PARTNERS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Located on the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Western Kenya near the Uganda border, Chwele-Namwela, the home of Grace Kuto, is a rural community which provides social services for a catchment area of nearly 60,000 in population.This region of Kenya, along with the bulk of sub-Saharan Africa, faces a range of troubling health and economic development issues. According to the United Nations Population Division statistics, the life expectancy in Kenya currently averages less than 55 years, and in 2007 carried an HIV prevalence rate of roughly 6%percent. These health indicators, coupled with harsh demographic realities - 43% percent of the population is under the age of 14 - translate to an acute need for effective, preventive community health care, health education, and economic development.
 
Since 1994, Grace Kuto has pulled together partners in sustainable development in Chwele, Kenya, Tigard Community Friends Church, Women's Forum of the World Affairs Council, and other partners in the Pacific Northwest. Through this ongoing story of successful partnership, Chwele Health  Clinic was built in 1999 and now provides emergency, preventive, and primary care services for malaria, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes, family planning, childhood immunizations, respiratory and water-borne diseases.

Chwele Health Clinic

Through the Harambee guided West Linn and Namwela Secondary School relationship, a clean water borehole was dug in spring of 2009 to serve a core community of 10,000 which includes four schools, clinic, maternity ward, and large community center.

In the final phase of development, a 7,000 sq. ft building is being completed in January, 2010 to provide space for training and support programs in HIV/AIDS, micro-credit enterprises, computer literacy, nutrition, dental hygiene, resource library, and volunteer guest rooms. This was made possible by a large gift from the Benito and Frances Geguine Foundation through Tigard community Friends Church.

Grace and a team of 11 volunteers just came back (Sept, 2009) from one of the most exciting trips ever taken to Chwele, Kenya! Equipped with skills in medicine, nutrition, business, mechanics, videography, and community organizing, the group came back with exciting stories captured by one of the volunteers, Dennis Burkhart who has previously done documentaries for National Geographic TV. Thanks to him, a free 15 minutes DVD is now available for anyone who wishes to see what you have supported or share our compelling story with others. You can also visit www.gracekuto.com. This work will become self-sustainable for many generations to come.