Monitoring and Evaluation

After our first real weekend in Mumias  - which included judging a high school debate tournament, missing church because of a terrential downpoor, meeting one of WOPLAH's soccer teams and grabbing a drink at the pub - I was excited to begin our second week. Today began the monitoring and evaluation process. While we are here, one of our key objectives is to interview all of WOPLAH's beneficiaries and Community Health Workers in order to compile valuable data to help guide WOPLAH and GlobeMed at Colorado College's future partnership agreements. 

Today we attended the Township Community Health Workers meeting held at one of the CHW's houses. The group meets once a month to discuss their accomplishments and issues; together they participate in and benefit from a community kitchen garden and a community loan system called Village Banking. Village banking is a new program that WOPLAH implemented beginning in February. We found out from a group interview that these programs have been extremely beneficial for the community at large for things such as empowering the communiting for prevention against malaria and other diseases, bringing the community together when it would otherwise be very separated and for creating methods for proper sanitation. They also shared with us that they are able to use loans from their Village Banking system to boost personal businesses, purchase shoes for children in the community, pay school and land fees, and support their parents. It was amazing to see the pride on the CHW's faces as they recounted to us the various ways in which they've been able to improve the lives of their community members due to WOPLAH's programs. 

 

After interviewing the CHWs as a group, we began interviewing some of the beneficiaries who also have personal Income Generating Activities (IGA's) for themselves and their families. Mary, pictured above, is 37 years old, a single mother living positively with HIV, and has 3 HIV negative children. Mary explained to us that she joined the group of CHWs because she wanted something to give her hope, help reduce stigma and work with fellow members. She has her own kitchen garden and 2 goats; through these IGA's she has been able to eliminate all costs of purchasing vegetables and makes 270 shillings per week. I felt a sense of gratitude and pride for WOPLAH when we asked Mary if she is benefitting from these projects and whether the work she puts in is worth it; she smiled with a sense of dignity and said "sana", meaning very much in Swahili. 

Mary also recounted to us that although one of her two goats was attacked and died, she has been able to replace it and is benefitting greatly from them. In addition to providing sufficient funds to cover school and book fees, her goats also provide fertilizer and pest control for her garden. She and her family consume about 70% of the milk produced, while they sell the remainder for profit. 

Mary showed us her healthy goats and various gardens which all employ different methods. The second one pictured above, for example, is called a Mandala garden; it has a special irrigation system which allows it to be very low maintenance and survive during periods of drought. 

Although the CHWs did tell us about issues they still face, such as insufficient funds to transport clients to health facilities and thieves stealing their harvests, it is incredible to finally see first-hand how people are benefiting and prospering because of WOPLAH's admirable and selfless work. I am excited to continue the interviewing process and translate these responses into numbers which can help WOPLAH increase their reach, find partnerships and increase funding.