The document summarizes a presentation on integrating microfinance into peer education programs for HIV/AIDS prevention. It discusses how Bungoma Organization for Empowerment of Women (BOEW) implemented peer education programs for low-income women, boda boda riders, and female sex workers in Bungoma and Teso districts of Western Kenya. It found that many peer educators quit due to lack of motivation or income, so BOEW partnered with K-rep to provide small loans to peer educators and clients, reducing dropout rates and improving sustainability of the peer education programs. The presentation recommends further expanding microfinance opportunities and community involvement to strengthen HIV prevention activities.

1. SECOND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
PEER EDUCATION, HIV AND AIDS, 14TH
– 16TH JUNE 2006.
Theme: ‘Let us Care and
Care to Care’
INTEGRATION OF MICRO-FINANCE INTO
PEER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
LOW-INCOME WOMEN, BODA BODA AND FEMALE
SEX WORKERS

2. Presented by:
Antonina Ochieno
Manager
BOEW Impact - Bungoma
BUNGOMA ORGANIZATION FOR
EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
P.O. BOX 1162
BUNGOMA
TEL: 055-30281/0735-681897/0726-994960
Email: boew2005@yahoo.com/
antonina_ochieno@yahoo.com

3. ISSUES
 Communities now need to be deeply
involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS
and STIs. One way of doing this is
through Peer Education. This creates an
opportunity for people to discuss freely
with their peers.
 Most of these communities are
vulnerable due to poverty and these are
where our Peer Educators are drawn
from:

4. INTRODUCTION
 Bungoma Organization for
Empowerment of Women, was registered
in 1999 as an NGO.
 The Organization was established to
execute activities that would assist
women to realize their potential in
Western Kenya.

5. CONT. INTRODUCTION
 BOEW is dealing with the project of
HIV/AIDS Prevention funded by USAID
through FHI.
- Low income women
- Boda boda/bicycle repairs
- Female Sex Workers

6. DESCRIPTION
 Peer Education programmes are currently being
implemented in, Teso and Bungoma district of
Western Province. The identified Peer Educators
in the three areas were taken through a vigorous
training on HIV/AIDS and STIs, which have
equipped them with behaviour change
communication skills, enabling them to
effectively communicate with their peers and
gradually bring about behaviour change.

7. CONT. DESCRIPTION
 In the implementation of these
programmes, there is a need to involve,
the local community right from the start,
work with them very closely. This
program has certainly made an impact
by reducing stigma discrimination.

8. CONT. DESCRIPTION
 Most of our Peer Educators are volunteers who come from poor
families. On recruitment, the majority expected some
motivation. However, on finding out that there was nothing of
the sort, some decided to quit thus forcing the organization to
look for replacement.
 This exercise proved costly and solution had to be looked for.
Indeed the solution was found when the organization introduced
micro-finance in the programme through K-rep (Fahida Project),
where by Peer Educators, have access to small loans.

9. CONT. DESCRIPTION
 In addition to Peer Educators, small loans are
also extended to the affected people and
people living with HIV/AIDS. Most of them
have accessed loan and established small scale
business to generate some incomes for their
survival.

10. LESSONS LEARNT
 As a result, the voluntary nature of the
program, some people who joined peer
education with an aim of earning a living
dropped out.
 After introducing, micro-finance into our
peer education program, we have not
noticed drop outs as earlier on. Most of
the Peer Educators are very active and
ready to continue with Peer Education.
 Integration of micro-finance into Peer
Education programme enhances
sustainability.

11. RECOMMENDATIONS
 The community needs to e involved in
selection of Peer Educators to enable
them own the programme.
 Facilitation of Peer Educators need to be
addressed as this can cause a program to
fail.
 K-rep is the only one, working with BOEW
on micro-finance and has only taken four
groups within Bungoma Municipality.

12. CONT. RECOMMENDATION
 BOEW has extended its boundaries to
the whole of Bungoma District and Teso
district, in Malaba where we are working
with Female Sex Workers.
 As a result, BOEW is looking forward to
any willing partner to assist; low income
women, Boda boda(men cyclists) and
Female Sex Workers.

13. CONCLUSION
 It is our desire that we achieve more
than we have now, through a willing
partner that could help BOEW to realize
their vision.
Thank you