We support the following community-based initiatives in Mwaembe.
Mwaembe Community Charitable Trust (MCCT)
In 2009 MCCT bought land in Mwaembe, built on it and developed it as a community space. This was achieved with the generous help of a variety of donors in Kenya, the UK, the USA, Canada as well as Etatu Trustees. We are delighted to have built a new kitchen in 2017, funded by Team Vantola’s sponsored bike ride from Vancouver to Los Angeles.
The site has several uses: an orphans’ feeding scheme; a shamba to grow food; a meeting place for community groups; a quiet place to study.
The caretaker of the property is Kassim Jambia, a founding member of the orphans’ feeding scheme in 2004.
Msambweni Orphans’ Programme (MOP)
Forty children who are orphans meet once a week for a nutritious meal and time and space to play. MOP keeps an eye on their health and progress at school and acts as necessary, supplying school uniform, school supplies, school fees for secondary students, homework help, medical costs and weekly laundry powder.
The time the children spend at MOP represents important respite time for carers, many of whom are grandmothers living on their own.
MOP was set up in 2004 by a dynamic group of men and women in their twenties. The group changed its management and adopted the name ‘MOP’ in 2014 and Etatu became involved. Etatu helps with organisational management and funding.
Asia and Masika manage MOP, which includes cooking the weekly meal. They were amongst the first group of children assisted in 2004 and both were sponsored by Etatu through their secondary schooling. They are helped by Salim, one of the original founding members.
