Success Self Help Group
Nairobi, Kenya
Success Self Help Group (SSHG) was started in the late 1990s by local people living in Kibera slum in Nairobi. Kibera is a sprawling slum, heavily populated with very limited sanitation, running water and electricity supply. Poverty is everywhere and daily survival is difficult. That’s why organisations like SSHG are vital in bringing hope amidst despair and suffering. Who better to help than local people who understand what people are experiencing and how best to support them.
As their name suggests, they started as a self-help group welcoming members who were affected by HIV and AIDS, including those living with the virus, orphaned children and those caring for others. Members contribute their time, their skills and financial resources to support each other.
Today the group has grown and now has a membership of almost 600 children and adults. SSHG runs its own school, provides food to the most needy in the community, visits the sick in their homes and facilitates poverty-alleviation initiatives through micro-enterprise and small business development for some of its members. It has an active programme of educating its membership about HIV and associated issues.
Four local pastors are closely involved in the work and responsible for the spiritual care of SSHG members. iThemba’s funding supplements members’ own contributions, helping towards day-to-day running costs. Our partnership with SSHG began in 2007.
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> More about orphan care
> More about poverty-alleviation initiatives
> More about home-based care
> More about prevention and education
