WIDOW SUPPORT PROGRAM

 

Widows in Kenya are a marginalized and neglected group, with most widows falling within the poverty bracket of those earning less than USD $1 a day. They constitute a large population that is not yet targeted by the Millennium Development Goals. There have been little policy or statutory measures for more government funding to support their small and medium enterprises (SMEs), thus limiting their economic participation. JOREC believes in making equal opportunities available to widows to advance their technical, intellectual and economic capability.


Vocational training and employment

JOREC has initiated a number of community based projects in which widows are actively participating. One such activity is the training of widows in the craft of fishing fly tying. Those who have gained sufficient skills are employed via JOREC by an affiliated company, Catching Flies Ltd. Three quarters of the profits from sales of the fishing flies go to the widows, and the remainder goes towards funding JOREC activities such as school fees, uniforms, food, and housing for orphans.

Marketing for fishing flies got off to a start in 2007, with orders through Catching Flies Ltd. bringing a profit of Ksh. 230,000. The funds were used to buy food and uniforms for the orphans, provide financial support for the widows, and relocate headquarters after the post-election violence between the end of 2007 and early 2008. Because of the post-election violence, Catching Flies Ltd. could not resume marketing until late 2008, and more marketing is still needed to generate a steady source of income through fishing fly orders.

 


Microcredit

Additional support extended to widows is simplified access to microfinance credit. Widows are grouped in fives and credit is advanced to each group according to need. The money is borrowed by each member of a group on merry-go-round basis to start an income generating venture or to improve existing businesses. No interest is charged on the money advanced. As of 2009, the total loan that has been distributed to widows is Ksh. 100,000.