Annual Report 2020-2021
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The annual report 2020-2021 is now available. It talks about the activities of the organisation and their achievements in a particularly challenging period. It acknowledges all the solidarity within the communities that supported people in need and gives but a few examples. We wish to express our gratitude for all the small and big contributions that were made in the spirit of St. Martin CSA.
We want grass, we want peace
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The current drought pushes pastoralists into farmlands. This brings tensions with the farming community which frequently erupt into violence. St. Martin CSA supported the efforts for de-escalating the situation and finding solutions.
The Role of Faith Communities in Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable and Marginalised People
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Churches, religious and faith-based organizations play traditionally an important part in caring for the needy members of our society. However, some studies suggest that this engagement for solidarity and love is decreasing. On June 17, St. Martin CSA organised a symposium to discuss this development and possible solutions. Emerging Trends in Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Challenges and Opportunities
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In preparation for the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26th June, the Community Programme for Addiction and Mental Health organised a symposium to take stock of the addiction issues in its target area. The event will gather a number of local institutions and personalities who will discuss emerging issues and trends on alcohol and drug abuse, challenges, and possible remedies and or interventions.
A Sense of Meaningfulness and Progress
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Recruiting and retaining volunteers is a challenge for any Non-Profit-Organisation. A recent study, done by St. Martin staff Paul Mathubi, shows that intrinsic rewards, like a sense of meaningfulness and progress, prove to be very important for volunteers.
Why Child Participation is Important
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Involving children in matters that concern them is important for their development but also for our society. In St. Martin CSA, we believe and advocate for child participation at home, at school and in the community. We thank Kindernothilfe E.V. for partnering with us in ensuring our children thrive in a safe environment where their voice counts.
Community - a Powerful Force
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In 2019, St. Martin CSA started a 3-year fundraising campaign for its community-based mental health care project. Despite the pandemic in 2020, the campaign was continued and surpassed the results of the previous year: KES 3.1 million could be raised to help support people with mental illnesses. We thank the communities in and around Nyahururu for their willingness and commitment in caring for the needy persons in their midst.
Voices in Mental Health
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Opinion
In 2018, St. Martin CSA rolled out a pilot community-based mental health project “Making the Invisible Visible.” The project brought out that dignity and sanctity of life can be found in people with mental illness as in every other person. But the sacredness in people with mental illness is often hidden by their illness and cause them much suffering. Over 90% of the people we encountered were subjected to unhygienic and inhuman living conditions, neglect and degrading treatment practices at home and in the community. This article is by no means a response to mental illness but presents some perspectives from the field on mental health. I hope it will trigger a more sincere and frank dialogue on the different voices in the field of mental illness.
Working in a COVID 19 environment
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COVID 19 has impacted on our capacity to deliver services in many ways. We partner with communities through volunteers to reach out to vulnerable people. Communities come together to raise funds for supporting a person with mental illness to get quality health care or a needy child to access quality education, for putting up a house for a homeless person, or for organizing thanksgiving services to celebrate the community’s solidarity. Under COVID 19 these gatherings are not possible anymore which has put our abilities to effectively engage our communities at risk.
The recovery of Moses
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The family of 49-year-old Moses Mwaniki realized that all was not well with him soon after he completed his secondary school education in 1992. While working together with his father mending a broken fence in their term, he suddenly became hostile and violent when he was asked to replace one of the posts. After that, he attempted to commit suicide by drowning himself in a river. This situation left his family at a loss. They could not understand his behaviour as there had been no prior warning. All along he appeared just like any other youth, with a bright future ahead of him.
The many faces of gender-based violence
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16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
lt is the dream of every mother to raise her children in a safe, caring and loving environment. However, this dream is cut short for many mothers by escalating cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya. GBV is the most extreme expression of unequal gender relations in society, and a violation of human rights, as well a major hindrance of the achievement of gender equality. lt dents the dignity, health and personal security of its victims as well as survivors. lt is equally detrimental to the development of the society in general leading to a negative effect on the economy of states in the long run.
Purity is one of the thousands of women who undergo violence in Kenya. She is a mother of 3 children and was happily married before her last child was born.
Help change the lifes of people with mental illnesses
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In 2019, St. Martin CSA has stared a project to support people with mental illnesses. accompanied by a fundraising campaign. The approach of a community-based mental health care system has proven that it can restore the dignity of affected people and give them an improved perspective in life. Hence, the Local Mental Health Fundraising Committee had decided to also undertake mobilization activities this year. Listen to the committee's secretary, Cecilia Ndegwa.
