MWENDO
Making Well-Informed Efforts to Nurture Disadvantaged Orphans and Vulnerable Children (MWENDO)
The Making Well-Informed Efforts to Nurture Disadvantaged Orphans and Vulnerable Children (MWENDO) project is a USAID-funded initiative aimed at improving the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Kenya. Launched in 2017, MWENDO operates across 17 counties, including Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nandi, Nyamira, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, and parts of Nairobi, Coast, and Northern Rift Valley regions.
Vision and Objectives
MWENDO's primary goal is to ensure that OVC are healthy, safe, stable, and schooled. To achieve this, the project focuses on:
- Increasing Access to Health and Social Services: Enhancing the availability and utilization of essential services for OVC and their families.
- Strengthening Household and Community Capacities: Empowering caregivers and communities to provide sustainable care and protection for OVC.
- Enhancing Child Welfare and Protection Systems: Building the capacity of formal and informal structures to effectively respond to child welfare and protection needs.
Implementation and Impact of MWENDO Program
MWENDO employs a holistic, child-focused, and family-centered approach, recognizing that child well-being is interconnected with household stability and community resilience. Key strategies include:
- Case Management: Providing individualized support to OVC and their families to address specific needs and challenges.
- Economic Strengthening: Facilitating access to financial services, such as Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC), to improve household economic security.
- Health Interventions: Collaborating with healthcare providers to ensure OVC receive necessary medical care, including HIV testing and treatment.
- Educational Support: Assisting OVC in accessing educational opportunities to promote academic achievement and personal development.
By 2022, MWENDO aimed to serve approximately 326,000 OVC from around 90,000 households in the targeted counties.
MWENDO collaborates with local implementing partners, government agencies, and community-based organizations to ensure culturally appropriate and sustainable interventions. For instance, in Bondo Sub County of Siaya County, the project significantly improved the lives of 15,175 OVC living in 7,036 households by employing a case management approach across four domains: healthy, safe, stable, and schooled.
Through these comprehensive efforts, MWENDO has made significant strides in enhancing the quality of life for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya, fostering environments where they can thrive and reach their full potential.