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Executive Summary

Mama na Dada Africa was established in 1998 and became operational in 2000.  The organization's main offices are based in Kunya village, on the shores of Lake Victoria, in Bondo district, Nyanza Province of Kenya.  The organization has a branch office in Buru Buru Estate of the Eastlands Area of Nairobi, where it runs the "Stay Alive One-Stop Youth Centre."  The organization as formed with the main aim of promoting enrollment and retention of girls in school; and economic empowerment for women.  However, with the increase in HIV infections, especially among communities living along the shores of Lake victoria, the organization up-scaled its work to include HIV/AIDS prevention education, care and support.  The organization works to help girls and women empower themselves mentally and economically, through education, counseling, mentoring, peer support, sustainable development and community sensitization.  The organization appreciates that empowerment of girls and women must be approached in a holistic manner, and that women cannot be empowered unless girls are given the tools to realize their full potential.

Despite wide acknowledgement of the value of female education, the bulk of African women and girls continue to be excluded from the education systems, either never having enrolled or having dropped out of school before the completion of a specified cycle.

Health care services in sub-Saharan Africa are in profound crisis.  Many African nations are facing enormous challenges in providing sexual and reproductive health services and facilities to their citizens.  The HIV/AIDS pandemic has exacerbated the situation.  HIV/AIDS is devastating individuals, families and communities.  The epidemic is currently the leading cause of death in Africa.  HIV/AIDS has correspondingly put families, communities and the Government under great pressure to provide care and treatment to the infected, resulting in enormous sacrifice of material and financial resources by both families and communities.  The youth especially in the age ranges of 5-30 years are hardest hit as more and more find themselves in situations of parenting, child-headed families, child labour, commercial sex work, teenage motherhood, and various new roles.  Millions of children are infected, while others live in destitution after losing their parents.  Girls are especially vulnerable as they ultimately become substitute mothers.

There seems to be an increased negative change in the people's attitude towards orphaned children.  These children are left in children-headed families, mostly looked after by the girls of the family, who have neither income nor vocational training.  Furthermore, girls are more than ever before becoming caregivers to their sick parents or relatives.  Because of lack of education, ignorance and poverty, girls and young women are sometimes forced to resort to commercial sex, placing them at a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.  In many cases, the girls resort to working for other people, making them more prone to abuse and exploitation.  Presently, the most affected and infected are communities living along the lakeshores and border towns.