Friends of A.I.D.S. Victims and Orphans

INTRODUCTION

Friends of A.I.D.S. Victims and Orphans (F.A.V.O.) is a rural-based NON- GOVERMENTAL ORGANIZATION with its headquarters at Matunda Township in Lugari District, Kenya. It was organized by John and Margaret Inyangala of Western Province, Kenya. The Inyangalas

F.A.V.O. is involved in humanitarian programs designed to assist marginalized groups, comprising H.I.V./A.I.D.S. patients, widows, orphans, single mothers and drug addicts. The project entails economic empowerment through informal income-generating projects, anti-H.I.V. campaign programs, family life education, counseling, rehabilitation of drug addicts and the provision of formal education to A.I.D.S. orphans.

F.A.V.O. operates in the western region of Kenya. Projects are intended to benefit 5,000 families by the year 2006, with the figure doubling after every five years.

VISION OF F.A.V.O.

To be a highly-respected, people-friendly, rural-based humanitarian organization. To integrate community values and cultures with formal and informal education. To spearhead the anti-H.I.V./A.I.D.S. campaign through economic empowerment programs for the betterment of lives of families.

MISSION

To collaborate with goverment and other organizations to enhance the anti-H.I.V./A.I.D.S. awareness campaign with focus on behavioral and cultural changes and work with local communities to reduce the impact of A.I.D.S. on the economic and social well being of families and communities.

LEVEL OF NEED OF THE PROJECT

The creation of F.A.V.O. was a result of two years study on the H.I.V./A.I.D.S. impact on communities in Lgari, Bungoma and Kakamega districts by a voluntary group of retired medical personnel comprised of doctors, clinical officers, nurses, field heath educators and social workers.

   Their voluntary action arose from their painful    experience in attending to A.I.D.S. patients during    their service as medical practioners and established    that the spread of the pandemic had a direct    correlation to poverty, illiteracy and drug abuse. The    survey covered 1,000 households in each district, 40 percent of which were headed by widows and single mothers.

We were very saddened to hear on the morning of our Fun Run Fundraiser 2003 that the Chairwoman of F.A.V.O., Margaret Inyangala, was killed in a car accident in Kenya. She was a very good mother not only to her children but to the orphans and children she cared so much about. She will be missed greatly. Please keep the Inyangala family in your faith, love and prayers.


Existing NGO-- All One People is helping FAVO, an existing charitable and educational program, that was recognized as an NGO by the Kenyan government in 2001. Started by the Inyungala family, FAVO is helping over 20 projects in Western Province Kenya, effecting the lives of hundreds of orphans and their caregivers.  The people that FAVO helps, even if it is just with a few chickens, take great pride in being associated with FAVO.  Hope is brought into  a very difficult situation. Our job at All One People is to enhance and strengthen the excellent work being done by the FAVO caregivers of the precious children left without parents.
Purpose-- FAVO assists groups of widows and single mothers who are working to provide for themselves and orphaned children  They help support Brightop Children's Academy, Karibu Day Care Center, Eldoret street children rescue, and many other projects.  The project entails economic empowerment through income generating endeavors, anti- HIV / AIDS campaigns, family life education, counseling, and helping to feed and educate orphans.  In many instances food and support is provided by the local community volunteers.  It is truly a self-reliance, self-help project.
Background and Needs-- FAVO is a rural based NGO with its headquarters at Matunda Township in Lugari District in western Kenya, which is situated not far from Lake Victoria and the Ugandan border. FAVO was created by the Inyangula family when they decided to do something about the growing number of homeless and uneducated orphans.  They are joined by local nurses, farmers, and educaters who give of their time, talents, and means to assist in rearing these children. FAVO projects are currently operating in the Lugari, Bungoma, and Kakamega districts in Western Province.  FAVO has invited All One People to assist with the Day Care Center, and Community Learning Center.
Micro Enterprise-- Wonderful projects are underway.  The assistance needed is techniques in marketing, preserving food, buying in bulk, etc.  All One People will help educate in these areas through use of video tapes and computer connections with local and foreign businesses The current projects FAVO has already created includes the bicycle transport, flour milling, bread making, brick making, and goat/sheep/poultry. The local projects include AIDS awareness and counseling, dressmaking, beekeeping, animal husbandry, flour grinding, bread making, and farming.
Other Services/Needs-- Cultural superstitions of wife inheritance and destroying the family home when the husband dies of AIDS, present unique challenges.  FAVO helps build houses for displaced widows. All One People chooses to focus on education and microenterprise.  We welcome any families or organizations who emphasize health and building to join with us in helping the caregivers help themselves.