ABOUT US
Smile Woman of Africa (Smile) is a Kenyan based registered Community Based Organization (CBO) formed to alleviate poverty and improve the welfare of needy and vulnerable members of the society across Busia County. As Smile we are committed to strengthening the capacities of grass root communities for effective participation in governance, economic and social affairs of their communities. The organization aims at facilitating the acquisition of enterpreneual knowledge and skills to youth and women for effective involvement in livelihood projects which are geared towards, among others, household food security. Smile also advocates for gender mainstreaming and action against sex and gender based violence (SGBV) as well as implementing children’s and human rights in general.
Smile Woman of Africa started its operations in 2019 and was fully registered in 2020. The main programme since initiation has been table banking. The organization has identified and trained over 70 groups within Busia County though the operations are currently limited to Matayos, Butula, Teso South and Nambale sub-counties. However we are stretching our activities to other sub-counties in order to involve the entire Busia County. Other activities include Youth Leadership and Mentorship Programmes, Skills development, livestock rearing, Merry-rounds, HIV/ AIDs sensitization, visitation and material support for the elderly, widows and imprisoned women, Guidance and Counseling of victims of abuse, and referral of such cases to the rightful authorities for action. Future activities will include up- scaling financial services and training, and expanding livestock rearing and farming for the Smile affiliate groups.
We have three volunteers who identify, recruit and train the table banking groups, monitor their performance and file reports in the office every Monday of the week. Our office is temporarily located at the documentation centre/ library, in the County Commissioner‘s compound, Busia. The second office is due to be opened in Butula at the Sub- county Social Development offices due to public demand.
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF STRUCTURE
The governance
and management of the organization is well stipulated in the constitution.
Within the set up all the members of the team have roles and responsibilities.
They include the Executive Director, Board of Management; Chairperson, Secretary,
Treasurer, Volunteers who serve as Programme officers and other members of the
Organization. When implementing scheduled Programmes, we incorporate our
partners who are either other CBOs with common interests and/or Government
agencies.
EMILY WERE OKHOBA
CHAIRPERSON, SMILE WOMAN OF AFRICA.
BEATRICE A. JUMA, Hsc
Executive Director
ZIRWEL NYAWENCHA
DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF THE ELDERLY PROGRAM