Claire Nicholls reflects on the impact of CHASE Africa’s work after visiting our local partners in Kenya
I recently returned from a 10-day visit to Kenya with CHASE Africa’s Chief Executive, Harriet Gordon-Brown. We visited some of CHASE Africa’s local partner organisations and observed some project activities and locations within our programme areas.
We spent time with Big Life Foundation in Mbirikani, and visited Wildlife Works in Maungu and Save the Elephants in Sagalla.
It was an incredibly valuable visit for me, to be able to see, first-hand, some of the remarkable work of some of CHASE Africa’s local partner organisations. For example, I observed a lively and engaging community dialogue around the topic of family planning, attended a Backpack Medical outreach, and joined a school Child Rights Club meeting.
Two things really stood out to me during my visit. Firstly, the extreme barrenness of the landscape. I have been reading and writing about these programmes in my role as Fundraising Coordinator with CHASE Africa for the last nine years, but I realise now that previously I had not fully understood the harshness of everyday life for many people living in the hot, dry, dusty, windy, remote and isolated communities where some of our partners work.
A community dialogue at Orbili
It is difficult to accurately understand the true reality of life in the project areas, from a distance, through words and pictures. To be there in person, and experience the remoteness, and the dryness, brought to me a deeper understanding of the local environment.
The second thing that stood out to me was the way the various project staff, with a warm and caring yet authoritative manner, enabled community members of different genders and ages to feel confident enough to share their views and ask questions about such sensitive topics as menstruation, family planning, maternal health, early marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
By facilitating within the project areas a thoughtful reflection and consideration of the community’s beliefs and practices and desires for their own future, the project staff sensitively assist the communities to agree a productive and empowering way forward, to improve their quality of life, starting with improved health.
En route to a Backpack Nurse clinic
Following severe drought, with little food and water, and few opportunities to improve their quality of life, many in the project areas we visited are malnourished and exhausted, or suffering from basic illnesses that are treatable, but for which they cannot access medical care.
How can someone improve their quality of life, if even standing up is exhausting?
With health, people can utilise what little resources and opportunities they have to improve their living conditions. CHASE Africa’s local partner organisations are very effectively filling a critical healthcare gap, enabling people in remote, rural communities to improve their health.
Whilst briefly meeting some of the patients visiting the Backpack Nurse outreach, it was evident how greatly they value the services being provided.
When asked what was challenging about her work, Hannah, a Backpack Nurse at Big Life Foundation, said it was not having enough time, and trying to deliver the number of services being sought, since the demand was so great.
It was inspiring to see during my visit how passionate and enthusiastic the project staff are about their work and the life-changing difference they are making.
Hannah (in blue uniform), a Backpack Nurse, with a Nutritionist at the Backpack Nurse clinic