An organisation of retired teachers from Suba North Sub County has launched a program aimed at empowering young widows financially so that they could shun retrogressive cultural practices.
Speaking on Thursday while addressing over 30 young widows at Waondo trading centre, the Chairman of Gembe/Lambwe Retired Teachers Organization, Kiche Oguma said that the retired teachers were assisting young widows to reduce their poverty level and become self-reliant.
Oguma further asked them to avoid cultural practices like wife inheritance which may ruin the future of their families and instead focus on the education of their children.
The chairman reiterated that the organization was mainly started to help the young widows due to the rise in poverty index in the area and escalating cases of HIV/AIDS in the County.
He said that their organization is also aiming at offering vocational training such as dress making, computer training and later would deal with financial training.
The organization’s Secretary, Joseph Ooko Ajwang said that 30 out of 96 needy families received items worth Sh150, 000 from the CBO.
Ajwang also reveals that they have supported more than 30 students with bursaries for their education.
Meanwhile, the Director of Witaon Rescue Centre, Rose Akinyi Ojwang’ one of the guests advised widows to work hard and invest in business to avoid the urge of being inherited that may lead to their mistreatment, killings and even rape of children as it has been reported in the past.
One of the beneficiaries of the project Sarah Auma appreciated the organisation for helping them through moral teachings besides providing them with basic needs.
By Emmanuel Otengo / Davis Langat
