PROFILE

Green Care Habitat has embarked on an ambitious program that will see one million trees planted in most schools, homes and public places countrywide by the year 2012.
Green Care Habitat (GRECAH) is a local NGO established in 2001 and registered under Kenya’s NGO Act (Reg.No. OP. 218/051/2003/023/2540) in April 2003 to simultaneously propagate issues of environmental conservation and management; HIV/AIDS awareness and management; and promotion of poverty alleviation initiatives.

GRECAH is working strategically to become an organization working across a broad spectrum on well being of mankind, but centered at environmental sustainability as strategic initiative to help our country be able to achieve economic, cultural and social benefits.

Most regions of the country once boasted of good, vegetation cover, good climatic conditions, ample rainfall and substantial water catchment areas, today are characterized by harsh climatic conditions (droughts and floods) due to wanton tree cutting thereby badly affecting the Kenya’s Agriculture Sector, which has directly resulted to food insecurity (Hunger/Starvation) and indirectly to HIV/AIDS encroachment hence the vicious cycle of poverty in the country.

Today, GRECAH works directly with poor and marginalized people across the country particularly those in Arid and Semi Arid lands (ASALs), to meet the basic needs and address the social/health problems. Through networks and coalitions with other organizations and partners, GRECAH is engaging in innovative strategies that give focus to environmental conservation and management, to address efforts to fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty.

OUR VISION

A Healthy and Wealthy Kenya and the world at large founded on Environmental Conservation and Management for Sustainable Development.

OUR MISSION

To contribute towards sustainable development and improve the living-standards of the Rural Folk especially Women, Youth and Children; help in fight against Poverty and HIV/AIDS and other Social vices & Health problems, through the environmental perspective – all which fall under Cooperate Social Responsibilities (CSR).

OUR AIM

To help reinstate the country’s forest cover from the present less than 2% to 10% or more as it was at the time of independence; to help reduce poverty levels in Arid and Semi Arid Areas (ASALs) and other marginalized areas (informal settlements)  by 30%; and, to help manage and reduce HIV/AIDS pandemic.

OUR OBJECTIVES

Main Objective

• To improve the quality of life for those people inhabiting the Kenya’s rural areas particularly those categorized under Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs) and other marginalized areas (informal settlements) by environmental strategy.

Specific Objective

• To fight against deforestation, prevent the spread of desertification and prevent environmental health concerns.
• To initiate income generating activities from environmental generating activities (ERIGA) and agricultural income generating (ARIGA) activities in rural areas.
• To ensure accessibility of the environmentally benign renewable sources of energy to the poor.
• To protect water catchments and ensure accessibility and reliability of quality water to the water shortage localities.
• To provide better shelter to the poor HIV and AIDS affected, elderly, female and child headed households in remote areas.

Under the GREEN KENYA INITIATIVE Green Care Habitat targets Women and Youth as they form 52% and 62% of the total population respectively and are also the most vulnerable sections of the community that are adversely affected by Environmental degradation impacts, HIV/Aids, Rape, Drug/Alcohol Abuse,  Poverty and other Social Vices.

GRECAH will target the following areas countrywide for afforestation and re-afforestation with a quarter being food-producing trees (Fruit Trees) and medicinal trees:

• Homesteads (mini forests)
• Institutions Compounds especially rural & urban schools and their environs.
• Existing bare Hills and their uninhabited slopes
• Around water catchment areas and water bodies and sewerage plants
• Private farms (fostering Agro forestry).
• Along main and feeder roads (both sides) within a spacing of 20 Metres

To realize this initiative Grecah is looking for partnerships with both local and International organization or individuals who would like to be part of the team that would bring back the glory of indegenenius Kenyan environment through supporting either of the following programs

1. Environmental Conservation and Management- (Green Kenya Initiative - Adopt A Tree Project )

1.1.0 Green Schools Initiative Project
Green Schools Initiative Project, which falls under the larger Green Kenya Initiative Programme, has turned out to be one of the most successful environmental Projects being implemented by Green Care Habitat in Schools around the Country in Partnership with Unilever Tea Kenya Ltd/TOTAL Kenya who have so far provided us with nearly 50,000 assorted tree seedlings since 2004. Here the target is to establish/form Environmental/Forest Clubs in schools that will plant at least 500 trees in each of the nearly 30,000 learning institutions spread across the country by 2012 with quarter of the trees planted being Fruit Trees.

Where Trees are planted in School and other learning, Institutions include:

• Around the School Compound
• Along the road leading to the School  on both sides
• Woodlot within the School Compounds
• Other institutions neighboring schools i.e. hospitals, town centres and markets

1.1.1 Green Homes Initiative Project

Under this Project, GRECAH works with Women in the rural areas by providing and helping them collect tree seedlings and plant those within their homesteads forming small woodlots that in return ensure regular supply of wood fuel as an estimated 70% of Kenyans use wood fuel as either firewood or charcoal.
GRECAH is also working with local farmers to grow organically developed bananas, Jatropha and vanilla seedlings.

Where Trees are planted in Homesteads, include:

• Within and around homesteads as woodlots
• On the farm boundaries and in the farms through Agro – forestry
• Along the road leading to the Homestead on both sides

1.1.2 Books for Trees Initiative Project

Green Care Habitat (GRECAH), has substantial experience in facilitating talks on positive living and behavioral change as well as development publication and dissemination of appropriate easy to read Information, Education and Communication (I.E.C) materials on National and other Social Health concerns. We have desktop-researched and compiled booklets with vital information titled:

1. The 50 Basic Questions and Answers about Rape and Sodomy.
2. The 100 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about HIV/AIDS Therapy(Both English and Swahili Versions)
3. Home Based Care for People Living with HIV & AIDS
4.Youth, Drug and Alcohol
5.Malaria the killer
6.Stop TB & Manage HIV/AIDS
7.Diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure Prevention and Management

To be able to successfully drive the Green Kenya Initiative, these booklets form the basis of our major source of income in the Organization. Through printing and distributing them to a number of stakeholders and partners in the country at a substantive low fee, we have been able to raise funds to implement our other core activities. The Booklets have proved popular among the Kenyan institutions (security forces, NGOs and learning institutions) that have come across them.

After acquisition of at least 1000 booklets, GRECAH  facilitates the establishment of Forest Reserve under our Books for Trees Initiative Project (BOTIP)  by planting at least 500 trees of which a quarter of them are fruit trees in any place the organization chooses with  permission from  relevant authorities in the area.
However, for those organizations without land for planting trees GRECAH has entered into a partnership with the Sports Stadia Management Board to solicit for organizations who wish to plant trees within Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Stadium and help restore the ambience with the green environment.
GRECAH provides seedlings and undertake the actual planting and care for a year while the Sports Stadia Management Board is required to protect the initiative by fencing the area around the Forest Reserve. The organization sponsoring the initiative them puts up a sign post within the forest reserve bearing their name and GRECAH as co-sponsors.

Poverty Reduction Initiatives

Poverty Alleviation forms our third key programme of activity at the Organization although it is the least implemented due to the scarcity of funds because of the absence of DONOR FUNDING. However, this has not hindered the Organization from addressing Poverty, which is most  prevalent among our TARGET GROUP- Women and Youth by encouraging them to get involved in Environmental and Agricultural Related Income Generating Activities (ERIGA & ARIGA).

The types of Environmental and Agricultural Related Income Generating Activities that Green Care Habitat encourages include:

• Planting of jatropha curcus, Organic Bananas, Vanilla, Pigeon Peas and White Sorghum by the women groups in Samia,Bunyala, Busia and Teso Districts of western province.
• Raising Tree/Fruit/ Seedlings and Flowers for Sale
• Raising woodlots in homesteads and harvest wood to sale as wood fuel and building materials
• Livestock Keeping and Restocking initiative to enhance life security and restoring peace among the warring tribes in ASALs
• Raise fruit Trees to enhance food security in rural areas
• Raise trees for woodcarving and carpentry industry for income generation and creation of employment.
• Initiation of microfinance projects in Agriculture and Business enterprises for women and youth groups in rural areas.

Furthermore, GRECAH is currently seeking funds for Water & Sanitation and Housing project to address the water scarcity and housing problem among the HIV/AIDS infected and affected women/child headed families under Grandmothers in Peril Project, as a way of uplifting the lives of HIV/AIDS victims wallowing in immense poverty; and Jatropha curcus crop project to enhance productive agro-forestry farming and bio-diesel production and establishment of cottage industries in rural areas.

1.1.4 HIV/ AIDS, Malaria, Rape, and Youth Alcohol /Drug Abuse Awareness (Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Project and Training Initiative)

GRECAH has developed some IEC materials namely:

• The 50 Basic Questions and Answers about Rape and Sodomy.
• The 100 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about HIV and AIDS & ARV –Therapy
• Home Based Care for People Living with HIV & AIDS
• Youth, Alcohol and Drugs
• Stop T.B and manage
• Malaria
• Diabetes Prevention and Management

These publication forms GRECAH’s major source of income in terms of office administration and running of small projects where donor funding is inadequate or lacking. Through Research, publishing and distributing them to a number of stakeholders and partners in the country at a subsidized fee, we have been able to raise funds to implement our other core activities. The Booklets have proved popular among the Kenyan institutions (security forces, NGOs and learning institutions) that have come across them. The urgent need and demand for these booklets have given GRECAH a huge challenge in our search for a DONOR to sponsor the production in large quantities and distribute them FREE OF CHARGE to the Members of the Public especially to Women and Youth who are the most infected, affected and vulnerable members of the society.

In partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), GRECAH has during such campaigns participated in HIV/AIDS and other social vices and Health Concerns awareness by:

• Developing and Producing of Malaria Chart Titled “JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA” for the Department Funded by World Health Organization (WHO) – Kenyan Office in 2005/2006.
• Developing and Producing of a HIV/AIDS Chart Titled “JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS” for The African Union (AU) North Eastern and Eastern Provinces in Kenya Funded by USAID – Kenyan Office in mid 2005.
• Developing and Producing of Malaria Chart Titled “JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA” in both English and Kiswahili Funded by World Health Organization (WHO) – Kenyan Office in Jan 2006.
• Developing and producing a Home based Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS, for Kenya Power & Lighting Company, Trocaire East Africa Regional office, Communication Commission of Kenya, and Mobil Kenya in 2006/2007.
• Developing and Producing  The 100 most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers  About HIV/AIDS  and ARV Therapy  for the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), The Administration Police  and the  Kenya Prison  through the funding from Community  Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and  Habitat Foundation-CHF International/Kenya office  2008/9

Moreover, GRECAH has managed to carry out a direct capacity building on HIV/AIDS and other social/health concerns awareness by starting up a GRECAH Youth Development Centre at Kawangware in Nairobi to run two social/ health issues and education-(a secondary school and health centre).

Our aim is to generate information, create awareness, and sensitize the society on the effects of Rape, TB, Diabetes, Malaria, Drug Abuse and HIV & AIDS by passing a booklet to everyone if possible, especially women and youth and School children who bear the heavy burden of resulting social malpractices. We therefore solicit for efforts and willingness to curb such threats. GRECAH has noticeably reached out to a number of organizations, health institutions and youth groups across the country with these IEC materials.

However, for the proper implementation of our Projects, the organization encourages donations from various sources including local and international donors, corporate and even individuals; for GRECAH to achieve its main goal of long-term sustainable development plan to the full benefit of its Target Group – The under privileged. (Women & Youth).

PREVIOUS AND PRESENT PARTNERS

Grecah has had the privilege to get support from the following organization to implement some of our core programs.

• African Union/IBAR
• World Health Organization (WHO)  - Department of Malaria Control (DMC)
• National Aids & STD Control Program (NASCOP)
• Unilever Kenya Ltd
• Centre for Advancement of Women and Children (CAWAC)
• Nairobi Women’s Hospital – Department Gender Violence Recovery Centre
• Kenya Ports Authority
• Kenya Power & Lighting Co. Ltd
• Mobil Oil Kenya Ltd now Oilibya
• Trocaire (East Africa Region)
• Medical Assistance Programme (MAP) International-Kenya
• Communications Commission of Kenya-CCK
• Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
• Community Habitat Foundation-CHF International/Kenya
• Centre for Diseases and Control Prevention (CDC)
• Administration Police
• Kenya Prisons
• National Youth Service
• Kenya Police
• SPORTS STADIA MANAGEMENT BOARD

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

A Board of Directors governs GRECAH, which comprises of the Director who is also in charge of Programmes Department, Deputy Director who is also the secretary to the Board, Treasurer and two Board members. Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) at the local level form GRECAH’s grassroots machinery and affiliate Networks. For the proper and effective implementation of Projects GRECAH has had engage some Professional Staff and Support Staff mainly on Contract Basis and others on voluntary basis through Internship.

OUR APPEAL

For Grecah to fully realize the Green Kenya Initiative by the year 2012 we humbly call upon Kenyans, friends (tourists, co-operate bodies, foreign missions and other local and international organizations to adopt a tree or mini forest by donating at least kshs 100 for a tree and 15,000/= for at least 500 trees (mini forest) to green care habitat

Please Click the button or link below for Voluntary Donations

Account Name: Green Care Habitat (GRECAH)
Account No. 01136041975300
Cooperative Bank of Kenya (Ukulima Branch)
P.O Box 74956 – 00200
Tel. +254 20 225400/11, +254 20 245651 Fax: +254 20 245651, Nairobi, Kenya.
Local Bank “BIC” (SWIFT) Code: KCOOKENA
Local Bank Sort Code/ Routing Code: 11011

N/B For more information about us please do not hesitate to visit our website on www.grecah.org or write to our administrator through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or using the above
address.