By Rose Auma Address, Mathare Mother’s Development Centre

Good morning your Excellencies and honored guests,

We gather here to celebrate women and girls, voice the struggles and find a way forward.

I stand before you as an example that represents the suffering of thousands of women and girls but I also stand before you as a survivor! I was not born, brought up or married in Mathare slums but this has become my haven and refuge.

After my husbands AIDS related death I was accused of killing him and was thrown out of my matrimonial home. I found my way to Mathare in Nairobi, the 2nd largest slum in Kenya. I had just given birth to my second child and I was weak. My baby girl was also sick and soon after we were diagnosed HIV positive.

The home based caregivers from Mathare Mothers Development Centre with support from GROOTS Kenya; gave me support. They inspired me and I joined them. A high level of stigma in the slum posed a challenge to reaching out to people infected with HIV and AIDS. Disclosing my status motivated many positive women to join hands with me to form the “Faraja” support group under the Mathare Mother Development Centre. Together we formed other self-help groups and community-based organizations affiliated to GROOTS Kenya in Nyeri, Kendu Bay, Kirinyaga, Limuru and Kitui districts in Kenya. Most of these support groups have remained strong, sustained by the commitment and dedication of their members. Although most of these groups have various independent activities including income generating activities and psychosocial support, the support groups work with other women caregivers who may not be infected with HIV. Every year, GROOTS Kenya supports bring us to together to share our experiences, challenges and learn new coping skills.

In addition to reaching out to friends living with HIV and AIDS in the slum, I have supported children in the Mathare Mothers Day Care Centre. The Day Care Centre was established to rescue young children from slum fires when they would be locked up in houses as their parents went out to do casual labour in the informal sector. On average 35 children come to the centre each day. We have seen a reduction of children getting burnt in the houses due to this initiative. Women do not have to hawk with their children strapped behind their backs. This has always motivated me to dedicate my efforts so that children grow up in a secure environment. Thanks to Mathare Mothers Development Centre and GROOTS Kenya for providing me with this opportunity to explore my talents and provide safety to so many children. GROOTS Kenya has been our pillar.

Providing care and support is not an easy task. It requires sacrifices of time, energy and caregivers’ scarce resources. I have walked to our Day Care centre in the morning and have found abandoned babies. After informing the necessarily administration, us caregivers sometimes decide to embrace these children in the shanties we call our homes. We are poor but our hearts are rich.. In most cases they lack adequate resources and their efforts go unnoticed at all levels. Lets celebrate the contributions of women and girls in care and support, but I persuade people not to glorify it. We also require attention and resources.

My sincere gratitude go to World YWCA- for recognizing our efforts. I am indebted to Mathare Mothers Development Centre and GROOTS Kenya for providing me with a lifeline and a supportive environment. I share this award and recognition with the many women and girls for their every day commitment and dedication in home based care work that often goes unrecognized. At 37 years old, I go on, support my two children and continue to support my community.

Thank you.