The Sisters of Mary Community Health & Development Program (SOMACOHEDEP) are a Faith Based non - profit making Non- Governmental Organization established in 2008 in Kenya. SOMACOHEDEP office is based at Malanga village, Lutali road, 2 kilometers off the main road at Malava market from Kisumu - Kakamega - Webuye route.
SOMACOHEDEP works towards promoting, improving and contributing to quality healthy life of humanity thus enhancing socio economic development of the grassroots communities (focused on empowerment of women and girls) as an integral part of its network.

 

The Sisters of Mary Community Health & Development Program (SOMACOHEDEP) are religious women of the Institute of the Sisters of Mary of Kakamega (SMK), committed to development of women and the girl child through capacity building and education for active participation and involvement in development of humanity to local communities where  they live and work. They do this through the following components: Gender, education, governance, health, youth, disability, children, agriculture etc.

 

STRUCTURE OF SOMACOHEDEP

The structure of the organization is composed of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) membership. The executive committee composed of seven members elected by the AGM makes the governing Board that foresees the planning and implementation of activities. The executive officials of the committee are composed of the chairperson, secretary and treasurer as recognized by the NGOs national coordinating board of Kenya. The personnel who run various projects are referred to as project leaders who directly work with the community based organizations run by women leaders at the grassroots level. Each women group has the chairperson, the secretary and treasurer. Members of the women groups are mobilizing and agents of change in communities.

The vision of Somacohedep organization is to be the leading organization in promotion of integral health and sustainable socio economic development in various communities within Kenya. The mission of Somacohedep organization is to promote, improve and contribute to quality healthy life in socio- economic development of the grassroots communities as an integral part of its network.

 

CORE VALUES

Women of faith, Women of integrity, Accountability, Commitment, Result Oriented, Teamwork spirit

 

ACTIVITES

1. Capacity building on women human rights through seminars/workshops and professional training programs

2. Holistic care of the girls at school/college.

3. Youths undertaking technical courses at vocational centers – accountancy, secretarial, early childhood development teachers training, hospitality and catering.

4. Providing preventive, promotive, and prophylactic health care to women at the grassroots level.

5. Home care and rehabilitative activities for the disabled children in the community.

 

SOMACOHEDEP strategies is the mobilization and sensitization of women at the grassroots level using the following approaches: Empowerment of women on human women rights through seminars/trainings., Education of the girls for better leadership and governance, Developmental projects for rural women in their groups

 

PROJECT SITES

1. Western province: North and East Kakamega districts, Mumias district, Central Bungoma district.

2. Rift Valley province: Kipkelion district.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES

1. Mobilized and sensitized 46856 women through meetings, public forums, seminars/workshops, on integral human women development.

2. Trained 678 women on community based development initiatives.

3. Supported six women community based organizations to initiate income generating activities.

4. Trained 578 women on safe motherhood and their rights to quality health care, active participation and decision making.

5. Trained 30 girls in technical courses to include secretarial, accountancy, early childhood development, computer and hospitality at St. Jude technical college Mumias.

6. Supported the empowerment of 150 girls through primary school based programs.

7. Supported 25 girls for academic education at St. Joseph girls’ secondary school.

8. Supported the initiation, development of three rural health facilities hence promoted women access to primary health and improved maternal child health care.

 

OPPORTUNITIES

1. The local government and the private sector recognizes and permits SOMACOHEDEP (because of who we are) to access thousands of women in communities through community based organizations (CBOs), churches and other social women groups in all areas where we work.

2. SOMACOHEDEP reaches all women without discrimination of race, color or religion.

3. We are open to create linkages and networks with partners whose vision is to lift women and girls to participate in leadership and governance.

 

PROBLEMS

1. Lack of skilled, competent and technical personnel to assist in development of SOMACOHEDEP.

2. Lack of conducive administration building for SOMACOHEDEP offices since the present one is two roomed semi-permanent house.

3. Lack of means of transport (Vehicle) to reach communities at the grassroots.

4. Inadequate funds to continue offering seminars/workshops to women and sustainability of their projects and; education for girls.

To find out more about SOMACOHEDEP organisation and how to help, please contact SOMACOHEDEP at the following contact:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 020 2635147

0716752828, 0735719041

Fax: 20 2635146 

 P.O.BOX 371
Malava 50103

Kakamega

Kenya, East Africa