Victoria Environmental Conservation and Agricultural Organization (Vecao)

VICTORIA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION

(VECAO)
P.O BOX 322-40305, MBITA E-MAIL; [email protected]
Organization Profile
Board of Directors;
1. ISMAEL OTIENO
2. ANNE ADHIAMBO
3. MOSES ONYANGO
4. OMONDI BRIAN
5. GEOFFREY OCHIENG
Contact Details
Name: Ismael Otieno Nyarach
Title: Executive Director
Tel: +254726549510
E-mail: [email protected]
Program Location: Homa-Bay County (South West Kenya)
Country: Kenya
Background Information
VECAO began working in 2017 as a community based organization (CBO) which
has since sourced funds through its members’ contributions to support vulnerable
orphans and widows in high burden areas of South West Kenya. The organizations
existence is based on three core pillars; health, education and socio-economic
empowerment. Its target groups include; vulnerable women and children in the
rural areas of Ndhiwa sub-county (Homa-Bay County) of South West Kenya.
Homa-Bay county is one of the HIV/AIDS burden counties in Kenya with above
30% HIV prevalence rate. Since its inception, VECAO has prioritized the scaling up
women, adolescents and youth focused programs that are designed at reducing
incidence of HIV infections and mitigating socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS.
The organization is managed by the board of directors who are represented by
the Executive Director (Head of the Organization). The board is charged with key
roles of governance and overall insight of the organization operations. The
program manager in liaison with the program team is responsible for the
implementation and monitoring of the planned program activities.
Vision: VECAO envisions a just society full of compassion and hope to the
vulnerable population.
Mission: Our mission is to end HIV/AID as a public health threat while aiming for
universal access to sexual reproductive health services.
Goal: Our strategic goal is to effectively deliver interventions that are designed at
reducing incidences of HIV/AIDS infections and improving quality of health
services among the women and young people of Ndhiwa sub-county in Homa-Bay
County (South West Kenya).
General Objectives
1. To provide socio-economic protection to families living with orphans and
vulnerable children (OVCs) in order to encourage fostering and retention of
such children within their families in the community and promote their
human capital development.
2. To reduce the prevalence water and sanitation related diseases such as
diarrhea, typhoid and cholera by increasing access to safe water and
promotion of personal hygiene and environmental practices.
3. To enhance knowledge, skill and attitude of women, youth and adolescents
on sexual and reproductive health which enables them to make decisions
based on informed and responsible choices.
Strategy
The organization has adopted a community based approach as the most
effective and efficient means of empowering communities to manage their
own initiated projects. VECAO has ensured active participation of key
stakeholders and the beneficiary communities’ right from the very
beginning and at every stage of implementation. The beneficiaries have
been and would continue to be the main actors of the program
implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Core Values of the Organization

 Simplicity: We base our decisions on sound and accurate analysis.
 Inspiring: Committed to giving professional, timely and friendly
service.
 Integrity: Committed to accountability, honesty and transparency at
all levels.
 Unity: We work as a team and support each other.
Professional Strength
1. Highly qualified, experienced and devoted board members.
2. Adaptability to cope and meet the socio-cultural environment of Ndhiwa
sub-county (Homa-Bay County) in South West Kenya.
3. Overwhelming support from the local community.
4. Acceptance as a representative of common people in the area.
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
In pursuit of the organizations strategic goal of delivering interventions that are
designed at reducing incidences of HIV/AIDS infections, helping the Orphans
vulnerable women and children in the rural areas of Ndhiwa sub-location (Homa-
Bay County) in South West Kenya VECAO has engaged so far in these programs;
 SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The main focus of this program is to raise young people’s awareness of sexual and
reproductive health issues through our peer education model, using youth
friendly facilitation techniques including group discussions, edutainment and role
play. VECAO supports young people to assess the quality of services available in
their local area. Some of the interventions targeting young people include:
1. Youth to youth health education; they are delivered through our youth
led peer to peer education model that enables the transfer of
knowledge and skills to young people. The Youths create social
awareness to fellow youth by educating their peers on the benefits of
abstinence and how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
2. Youth mobilization; VECAO has a unique understanding of the
challenges facing young people and how to best mobilize, engage and
motivate youth to lead change in their communities.
 WATER AND SANITATION HYGIENE

Ground water resources in Ndhiwa sub-county area are not safe and sufficient for
human and Livestock consumption, especially during the dry seasons (January to
April and September to December), and their use exposes the community to
various water associated diseases. As VECAO, our objective is to improve the
health and socio-economic well-being of the community by reducing the incident
of water-borne diseases through providing chlorine to treat the waters and also
educating the people on other water treatment methods e.g. boiling. VECAO is
fundraising for construction of more boreholes, rain water harvesting systems,
and provision of storage tanks for households.
 HIV/AIDS PREVENTION, CARE AND TREATMENT PROGRAM

This programs main focus is to reach out young people with HIV prevention
messages focusing on creating positive sexual behavior change. Some of the
behavioral programs undertaken include HIV testing and counselling, Healthy
Choices for a Better Future and other prevention. VECAO intends to continue the
mobilization program by going door to door, schools, markets, churches and chief
barazas.
 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Support program

The interventions are uniquely funded by the members through contributions
since its execution. VECAO precisely focused vulnerable children from dhiwa sub-
county and a total of 20 OVCs have received support in terms of; psycho-social
support, education and food. VECAO has been keen on giving the OVCs infected
and affected by HIV/AIDS a favorable environment to access affirmative services.
 Families Matter Program
The program is an evidence-based behavioral interventions that targets pre-
adolescents aged 9-12 years old and seek to empower their caregivers / guardians
with ability to have knowledge, skills and confidence to practice an effective
communication with their children on matters concerning sex and sexuality. It
offers to enhance general parenting skills and raising the awareness levels of the
risks to young adolescents. VECAO implemented the program in Dhiwa sub-
county with support well-wishers and members contributions. A total of 25
parents/caregivers were reached with information and able to graduate on
weekly sessions.
 Healthy Choices
It’s an evident-based program targeting adolescents aged 10-17 years old who are
taken through the 4-7 weekly sessions and graduated after completion. Mapping
was undertaken in 3 schools and a total of 80 adolescents identified and enrolled
to participate in the intervention. This program was delivered in schools in East
Kachieng, Karading and Koguta of Ndhiwa sub-county (Homa-Bay County) in
South West Kenya. The program was supported by well-wishers and members
contributions.

Victoria Environmental Conservation and Agricultural Organization (Vecao)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Victoria Environmental Conservation and Agricultural Organization (Vecao)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Victoria Environmental Conservation and Agricultural Organization (Vecao)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

VICTORIA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION

Core Values of the Organization

 SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

 WATER AND SANITATION HYGIENE

 HIV/AIDS PREVENTION, CARE AND TREATMENT PROGRAM

 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Support program

You might also like