The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire

Part 8 – February 6, 2015.   M words, I picture.

Today we completed our major self-assigned five-day task by working our way through a relatively close area in the village to the visit the last 7 of 47 homes.  We wanted to do a survey of every woman so we can evaluate the impact of the program over the last nine years.  So, what have we learned or verified so far?

The contribution of CLOUT Cares and to the welfare of the widows and those they touch has been far larger than we ever anticipated or appreciated.

• ·      Nearly every woman has at least one cow and many have two or three.  Cows are like savings accounts and are also a status symbol.  As we recall, when we first set foot on their doorsteps more than nine years ago, only one widow we met (Janet Usutsa) had a cow and it died from lack of proper care soon after we saw it.  The CLOUT Cares program that supplied two goats, sheep, or pigs allowed the women to work hard and eventually parlay these animals into a cow or cows of their own.

• ·       Every woman, to the last one, praised and thanked us for the positive effect that CLOUT Cares has had on their lives and those of their families through the programs it has supported, the social cohesiveness that it fostered in their small self-help group, and the longevity of the support.  We never really appreciated the importance of longevity.  Now I think we do.

• ·         The women see and say that the education program (pre-school, high school, and vocational training) has resulted in their children being well prepared academically and socially for the next step in their education and lives. 

o   The youngest children are entering kindergarten and first grade a step ahead of their peers, especially in social and organizational skills. 

o   The many high school graduates are entering the workforce or continuing their education in technical schools, colleges, and universities.  The vast majority of these young people would not have even stepped foot in a high school classroom without the support of CLOUT Cares.  Now some are in the best Universities in Kenya (e.g., Kenyatta, Egerton, and Nairobi Universities). 

o   And, many high school graduates and others who would otherwise have had to stay at home are now going to technical and trade schools with the help of CLOUT Cares.  We believed, and now the widows have confirmed, that the education program has had a major impact on the wellbeing and future of their families.    

• ·       And finally, both we and the widows can easily see that their health has improved dramatically since CLOUT Cares came on the scene some nine years ago.  Most are HIV+ and now take antiretroviral medications regularly and without stigma with the support of CLOUT Cares.  Faces are brighter, attitudes are cheerful, and hope abounds – it’s clear, and they say so.

 ·         

We are satisfied and happy too.  We'll do a formal evaluation after we return home.

Now for XXIX pictures to go with the M words.  And just think about it, what would the multiplication table you learned look like in Roman numerals?

Janet Usutsa has a cow and a calf

Janet's Kiosk

Fridah Osingo has a cow and a calf

Prisca Ifedrah has electricity 

She charges phones to earn money

And she has a cow and a calf

Monica Miluru has three cows and a calf

Ezna has a cow ans a calf and a group owned cow

Catherine Matemba has a cow that was a calf born of a group cow

Ezna Likhodio has a pig and two goats

Gladys Esemere has 3 cows and 2 calves

Sabet Ludenu has a pregnant cow, Kadogo, and an injured leg

Julianna has a cow and a calf

Cows doing their work in the field

Mary Mukasa has 2 cows and a calf

Sandy and Mary's one week old Chris (named after our son)

Noel Maasilwa has 3 cows

A young one is named Seuss

Leonida Isoyi is the mother of our first high school grad - now in teacher's college

Teresa Isoyi hss a pregnant cow and her other one was stolen

Jeredina Levi's high school graduate son, Felix died recently, 

Rose Bulemi has two calves, one named "Clout"

And the other names "Investment"

Our final visit of the day to Noel Levi

Noel has 1 cow, 2 sheep, 1 calf,

and 2 pigs

We were well fed today

And we are done with our tour for now (Rose, Terry, Sandy, Mary)

Terry and Sandy