The figures for childbirth mortality in Lamu District are amongst the highest in Kenya, and the provision of facilities the lowest.
Turning cultural heritage into a marketable asset
Poverty in Kenya is a massive problem. Jobs are scarce, leaving people with little opportunity for employment. Another factor is lack of education. School fees are often out of reach for poor families, and cultural bias towards women creates further limitations for the growing number of female-led households.
Yet despite their difficulties, the Kenyan people have retained a rich sense of culture and tradition. Kenyan traditional societies placed great significance on decoration of both functional and ritual objects, and the tourist trade has strongly influenced the range and diversity of local offerings.
Through iCare’s projects, the rich local cultural heritage has evolved into stunning and authentic examples of decorative collectors’ items, ornamental works and functional art.
Started in 2001, the Nairobi Slums TB Project has 600,000 direct beneficiaries across ten MOH Health Clinics in the slums of Nairobi, where there is a catchment of one million people.
The Kangemi Resource Centre was started in 2002 by Alix D'Ansembourg to support non-formal schools by providing training for the teachers.
This sewing workshop is a women’s project that empowers disadvantaged women in the Kangemi Slum by enabling them to earn a living. The 10 women are trained to sew marketable items out of the local colourful cotton kikoys.
