On Tuesday, February 16, KMET was honored to host a visit by 27 board, staff, and donors from the American Jewish World Service, (AJWS).  The group was touring some of the programs they fund in Kenya and Uganda, including KMET. Leading the group was Ruth Messinger, President of AJWS., and accompanying them was Carol Belo, AJWS’ Kenya Representative. Monica Oguttu, KMET Executive Director, and Sam Owoko, Administrative Manager met the delegation at the Imperial Hotel Kisumu.

The day’s tour of KMET began with a visit to the KMET Clinic, Production Unit, and St. Rael group in Nyamasaria.  All were impressed with our activities; many questions were asked and answered.  In particular, AJWS President Messinger inquired about some of the needs of KMET, especially in the Production Unit.  The discussions and presentation focused on Reproductive Health Activities, the OTP program, and the clinic’s other programs. Walking across the street to the Nazarene Church, the AJWS delegation were met by Community Health Workers who were at a Microfinance meeting who danced with each of the delegates, and sang for them.

As soon as the AJWS visitors reached Sisterhood for Change, they were greeted by the girls who welcomed them with singing and dancing.  At Sisterhood for Change, the girls sang two songs from their recent CD.  Dolphine Abuya one of the girls gave a very moving and inspiring talk about her life. After a tour of the facility, the AJWS purchased nearly $1,000 of CD’s and books, and also the sanitary pads that SFC is making and distributing.Lunch was served at the Safe Space facility and the group then moved on to Otieko Kech farm to learn about how the CHW are raising fish and chickens as a part of KMET’s Food Security Program.  At Safe Space, Pamela Otajah presented Ruth Messinger and the AJWS delegates with a hand made crushed egg shell art piece captioned:  “We will never give up”.

The day was capped by a visit to the upcoming KMET Integrated Health Complex where a short tour of the building was led by Monica Oguttu, and then three trees were planted at the site by the AJWS group.  One of the trees was given by the CHW’s at the Nazarene Church, and another from the men, and the third was given to the AJWS by the Otieko Kech group.  The first tree was planted by President Ruth Messinger, and blessed by one of the AJWS rabbis who were part of the group.  The other trees were planted by all of the other members.