ACE Africa Awarded Grant
ACE Africa has been awarded a $30.000 grant.
Ace Africa only works in communities where there is a real need, want and willingness to gain independent self-sufficient lives.
The programme is long-term and bespoke to each community, reflecting local cultural, economic, political and environmental
contexts focusing on all aspects of a child’s and community’s development.
In Homa Bay County, Kenya, 47% of the population live beneath the poverty line, and food insecurity is a
critical problem. Additionally, the county has an HIV prevalence rate of 25.75%, 4 times the national average
rate of 6%. In Kenya, girls and young women account for 46% of new HIV infections. Many of these girls and
young women are unable to assert their rights and face various different discriminations. These experiences
create an environment where there is higher risk of transactional, unprotected, and age-disparate sex,
contributing towards girl’s vulnerability to HIV.
In 2016 Ace Africa began implementing DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe)
projects that aim to address the structural drivers that directly and indirectly increase girls’ HIV risk. Drivers
such as poverty levels, gender inequality sexual violence, and lack of education. Monitoring, evaluation, and
feedback from adolescent and young women participating in the DREAMS projects have revealed that many
women have a desire to build their skill sets and improve their ability to generate income.
The DREAMS project benefits 140 out of school young girls and women aged 18-24. The girls and young
women have been identified as some of the most underprivileged, vulnerable, and most at risk of HIV
infection within their communities. In addition, 700 household members (each household consists of an
average of 6 members) of the 140 adolescent girls, will benefit from improved capacity to meet basic needs
and have a reduced risk of HIV infection.
Funds will be used for:
1. Nutritional based training and activities to ensure long-term food security and self sufficiency
2. Establishment and management of nutritional based enterprises to ensure long-term economic
security
3. Cost associated with monitoring and evaluating, whichhelp provide support on a long term basis
to ensure lasting economic sustainability and self-sufficiency