Community Action for Rural Development
Working towards Sustainable Development in Western Kenya

CARD is engaged in a number of poverty alleviation initiatives. These include development of sustainable income generating activities for the poor through commercial beekeeping, environmental management, fighting against the HIV scourge and a number of other initiatives aimed towards sustainable development in Western Kenya.

Commercial Beekeeping
Beekeeping was established as one of CARD’s core projects at the organization’s 1998 inception. Since then, CARD has had many successes including:
Enrollment of over 400 farmers and more than 50 self help groups in commercial beekeeping
A total of 1500 Langstroth hives in the entire project area, with a total annual honey output of 7 tones
Provide hives, bee-suits, smokers
Training in beehive management and regular check-ups

Agro-forestry
For commercial beekeeping to be successful, the bees need an environment conducive to their needs. Currently, CARD is promoting agro-forestry for two reasons: it provides the ideal forage for the bees and it is also very good for healthy soils and soil erosion control. CARD has:
Reduced the destruction of Kakamega forest by allowing communities to use bee-keeping as a source of income
Conducted environmental education programs in schools to educate the next generation
Set up tree nurseries in 16 schools
Encouraged environmental clubs to sell the seedlings in order to bring income to the schools

HIV/AIDS Mitigation
CARD has been instrumental in championing for community development and fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic within the larger Kakamega district. CARD seeks to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS through:
Regular educational sessions
Mobile Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) outreaches
Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) campaigns
Supported 50 widows and 80 orphans in mitigation of socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS through commercial bee keeping initiative
Enabled 420 households to earn a regular income of over five hundred thousand shillings per annum from honey sales
Facilitated the establishment of five mothers post test clubs in Kambiri and Malava.

Currently, CARD has received funding from AMREF Maanisha project to help implement youth friendly activities in Ileho division of Kakamega East District, Western Kenya. Phase one of this project involves recruiting and training youths in community theatre, through which they can effectively articulate the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the crosscutting issues.

CARD is also partnering with APHIA II Western, a USAID funded project as an anchor organization to help send health information (HIV/AIDS, Reproductive health, STIs, Malaria, Tuberculosis etc) to the rural communities in Western Kenya.  CARD has just received funds from TOWA and starts off activities as from 12th March 2009. Greatest emphasis is on  provision of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Services to the most remote areas of Shinyalu division.

Other Projects
Soya Bean Production
Previously, CARD helped farmers seek out the best price for the soya until trade regulations changed and the price of soya plummeted. CARD still promotes local consumption of the beans as a means of combating malnutrition and is looking to add value to soya by producing products such as soy milk and tofu.

Kakamega Forest Participatory Management Project (KFBCP)
The KFBCP is a long-term project that seeks to enhance the sustainable management and conservation of Kakamega Forest through a number of specific objectives, including the protection of indigenous plant and animal populations, the rehabilitation of degraded areas of the forest, awareness-raising campaigns on the importance of forest conservation, and poverty reduction through the creation of forest-related trade jobs.

Renewable Energy sources:

1. Biogas Production
CARD is looking to combat the rising cost of natural gas and charcoal by providing anaerobic digesters that produce natural gas at a reduced price to the community. So far, CARD has set up six biogas demonstration sites in Kakamega district, next to the remaining rain forest- Kakamega forest. Construction of 6 more digesters will commence from November 15th to January 2009. Already there are signs of demand for the bio-digesters only that community members are carefully observing the existing demos.

2. Briquettes

CARD understands that the middle and low income earners are eager to adopt energy options that are both efficient and cost effective. Briquettes, block like fuel, made from waste paper, saw dust and food scraps, provide this alternative. This project is being piloted with the help of Sarah Francis, a volunteer intern with Foundation for Sustainable Development, currently working with CARD in Western Kenya. In this vane, CARD is set to roll out low cost briquette manufacturing plant which will help the local communities in Kakamega town to access this energy source at a low cost. The project will be rolled out in November 2008 to help ease the pressure on the forest occasioned by demand for charcoal and wood fuel by the town dwellers. CARD’s first briquette was made on 5th November and there is huge confidence that more will be produced and sold.

3. Solar Cookers/heaters

CARD recognizing the availability of solar energy in Kakamega is set to begin demonstration sites for solar water heaters/cookers. This is in a bid to help the community to cut down the cost of fuel spent on heating.

Other activities carried out by CARD include the facilitation of civic education exercises and other consultancy services. The office also serves as a resource center for local farmers and HIV/AIDS patients.