UNV-KARA: Making Giant Steps in the Lives of Kenyans
The United Nations Volunteers Programme is supporting a new initiative
by the Nairobi-based Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA)
to increase local knowledge of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
and encourage public engagement in voluntary activities that contribute
to the goals' achievement. To help KARA disseminate MDG messages, UNV
has awarded the alliance a grant of US $30,000 to coordinate awareness-raising
activities in Nairobi's slums, where 60% of Nairobi's population currently
live.
"The most marginalized and socially excluded are to be found in
the sprawling slums of Nairobi - they are considered the poorest of
the poor," says Stephen Mutoro, Chief Executive Officer of KARA.
"They lack clean drinking water, proper plumbing, access to health
care facilities, and other public services such as schools and parks."
The UNV-KARA initiative directly corresponds to the Government of Kenya's
ongoing efforts in sensitizing the population on the Millennium Development
Goals, as well as responding to the situation faced by Nairobi's slum
dwellers. Mr. Mutoro said the government has committed nearly US$ 7
million to carrying out slum upgrading in the coming year.
Ms. Fatou Diop, co-coordinator of the UNV Programme in Kenya, added
that UNV support to KARA is an excellent example of building partnerships
for the MDGs. "This multifaceted approach of engaging the community
as volunteers, the private sector and the government demonstrates a
strong willingness and commitment to help the slum community overcome
poverty's grasp," she says. "The project will go a long way
towards raising awareness on the Millennium Development Goals among
slum dwellers, the most marginal and vulnerable strata of society, where
poverty is acute and visible."
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Kenya
