Our work in Bumala, Kenya
INFORMATION ABOUT BUMALA.
Bumala is a small town in Busia County, Western Kenya. Busia County borders Uganda to the North. Bumala sub-location where Bumala town is located has an approximate population of 4,495 people. It is 24 KM to the Kenya /Uganda border.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
There are no cash crops grown in Bumala and no industries or factories in this area. Majority are small scale businessmen and peasant farmers who only produce food for subsistence and rely on rainfall for their farming. There is no irrigation farming in Bumala. Others engage in odd jobs like quarry, smuggling (illegal importation/exportation of goods across the border), pushing handcarts. Most young men who have dropped out of school have gone into transport business using motor bicycles known as BODA BODA in Kenya and young girls who have dropped out of schoolwork to be house maids or babysitters.
Majority of the population live quite below poverty level with most families living on one meal a day while others go for a day or so without food forcing them to depend on well-wishers for their survival. In the recent economic update, Busia County has been rated among the poorest counties in Kenya.
SOCIAL LIFE
Bumala is a cosmopolitan community with so many tribes and nationalities living here. Since parents do not have enough income to sustain their children by providing for their basic needs, young girls are forced to engage in sex for money at a very early age and when they conceive, they drop out of school but after giving birth, they abandon the children and move to the cities. Young boys on the other hand, run to the streets in the big cities or opt for odd jobs in the village. Whatever they earn from these jobs is spent on alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. This kind of careless life has exposed many to HIV/AIDS and so many have died leaving behind very young families. A bigger percentage of the people in Bumala have no education because of poverty.
This circle of interconnected ring of illiteracy and poverty is what Bumala Vision CBO is endeavouring to break through programmes such as the establishment of St. Annes Education Centre and many others. Most of the children sponsored at St. Annes Education Centre are older than their classes simply because they were victims of the above circumstances and by the time we came to their rescue, they were already late for school.
WHAT WE DO AND WHO WE ARE
We are a Christian charity based in Devon, United Kingdom. Our work with our partners in Kenya is to provide education through child sponsorship as we work together to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time. This helps in promoting the children’s rights and makes a real difference to the lives of children born into poverty every year. Helping children off the streets and into school gives them a chance to improve their lives and build a better future. We have a great opportunity to change lives of children in Bumala through child sponsorship .
We also provide education, food, and healthcare for sponsored children and support communities through adult sponsorship and food distribution.
EVERY PENNY COUNTS
Olive Bearer’s income comes from donations made by generous individuals and groups. You can see all the details in our Annual Directors Reports which are available from the Charity Commission. Spending wisely and small amounts can go a long way and every donation we receive makes a difference to an African child. Each year, our work creates the following impact.
Education, food provision and support of a community in poverty
All Trustees volunteer their services free of charge – no expenses taken. 99.999% of all donations received reaches St Annes School, Bumala.
