The EAC is instrumental in this community. They have started
both a nursery school and a school for grades 1-8. The EAC also started a local
clinic, or dispensary as they call it here. The EAC has also taken on the task
of passing out condoms and filling up the condom dispensers located throughout
the nearby towns. EAC staff also travels to different at-risk groups (Boda Boda
or motorcycle drivers, workers at the quarry, addicts) to speak on topics such
as safe sex, reducing early-aged pregnancies, vaccinations, and general health.
The EAC also goes to 4 different schools for their Stay Alive Program, which
emphasizes certain health practices that encourage a healthy and happy life and
also encourage education and staying in school.
This week, the EAC is implementing a new program aimed at encouraging
youth (7th and 8th graders) to understand their finances.
It is labeled as a business class and occurs once a week at the Vutakaka
school, which is the school that the EAC began. The EAC also owns and is
raising chickens and goats and will sell them for a profit to help support the
organization. They began the goat and chicken project last year and found it to
be greatly successful, so they are continuing and hoping to expand this
project. Also, the EAC is helping women to be able to support themselves and so
the EAC has started a sewing club, which has about 18 members currently. The
EAC has a place for the women to meet and provides them with the sewing machines
for them to make their products and then sell for a profit for themselves. They
make bags, aprons, skirts, wallets, and many other products! I saw their
workshop for the first time today and it was fascinating…I was so impressed
with all of their handiwork! I’ll definitely be going back to support this
great cause!
Well, that is a long overview of what the EAC does. Congratulations
on making it this far on my post!
Explaining the pictures:
1. Picture of signs that talk about the EAC getting a grant (written by a former volunteer here).
2. Picture with Mohammed (on the left) and a boda boda driver (on the right). We just filled up a condom dispenser for the boda boda drivers and he wanted to pose for a picture with me...and the condom boxes haha!
3. One of the several condom dispensers around the village.
4. These sacks are filled with soil and have plants for vegetation growing in them. The EAC had a Peace Corps volunteer last year and she came up with this idea because much of their soil is not the greatest for planting vegetables and such! Isn't this a stellar idea??
First of all, I am so excited that you are keeping up with your posts! I love reading about what you are doing with the EAC. How is communication for you? Are you able to communicate in English with workers at the EAC or do you have a translator? I am excited to hear that you enjoyed time spent with the woman's group. I experienced something very similar in Paraguay. It is a wonderful opportunity for women to learn different ways to support their families and raise money in their community. I hope you are enjoying your time with the EAC!
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