"Changemakers Lab M5: Village Saving and Lending

On 7th October,2022 had an opportunity to attend Kakamega MNCH Alliance meeting. I am Zonal leader Alliance and member. I requested members those who are willing to volunteer and accompany me to meet County Executive Committee Member Health to share on Shigondo Artisanal miners on Monday. A few volunteered and my opponents were like will you provide transport how will your program benefit the Alliance? I was totally disappointed!!!  Something inside me told me " Challenges are there to make you bitter and better do not give up" , I smiled back and told them those who feel like joining me please sms me.

God moves in mysterious ways in the evening 6 Alliance members confirmed availability " To God be the Glory Great things He has done"...

On Monday my phone rang while in the bathroom, when I was done with bathroom only to find one confirmed participant only to call him and he told me," We are already in town", I couldn't believe but when I arrived in town I met the 6 couldn't hold my tears.

We went and found County Executive Committee Member Health waiting for us and she received as well and shared my initiative she told me mining is not devolved need to petition senate they run Mercury test and organize public participation with artisanal miners and Sponsors. Sponsors need to be living 30 per cent of gold to the community. Please forward copy petition to county government we see how best to assist in follow up.

County government responded to our petition they have forwarded our petition to senate , well received, looking forward to their response.

We had a successful meeting cum training women on formation and registering their group each group came up with an initiative. One of the activities each group did was to prepare composite pit ( leaves, waste from cows, poultry heaped) they ploughed land sprinkled manure and they began vegetables farming. They sell vegetables to school, market and home consumption profit is ploughed back, merry go round, one borrows and pays with interest next year November they will share savings and continue. They are not using chemical fertilizers but organic manure. There is improvement in livelihoods and health status hospital visitation is reducing, cases of malaria minimal, TB cases has reduced in women no more of silicosis.Children going to school no more child labour at gold mine site.We are planning to engage youth on alternative means of employment gold mine is a hazard quick money damaging health until an  alternative method for mining which will cause no harm will be welcomed.