Upwards of 60% of the population in Western Kenya are living below the poverty line, subsisting on less than 1 US dollar a day. This means no disposable income for more than half the population, no funds with which to purchase many of the necessities of life such as adequate food, medicine or clothes.

Those hardest hit are generally women who have little opportunity to generate income outside their homes. It is these same women that most need an income in order to feed, clothe and educate their children. With the continuing HIV/AIDS crisis affecting primary caregivers reducing their participation in the workforce it is of extreme importance to have all those who are able involved in income generating projects to lift the community out of poverty and create a sustainable future for the younger generation. Living in rural villages all over Kenya many families find that due to geographical isolation they lack access to many basic goods and food supplies. Many subsist on small family agricultural plots which are unreliable at best with crops failing 3 out of every 4 years. Fertilisers and quality seed are expensive but without these farming aids crop yields are rarely enough to feed the family and to not allow the option of selling excess to purchase other essential items for the household.

Micro-Finance Program In 2006 MURUDEF began a Community Micro-Finance project, aimed at helping

members of various villages come together to start small income generating projects that would be of benefit

to the entire village, and the volunteers themselves. Six groups, mostly women, each with approximately 15

members were given small interest free loans to start up a business. Projects funded were largely agricultural

with many groups choosing to participate in collective farming in order to provide adequate food for their

families.

Each group is provided with training on how to effectively manage their project as well has how to run a

successful business. Loan amounts are assessed and granted for a period of one year, after which the initial

capital is returned and passed on to another community group as start-up funds. The profits each group made

on the loan are put directly back into their business. This means that not only is each group self-sustaining, but

a number of groups in the area can be assisted over time with only a small amount of capital.

Aims MURUDEF, with the help of international donors, aims to grow its Micro-Finance project to provide

assistance to 100 groups by 2008. With a focus on sustainable development, groups are encouraged to learn and

practice green farming techniques as well as use their success to assist less fortunate members of the

community, particularly the elderly and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

MUMA RURAL - URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION Amalemba PO Box 1136 Kakamega Kenya Tel 056 30226