“MY JOB AT THE KAGENO SCHOOL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MY SMALL FAMILY, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS A FISHERMAN AND FISHING IS UNPREDICTABLE.”

“I LEARNED AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES FROM KAGENO AND THEY PROVIDE ME WITH SEEDLINGS. SINCE 2011, I HAVE BEEN MAKING MONEY FROM THE VEGETABLES I GROW AND FEED MY FAMILY.”

“I SELL CASAVA TO THE KAGENO SCHOOL AND USE THE MONEY TO RAISE MY FOUR ORPHANED GRANDCHILDREN.”

“I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO RECEIVE A MICROLOAN FROM KAGENO. I USED THE LOAN TO BUY A SEWING MACHINE. THE INCOME I EARN PAYS TO KEEP MY CHILDREN IN SCHOOL AND IMPROVE MY HOME.

“MY JOB IS PART OF A PROGRAM THAT GIVES POACHERS A CHANCE TO WORK AT SOMETHING OTHER THAN STEALING FROM THE FOREST. I WAS TAUGHT AS PART OF THE PROGRAM TO APPRECIATE THE FOREST AND UNDERSTAND I NEED TO PROTECT IT.”

“I BEGAN GROWING RIGHT AWAY AND HAVE HARVESTED TOMATOES REGULARLY FOR FIVE YEARS NOW; THANKS TO THE SKILLS, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND EDUCATION I GOT THROUGH KAGENO.”

“I COULD NOT AFFORD HEALTH CARE, FOOD AND COULD NOT BREAST-FEED MY BABY. FORTUNATELY, A KAGENO HEALTHCARE WORKER MADE A HOME VISIT; AND NOTICED THAT BLADE WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE MALNUTRITION. THEY HAD ME BRING BLADE TO KAGENO FEEDING PROGRAM. IT TOOK A WHOLE YEAR UNTIL SHE GOT WELL.”

“I HAD TO BREAK FROM THE SHACKLES OF JABOYA WHEN THE FISHERMEN STARTED DEMANDING UNPROTECTED SEX AS A SIGN OF LOYALTY IN ORDER MAINTAIN MY ACCESS TO OMENA.MY AUNTY TOOK A LOAN FOR ME FROM KAGENO.I TURNED TO MAKING UJI AND ESTABLISHED A GOOD NUMBER OF REPEAT CUSTOMERS AND MY BUSINESS BECAME STABLE.”

“MY WOOD LOT IS NOW MATURE AND YOUNG PEOPLE COME AND PAY TO CUT WOOD FOR HOUSES AND I HARVEST TWIGS AND CUT SOME MATURE TREES TO SELL FOR FIREWOOD. IF I MANAGE MY TREES WELL THEY SHOULD PROVIDE INCOME FOREVER.”

“I FOUND KAGENO SIX YEARS AGO. I WAS VERY POOR. I GOT A JOB GROWING AND HARVESTING THE GRASSES WE NEED TO FEED THE VILLAGE COWS. THE MONEY I MADE CHANGED MY LIFE! NOW MY THREE YEAR OLD AND I LIVE IN A HOUSE I BUILT. IT IS UNUSUAL IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A WOMAN TO BUILD HER OWN HOME.”

“I MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN TO MY OWN STUDIES. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS MOCKED ME. I FOLLOWED MY CONSCIENCE AND STAYED.I GRADUATED TOP OF MY CLASS AND GOT A JOB AT KAGENO AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER.I BOUGHT A HOUSE FOR MY FAMILY. EVENTUALLY I BOUGHT LAND TO FARM. I OWN THREE COWS.”

“ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS, ANUARITA, IS DISABLED. KAGENO HELPED PAY FOR HER MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND NOW SHE IS IN PRIMARY FOUR AND SHE CAN READ AND WALK WITH CRUTCHES ON HER OWN!THEY ALSO ENCOURAGED US TO START FARMING AND PROVIDE US WITH THE EDUCATION AND MEANS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. LAST SEASON WE HARVESTED 1,000 POUNDS OF CORN! WE ALSO BOUGHT A COW AND SOME GOATS.”

“IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ANY HEALTHCARE ON THE ISLAND BEFORE KAGENO BUILT THE NYAKWERI CLINIC.I HAVE ASTHMA AND OFTEN SUFFER ATTACKS THAT THREATEN MY LIFE. HAVING THE CLINIC NEAR MY HOUSE IS IMPORTANT TO MY HEATH AND HELPS ME MANAGE MY ILLNESS.”

“I HEARD ABOUT ALL THE GOOD WORK KAGENO WAS DOING AND I MOVED MY FAMILY TO THE KAGENO NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE!”