A catholic church-based foundation has created a remarkable impact within communities in four counties mainly involving women including single mothers by bringing them together for both social and economic empowerment.
Since its inception in 2019, St Theresa’s Foundation is serving more than 13,000 members of the community, with a demographic breakdown of approximately 20 percent men and 80 percent women.
This includes 1,350 members in Isiolo, 2,500 in Laikipia, 2, 950 in Tharaka Nithi, and 6,540 in Meru where the foundation’s impact is most significant.
Speaking during the 25th thanksgiving mass and celebration of the wonderful progress made, the foundations Director Ms Celina Kaaka said their mission is inspired by the words of Saint Theresa of the child Jesus, “Doing small things with great love.”
She added that the foundation is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the country inspired by the extra-ordinary life and the spirit of St Theresa of the Child Jesus.
“This celebratory event embodies the spirit of our organisation; it is a living example of synergy we would like to create in our work. What began as a mission focused on empowering women economically has now evolved into a dynamic movement that serves both men and women,” said Ms Kaaka.
She added that Saint Theresa believed in the power of doing small things with great love and that is the heart of their work, knowing that the language the heart speaks is louder than the language of the mind and therefore, they strive to speak to the heart of their members in everything they do.
To achieve their objective of bringing together and empowering women, Ms Kaaka added, the organisation focusses on four main pillars, including table banking to provide financial independence to the grassroot women especially by giving them access to resources they may not have had before.
“Money is important as it gives us the power to create resilience and independence, and self-sufficiency is the foundation of the true strength,” said Ms. Kaaka.
They also focus on capacity building which encompasses helping individuals improve their skills and reduce the knowledge gap, allowing them to take charge of their own future.
On the investment pillar, the organisation offers opportunities for members to invest, which Ms. Kaaka terms as a process that may seem doubtful but is as natural as carrying a child for nine months unsure of what the future holds, but knowing that at the end, the reward is joy and fulfilment.
The organisation also focuses on home visits, where members get an opportunity to spread the love of God through personal connections, offering support where it is needed the most whether someone is ill, in need of advice or just companionship.
It has made significant strides in delivering financial services directly to grassroot communities, positively impacting more than 10,000 members.
The impact is evidenced by the total revolving fund across all groups under the organisation, which exceeds Sh130 million reflecting both the scale of their financial outreach and the effectiveness of their initiatives in fostering community development and financial stability.
“Last year we partnered with a friend from Italy to train 15 single mothers in business management and who provided them with capital and helped them to launch income generating activities, and we are proud of their success,” said Ms. Kaaka.
To further this, Ms. Kaaka said, the organisation is aiming to train at least 35 single mothers in entrepreneurial skills and provide the necessary support to help them start and grow their own businesses by June 2025.
It has also assisted at least 20 children to access quality education by paying school fees and providing essential supplies like uniforms.
“We are planning to expand our sponsorship project to extend support to a greater number of underprivileged children who lack access to quality education,” said Ms. Kaaka.
Given the substantial number of women’s groups and community initiatives already established in Meru, Ms. Kaaka said they recognize the need to enhance their support infrastructure to effectively reach and serve these groups.
This has necessitated a plan to open two new offices within Meru; one in Maua and another in Timau to serve as dedicated centres for their activities, allowing them to manage and support the growing number of women groups more effectively.
“This will not only foster economic independence among women but also create sustainable opportunities for personal and community development,” said Ms. Kaaka adding that they were also hoping to extend their reach beyond the four counties in order to serve more communities.
They are also planning to bring more men on board so they can also be part of the success story.
The journey has however not been a walk in the park as they have been facing various challenges including managing members expectations and transition from table banking to conventional banking in situations where money flow is greater than the members can borrow.
“Many clients expect charity rather than viewing our programs as opportunities for self-empowerment. There is a risk that clients may perceive the support as a handout rather than a step towards self-reliance,” said Ms Kaaka.
By Dickson Mwiti