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By Caitlin Clark & Lucy Liddle
Your support has enabled Niaver CBO to create a community fish project that will support the provision of sustainable education and the security of the wider community, changing the lives of families living in this rural area in Kenya.
How does a community fish project work?
Sustainable fish farming (in this case) is all about producing fish in a manner that's community owned and self-sufficient, supporting the local economy through job opportunities, changing lives, and increasing families access to nutrient dense reliable food.
In 8 months time the fingerlings will be large enough to be sold by the community. 30% of these are sold at a reduced price so that families can access nutritious food full of protein and omega 3. 70% of the fish will be sold by Niaver CBO for a greater profit, reinvesting the income into replenishing the fish stocks and supporting the local community centre so training can be provided on topics like HIV prevention, women's rights and family planning.
This project directly employs 3 members of the local community in daily maintenance, but provides lots of other job opportunities in the preparation, drying, transport and selling of the fish. The project also trains 40 people every 4 months in sustainable fish farming, so that the community can learn new skills, families can profit and pay for vital necessities like food, medicine and an education for their children.
Your support has even helped to install a solar pump so that fresh water is always circulating, while nutrient rich waste water is used to water and fertilise the crops in the community garden!
'Why fish...I thought you supported education for children?!'
In order to break down the complex barriers that stop a child from accessing education, we have to go beyond building classrooms. Food insecurity and poverty remain some of the largest challenges that stop a child from going to school, particularly in Bwayi where your support helped to create Niaver Nursery in January 2023.
By working with the whole community, COCO can support sustainable initiatives like this fish project to diversify their income and nutrition. This can change the lives of the community in Bwayi enabing families to pay for their children's education, stave off food insecurity and allows Niaver to reinvest profits back into the community, providing skill sessions and reinvesting back into the school.
Top 3 reasons this is a FANTASTIC development
Empowering the community: The project has become a beacon of hope for the families in Bwayi offering them opportunities to learn, work & thrive. The newfound expertise is not just enriching their lives and ability to lift themselves out of poverty but also their sense of empowerment.
Sustainable Income and Nutrition: The community will have a continuous and reliable source of food & nutrition. In Kenya, fish is commonly dried and preserved so that families can easily store it for substantial periods of time while keeping lots of the goodness inside!
Investing in the future: The profits generated from the project are reinvested directly back into the community. This supports everyone, from an individual families, to the local school and markets, to the knowledge and opportunities for the whole community.
Very soon we will be launching our BIG GIVE Christmas Appeal! This year we are raising funds for a Poultry Project to further support the community in Bwayi. Will you give a cluck this Christmas? Register here for an alert when the appeal is live.