In May and June 2009, GRA and our partner, Mafanikio Community Based Organisation, undertook the urgent project of repairing and renovating two classrooms in Kiukuni Primary School, located in Okia division, Makueni district, Eastern Province of Kenya. The 200+ students in Kiukini School are recipients in the GRA Feeding Programme. It is a very dry area and we continue to struggle with finding long-term sustainable water solutions. The primary school had been badly damaged earlier in the year and two classrooms’ roofs had been blown off, making learning conditions dangerous and simply, unbearable.

Therefore, after consultation with the community, GRA sponsored the repair of the roofs and the classroom structures, which began in May. In June, the Mafanikio work camp with 9 participants (4 from Ireland and 5 from Kenya) joined the community to complete the classrooms. The work included; cementing of the classroom (which involved fetching stones, water and sand); painting the classes inside and outside and; decorating the classes with pictures, alphabets and numbers murals. The volunteers also helped with teaching the children, which has drastically improved the children’s self esteem, confidence and command of the English language. The project cost was approximately, €1,900.

The Bangladesh slum of Mombassa has a population of 150,000 all of whom live in informal settlements with irregular systems of tenure. Bangladesh is a crowded, densely populated area of five square kilometres. Initial estimates would suggest that 80% of residents live in a single room measuring two by three metres without access to proper sanitation or lighting. Most of those who are in employment earn less than €60 per month and still spend as much as 20% of this salary on their small rented room.

Fr. Dolan and the St Patrick’s Missionary Society (Kiltegan Fathers) are constructing a multi-purpose centre that will provide the focus for our development and human rights work in the community. They provide services in health, recreation and human rights advocacy work to the residents.

GRA is assisting the community with the salary of a community nurse who supervises the distribution of anti-retrovirals and treatment for people with Aids. Currently the area has 20% infection rate for HIV. GRA pays the salary and allowances for the nurse.

GRA and Mafanikio support displaced persons (from post election crisis 2008) through a farm empowerment project that has enabled the families regain subsistence, dignity and empowerment. GRA supported 40 families, who moved to Kamae Location in Lari District in Central Province to seek refuge. The farm project was part of an overall empowerment and settlement project. This communal farm project aims to empower families to sustain their own families without being dependent on aid.