New Life GOH

The Guardians of Hope NEW LIFE Group

Machakos, Kenya

On Wednesday, we travelled Southeast of Nairobi with the GOH leaders to the town of Machakos to visit the New Life Africa Brotherhood Church and the Guardians of Hope group that meets there.

The group members working on tie and dye

The group is made up of both men and women, most of whom are living positively with HIV and AIDS. They come together to support each other and to care for over forty AIDS orphans from within their community. "We come for encouragement," shared Elizabeth Wausi, "and support one another through many activities." The activities of the group are many from a weekly merry-go-round savings program, micro credit and income generating activities, to counselling, home-based care, improving kitchen gardens, nutritional education for members on Antiretroviral medications and sponsoring orphans with school fees. "We share our experiences, support each other and plan for the future!" Elizabeth told us.

One of the great successes of the New Life Group has been the groups ability to access outside programs for support. The Africa Brotherhood Church's development program has been able to attach a community care worker, a public health worker and peer educators to the Guardians of Hope. These people work together with the group and the local hospital to help people access voluntary testing and counselling programs, access free medications and follow up people on long term treatment programs. This cooperation between the hospital, church and community is what makes the Guardians of Hope such an effective response to HIV and AIDS.

During the weekly Tuesday meetings, the guardians in New Life dedicate a part of their time to income generating activities. One of their more successful ventures has been producing household detergent. With a 400 Kenyan shilling investment for ingredients, the group can sell the detergent for 600 shillings.

Henry, Ruth and Laura taking great interest

in the detergent making demonstration

Elizabeth Wausi with Isaie Gakwerere

trying his hand at making detergent

"It smells like lemons!"

The guardians in the New Life group purchase their own products first, whether it be soap or fabric, they want to be their own best customers. They then take their wares to the local market where the funds earned go toward paying school fees for HIV and AIDS orphans being cared for by the group. This past year, the group has sponsored 42 children in attending school. The money earned is also used for small business loans for individual group members, who use the low interest loan to strengthen their personal income. This past year, ten members took and re-payed small loans that helped to boost their businesses.

Elizabeth speaking with guardians outside of Machakos

Sister Esther and her daughter Grace

As the pastor of the Africa Brotherhood Church in this community, Esther joins the Guardians each week during their meetings and provides spiritual support and visitation to the group members within the community. Please keep Esther, and other pastors working with Guardians of Hope, in your prayers as they serve their communities in such a vital way. The Gospel message of acceptance into a compassionate community of forgiveness and grace is at the heart of Guardians of Hope.

Guardians of Hope