Location: Kware slum, near Nairobi, Kenya

Mission: To bring hope to women living with and affected by HIV/AIDS within poor communities by empowering and equipping them to meet their spiritual, physical, emotional and economic needs.

Who they serve: Individuals and families affected by or infected with HIV.

What they do: Vocational training, product development & marketing.

• Feeding program & short term food relief to HIV voluntary counseling & testing services (VCT)
• HIV support groups Home based care for people affected by HIV/AIDS
• Child care & education sponsorship
• Medical assistance & support
• Spiritual nurture & guidance

Year founded: 2002, by Jane Wathome

Website: www.beaconafrica.org

Needs:

• Fees to send children to school
• Supplies for preschool and kindergarten classes
• Medicines (especially anti-retrovirals for HIV)
• A van for transporting people
• Additional buildings on their site

Their story: In 2001, Kenyan business woman, Jane Wathome was an intern with a non-governmental group in Ongata Rongai as part of seminary degree program. When the internship and degree were finished, she wanted to continue helping the women suffering from poverty and HIV. She asked them what they would like her to do, and they said they’d like her to help them learn to weave rugs they could sell. She rented a small warehouse and found a professional weaver to teach the women. The program soon expanded to include meals for the women, a preschool for their young children, and home visits for the women who were too sick to come for the training. Beacon of Hope has continued to grow in the number of people served and the services provided.