitation improvements to prevent water-borne diseases, and HIV/AIDS education to reduce the incidence of the disease among youth and women. Volunteer activities focus on preventive health and changing attitudes and behaviors in the communities where they live and work. In response to the dramatic effect of HIV/AIDS on the country's development, the Peace Corps has launched a Crisis Corps program to strengthen the capacity of the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide prevention and care.
One Volunteer is working with teachers in his community to help change notions about the nature of AIDS and how HIV is transmitted. He succeeded in encouraging people living with AIDS to come to community meetings. As a result, a youth group has been formed that brings together other youth from different provinces to help educate their community members about HIV/AIDS.
Agroforestry/Enviromental Education
Agroforestry Volunteers are working with Kenya's Ministry of Environment, Department of Forestry, NGOs, and community-based organizations to reduce environmental degradation in Kenya. Working with district and village-based extension agents, they target schools, women's groups, and farmers to increase the use of environmentally appropriate practices and to promote the use of energy conservation techniques and energy saving devices. These efforts have resulted in less reliance on firewood for fuel and a greater awareness of environmental issues.
One Volunteer has worked with farmers in her community to develop an integrated pest management program. The program introduced a combination of farm practices that provided the most cost effective, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable methods for managing plant diseases and other pest problems. By preserving the natural assets of the land it is hoped that the program will create long term sustainability and produce a higher crop yield for local farmers.
Small Enterprise Development
Volunteers are helping Kenyans address unemployment and alleviate poverty by focusing on income generating opportunities and micro-enterprise development. They upgrade business skills of local entrepreneurs, and help them gain access to credit. In addition, Volunteers are now assigned to technical institutions to assist with computer literacy and the use of information technology in business practices. Through a variety of activities, Volunteers provide capacity building among women, youth, community-based organizations, and local NGOs. Volunteers also play a key role in expanding Kenya's Women In Development initiative.
One Volunteer worked with a shoemaker to improve the design of a sandal to meet standards required for the world market. The Volunteer then facilitated the export of the improved sandals to the United States, realizing a profit of $400. The Volunteer also successfully introduced locally produced jewelry for sale on eBay, the online trading site, fetching a sizeable profit from this endeavor as well.