In the Village

HIV and AIDS in the Village

The May 2011 Kenya team had a unique opportunity to serve alongside a new project group outside of Kisumu, Kenya, in a small community called Nyahera. There, we were introduced to "The Amazing Support Group" and...they truly were AMAZING!
This project group was started by a woman in the community who stood at the OPOS training session held there, and proclaimed that she was HIV positive. This is not something that most Africans will say out loud....there is so much of a stigma associated with HIV and AIDS that most people keep their secret locked away and pray no one ever finds out. But this one brave woman, Lydia, stood in front of the session and not only proclaimed her status, but asked others who were HIV positive to stand with her to form a group that would help eliminate the stigma in their community while coming alongside each other for support. To everyone's surprise, more than 60 people raised their hands when asked "Who is with me?"!
This began The Amazing Support Group's journey and today, they are sharing not only their positive status, but all they have with their community. Group members contribute food, money, time and love to those who need it most. We witnessed one beautiful example of this love when we visited with Judith. She was so weak from the disease and a lack of food that she could barely sit up to talk with us. The Amazing Support Group had come alongside Judith to bring her food to help nourish her body, brought her the ARV drugs she needs to combat the disease, and they also volunteered to stay with her during her recovery period. It was such a blessing to see such love poured out on her!
On the day we visited, Judith sat and cried with us...she didn't have the strength even to stand. We prayed for her and her host, one of the Amazing Support Group members, told us "If you come back in two weeks, you will see a new person! She will be up and walking and healthy.".
Well, we took up that challenge and team members Tanner Colton, Kolena Allen (both from Seattle) and Jessica Dehlin (Chicago) returned to visit Judith about two weeks later. Not only was she up and around, she danced for them! What a joyous moment that was as Judith's smile spread across her beautiful face. This was a smile born of love for one another, a smile brought directly from one heart to another. It was truly AMAZING!
As the group moves from home to home they are also planning on moving from community to community to do all they can to eliminate the stigma HIV and AIDS has in their homes. They will train other communities to support rather than ignore their positive community members and provide them with training on issues the Amazing Support Group has already overcome. This group is a model for others and is really an excellent role model for project groups in the Village Care family. This is what Village Care is all about....caring for each other using your own resources to be self-sustaining and fruitful.

Without donations from our wonderful supporters in the US, VCI would not be able to continue doing the OPOS training sessions across Africa. It's because of your donations that these fantastic groups are sprouting across East and West Africa now.

Our vision is to have VCI communities in every African country, but to do this we need your help. Please consider a contribution today so that more and more wonderful people like Lydia and Judith can receive this great training and start their lives anew!
Thank you!

Please read all about the May Team's experiences in the Village Care blog!

Team members make a difference!
An excerpt from a letter from Andrew Mott (Cincinnati, OH), VCI extended stay team member in Kisumu, Kenya, dated September 23, 2010, written to his July VCI team members:

I just wanted to send you all another quick update from today, working at St Elizabeths Childrens Center. As a reminder, here is the excerpt from your time here in Kisumu in July for the day we visited the center, written by Cara Cooney:
"At St. Elizabeth’s we did follow up health checks from the October team.  We also added new children to the progress reports and took their photos.  Most children were very healthy but there were a few that needed medical attention due to malaria, fever, persistent coughs, etc. One young girl was really sick with fever, diarrhea and vomiting. We left 2,000 ksh (about $26 USD) to take the children to the clinic. Pastor Jack facilitated the money exchange and clinic visits."

Team, if you can remember that young girl we saw in July cuddled up in her bed with no blanket.... alone.... and very, very sick. Well, today I got to meet that young girl once again and she was happier than ever. Within minutes after we had left that day in July the staff was able to take her to the clinic to get the proper medication to treat the malaria. Within one weeks time she was doing much, much better. Praise God!
    Also, if you can remember two children in particular we came across during our medical assessments that were seriously ill. The staff told us the two children had just finished a malaria treatment but it had no effect. Due to our expressed concerns with those children during the assessments, staff members took them both to the clinic a few hours after we had left. It turns out both of them were suffering from typhoid which is why the malaria treatment had no effect. These children were given the typhoid treatment regimen and were doing much better within a week. Again, praise God!
    So, if any of you allow the thought that you didn't change a life while you were in Africa... Please notice that is not true at all.
If it weren't for the VCI assessments, the children would not have gotten to treatment.
If it weren't for us visiting, the young girl in bed wouldn't have had funds to go to the hospital.
If it weren't for our visit, the young girl in the slum would still be shoeless and sickness could have progressed to something worse.
If we didn't greet people with smiles, with Gods warmth and love, they would have been left feeling empty, forgotten and unloved.
With the simplicity of our presence, we were able to put a smile on God's children’s faces and most definitely put a smile on God himself.
Though your time here in July was only a mere two weeks, God allows miracles to happen in mere seconds. We don't need a month, a year or a lifetime to change a life.
All we need is one second’s time, one opportunity, and if we embrace that opportunity, we can change that person’s life - forever.

Community work in the Village -

Community discussions and planning sessions help engage the entire community in the process of development. Everyone is invited to participate, young and old, men and women, leaders and followers....everyone. Currently, over 300 communities are involved in the Village Care process of initiated change. Below are examples of what communities have done to improve the lives of everyone in their community.

Read more updates from the VIllage Care Blog.

Amanawa Community

The Amanawa VCI adult education program began soon after they received the Outcomes training. Samuel Bane along with Ibrahim Danke (volunteers) have so far transformed 20 illiterate adults to literate adults who can now read and write.

Bwonpe, Nigeria

The families of the kids were recently challenged by the committee to provide beds even if it is a locally made one so that every child will sleep on a dry bed that above the floor. About 20 families have responded to this and were able to provide local beds, though most of them are yet to get mattresses, some have local mats on the beds. This I see is a step forward in achieving the outcomes for children.

Bagusa, Nigeria

The community is currently helping two vulnerable children. The community enrolled them in school, bought uniforms for them. Three women from Bagusa have taken up the challenge of petty trading; selling yam, soft drinks, and soup ingredients. They are now able to assist their husbands in providing for the family and also take care of some of their personal needs.

Read more updates from the Village Care Blog.