Community treatment of 77 addicted Kenyan Clients

YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE - OUR HEARTFELT THANKS!!
We are truly grateful to have so far received $429 out of our goal of $29,185, with $580 more known to be on the way! This has made it possible for KAP to continue for 2 - 3 months the care and treatment of 44 of our Clients already under community-based treatment: A big relief, as before GlobalGiving we were running on our fast declining spare funds. 
Thus, we decided to start using your donations a month earlier than planned: As from the 1st May instead of the 1st June 2022.
At the same time, we have to admit that due to the as yet limited funds we reduced the frequency of activities and for the minimum of benificiaries. 
As soon as more donations come in, we will return to the planned levels and also be able to start the treatment of a new group of Clients.

To make this possible WE WARMLY WELCOME ANY NEW DONOR, and draw your SPECIAL ATTENTION to the WEDNESDAY 20th JULY BONUS DAY - from 4 p.m. Kenya time (3 p.m. Netherlands time) till Thursday 21st July 2022, 6.59 a.m. Kenya (5.59 a.m. Netherlands) time - during which EVERY EARLY donation above $100 will be substantially matched by GlobalGiving (until funds run out).

Whereas residential treatment of substance abusing Clients takes at least 3 months, community-based treatment requires at least two years for participants to be strong enough to 'stand on their own feet'. Stopping the intensive follow-up activities too early greatly risks relapse. This would be the scenario when KAP's funds would run out. Considering the heartwarming good impact we see, we very much wish to prevent this at all cost. Some examples:

IMPACT - 1
JUSTIN, A YOUNG MAN IN HIS EARLY 20’s shares how recovery is the biggest blessing in his life today. Like too many people, substance abuse disorder had taken over Justin’s life, until one day a year ago when he found the inner strength to accept help from KAP, through it’s ‘Steps to Healthy Living’ therapy:
                      “My parents died of HIV/AIDS when I was very young. I dropped out of school, and was left all alone in our small plot of land. After a while our mud house collapsed, and I went to sleep in the corridors of the Matisi slums. Life was tough. I engaged in brewing the local gin chang’aa, and my wages consisted of alcohol. I started to use all kinds of drugs, and was also engaged in risky sexual behaviours. In the process I was infected with HIV. Life became even worse.

I married but it did not last. People would treat me badly due to my status. One day as I was hanging out in Matisi, I met KAP’s Community Trainer, who invited me to join its Steps course. In the training I shared my addiction problems and realized that I needed help.
                      Since then KAP has really fought for me. My road to recovery has not happened in a straight line, but was long and difficult. In the end though, it has been rewarding. At first I was too weak and malnourished to do anything. Some well-wishers assisted KAP in paying for daily breakfast and lunch at a local hoteli, until I was able to find casual jobs to get my supper and other basic needs. I also started taking my ARVs again (HIV/AIDS antiretroviral medication), my health progressively improved and I now look clean. I stopped brewing and am growing vegetables in my small plot of land. I also rebuilt our house and am no longer sleeping outside. It is very comforting that people in my area are now accepting me and appreciate my change. I have accepted exactly whom I am, and am willing to succeed in life. Our regular Steps meetings and visits have helped me to greatly reduce my drinking – even though I still have work to do because I want to stop completely.
                     His Recovery Coach comments: “Justine has shown real strength and has become a responsible person. Addiction is a chronic disorder, not a personal failure. There is a human face and story behind every example, and there is real hope that addiction recovery is possible and can change one’s life.”

ACTIVITIES AND PEOPLE REACHED

During May 2022 five of KAP's Recovery Coaches (also called 'Steps TOTs': 2 women & 3 men) made two HOME-VISITS each to 44 Clients. Out of these 18 were female and 26 male. Out of this group 17 were youths, with 8 female and 9 male. 

The groups assisted were IN THE KITALE SHANTY-TOWN AREAS of Matisi/Tiwani (the 'Nyota Group'), Folkland (group), Soko Moko (group) and the Matisi Community of Hope group. The group members show care and concern for each other. 

There also were two REFRESHER WORKSHOPS/MEETINGS: One for the combined Soko Moko/Folkland group (25.05.2022 with 16 Clients - 3 female & 13 male) and one for the Community of Hope Group (27.05.2022 with 7 Clients - 5 female & 2 male). The Abundant Life Church and the Covenant of Grace Church freely provided their venues for these sessions.

There also were several ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELLING- AND FAMILY THERAPY SESSIONS by KAP Staffs.

A COUNSELLING SUPERVISION SESSION with 4 Recovery Coaches and 1 KAP professional Counsellor was held at the KAP Office on the 13th May 2022. 

There also was PROVISION OF SURGICAL FACE MASKS for Corona prevention, when needed.

Altogether the above mentioned KAP's 'Steps Groups' consist of 66 members/Clients. During May some of these Clients were not around whilst others are new (late-comers) or not-yet stable attendees. Some need their time to 'test the waters' before being able to join wholeheartedly. However, the number of curious and interested needy Clients is steadily growing, unlike in the beginning of the project. Some of these newcomers lead risky lives. During the period most sadly one of them lost his life through mob lynching, on suspicion of being a member of a local dangerous gang. 

IMPACT - 2
SUSAN HAS JUST TURNED 19 YEARS. She joined KAP’s Steps to Health Living programme more than two years ago, just before her husband was jailed, and narrates how KAP has enabled her to become and stay sober and change her life:
                       “My mother was a single parent, and when she died I went to live with my grandmother. Our home was poor, I dropped out of school and life was very hard and messy. When I was 16 years old I got married to a neighbour-boy. He was brewing chang’aa (local gin) for income and he and everyone else in his family were drinking. I joined them in brewing and also started drinking heavily. Then I got pregnant and gave birth. There was a lot of fighting in our marriage. One day he beat me very badly and I reported the matter to the Chief. My husband was arrested and taken to jail. To my surprise not because of the beatings but because of having married me when under-age. He left me with a small kid and pregnant with the second one.
                       Through the Steps therapy I realized the trouble I was in, but also that there was a way out. I learned a lot about alcohol and drugs and gained strength and hope through the counselling and visits by our teachers. They helped me to never give up. Thus I was able to stand up against the pressure by my in-laws and drinking friends – I left them and returned to my grandmother’s home, stopped brewing and finally also drinking. I am now sober and able to manage my life. My income is from washing clothes for other people, and other casual jobs”.
                       Her Recovery Coach reports that she has even started to teach children and youths in her neighbourhood about the dangers of brewing, selling and use of illicit alcohol and drugs in their community, and encourages them to avoid or quit.

WITH ONCE AGAIN OUR MOST SINCERE THANKS FOR HELPING OUR CLIENTS TO REGAIN HOPE, HEALTH AND LIFE!!

• GlobalGiving KAP Financial Report for May 2022 (DOCX)