Homa Bay, April 7, 2014  – The United States has partnered with the Government of Kenya for 50 years to improve the lives of Kenya’s children. Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continued that support by launching the Wezesha Project for orphans and vulnerable children.  Wezesha Project is a USAID partnership with Kenyan organization Lifeskills Promoters, and its partners, St Johns’ Community Center and Christian Partnership on AIDS in Kenya, which coordinates the care of 20,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Homa Bay, Kisii, and Migori Counties. 

Wezesha will foster sustainable systems that help local communities meet the needs of their orphans and vulnerable children.  The project strengthens local organizations so that they are better able to conduct needs assessments, make referrals and provide direct services for orphans and vulnerable children, and the families with whom they live.

“USAID supports Kenyan-led programs to further local capacity development, commitment, and sustainability.  To accomplish this, USAID builds partnerships with local organizations.  This project marks the first time that USAID/Kenya is directly partnering with local Kenyan organizations to implement an activity to support orphans and vulnerable children,” said Tara Simpson, Deputy Team Leader for HIV in USAID Kenya’s Office of Population and Health.

The Wezesha Project is funded through the U.S. Government’s Presidents’ Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.  USAID is the U.S. Government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign assistance.