We would like to just give you an overview of how our village works. We the Luo people are a proud tribe and through education programs implemented and facilitated by Alex and Marilyn (international volunteers and supporters of World Youth International) we have realised that if we do not do something to change our lives, we will not survive the next decade. Our life span is down to 45 years average, our death rate for new babies / mothers is nearly 50% and HIV / Aids is
continuing to grow.
What we have realised is that we as a community no longer need hand outs as they keep us in poverty so with the support of World Youth International we will grow and develop into an independent community for the world to see that it is possible.
- Odede Community
Our Mission
As a community our mission is to develop and maintain high standards of education, health and children's care by uniting the community into an organised democratic structure which encourages self help and individual enterprise through mutual co-operation.
Our Identity
We aim to become an autonomous community, united voluntarily to meet our common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled community cooperative.
Where We Are Situated
Odede Village is one of the 11 villages within Ochienga sub location. It has a total
population of 10,000 and covers an area of about 52 square Kilometres. Uyoma is a Peninsula on the Lake Victoria. It lies directly opposite Kisumu town across the same Lake. It is inhabited by the Luo, one of the more than 42 ethnic tribes of Kenya.
The main road which is about an average of three km away from the village is a very good road recently completed. The access roads that criss cross the village are used by bicycles mainly and not by vehicles.
Our Life Line Situation
Electricity is not yet available for use by the community but there is high voltage system that runs along the main road. There are plans by the government under the rural electrification to bring electricity to the villagers especially those who are able to pay for the connection.
The main source of water for the village is from the lake. A Government pipe line runs along the main road but is only available to those who can afford the connection fee. The population is using generally unsafe water both for domestic use as well as the use for their animals.
Our Intervention Plan
At the request of the community, World Youth International Australia has agreed to partner with World Youth International Kenya and the Odede community in creating an Educational Training Complex which will impact in young people, sustainable skills that will enable them to participate fully in the further development of the community. It will comprise of the following:
1. Early Childhood Development Centre:
Providing care for young children aged three to six in preparing them for nursery and primary school.
2. Child Rescue Centre:
This centre will cater for the most vulnerable children within the village aged from three years to six years. The children will be nurtured and educated within the facility while a program will exist between the CRC and the family to maintain contact and develop coping mechanisms for both child and family.
3. Health Facility:
The health facility will take care of the health care needs of the community;
provide basic maternal and child health care as well as providing reproductive health services. The health facility structure will include a consultation room, a pharmacy, treatment room, observation room and a laboratory unit.
4. Vocational Training Centre:
This centre will provide training for the youth in life skills like carpentry and building, tailoring, dressmaking, agriculture, health care, hairstyling, beauty, computer training etc. It will give an opportunity to the young who may not be lucky enough to go to secondary school as well as those who will not be able to go beyond secondary school.
5. A Community Centre:
The community Centre is to be used by community members to conduct their
community affairs. The building will host community activities such as community dialogue days, community public forums and community library.
6. Administration Block:
To main administrative functions of the centre.
Our Aim
To empower all and work towards becoming a Model Village, a village that will be willing to share it's successes along with the challenges that come with the type of innovative development taking place.
Odede is unique in many ways:
The focus is on true sustainability
There are no "hand outs" just "hand ups"
Development of a Community Cooperative encourages unity
We have formed a Women's Group, a Men's Group and a Youth Group along with the construction of a Child Rescue Centre that will protect, care and educate the most vulnerable.
Sustainable projects for all groups to encourage HOPE for their future.
Our community focuses on allowing World Youth International to assist us with all projects and at the same time expecting nothing for nothing. By this we mean that all funds donated to assist in the commencement of any project must be repaid by the individual or groups to our Community Cooperative Bank. The repayment can be monitory or products, depending on each individual project. In short this means that we are accepting a ?HAND UP' not a ?HAND OUT' as hand outs have proven to only keep us in poverty, where we have been for many centuries.
Together with your assistance as a Volunteer, we will be ?Restoring Hope in the Lives of African's (Odede Community)" HOPE that will be sure to end our poverty, HOPE that will encourage us to unite and be a Model to other communities.
Our Thanks
In Respect and memory of the late Mama Ann Okwiri who gave the blessing to the project and endorsed the donation of land by her son Ben Okwiri for the implantation of the project.
In recognition of the role of Ann Hoey, the mother of the late Robert Hoey, founder of WYI for her commitment in bringing WYI to Western Kenya.
To Fred Mito, for his work in bringing World Youth International to the Odede community, to Marilyn Chambers, for her dedication and conviction in the implementation of our projects in the Odede community and for the support from Alex Omino.
