AIDS Kids In Nakuru (AKIN)

The AKIN project was started in 1999 by a group of individuals in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA). The project, housed within the grounds of Dr. Arthur Memorial Church in Nakuru, aims to provide care and support to people living with AIDS (PLWAs) and orphaned children. It has a membership of fifteen registered members and volunteers. Volunteers include various professionals, including teachers, small-scale traders and local comedians. The group receives both monetary and material contributions, mainly clothing. Members make monthly contributions of 100 Kenyan Shillings ($1.5) each, while members, church and well-wishers provide material support. A committee undertakes operations, while the church provides overall supervision and leadership. The major constraints are capacity building, transport and lack of funding. Additional training on home based care and counseling is needed.

Current HIV/AIDS Activities:

  • Home-based care

  • Counseling

  • Feeding of children

  • Awareness creation

  • Provision of uniforms and School materials

  • Medical care (referral to hospital of sick orphans)

Home-based care involves taking care of those who are ill and bedridden by cleaning their houses, clothes, utensils, the sick themselves; cooking and feeding the children; providing comfort and counseling to older children; providing food when resources are available. Counseling is provided for both the very ill and those who are still well but have accepted their situation. It is also available for older children. The very sick and bedridden are counseled in their homes, while the healthier are counseled in the church. The church has provided a trained counselor. Awareness creation is achieved through comedies and skits performed by the outreach team. The comedians also train older children to perform skits. There is an increasing awareness of the need to change behavior. Cases of school absenteeism have reduced, while the community has accepted to live with and support People Living With AIDS. Orphans are involved in church activities too.

Activities that require funding:

The organization has requested funding from the Hope for African Children Initiative for the following HIV/AIDS- focused activities:

  • Home-based care

  • Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)

  • Child care (Food, medication, clothing)

  • Awareness creation and advocacy

  • Capacity building (for staff)