Charles and Ann Owino have been friends and partners of The 1010 Project since August of 2004. They have a beautiful daughter named Juliet. Charles is the founder of Youth Challenge Network (YOCHAN), a grassroots organization preventing the spread of HIV/AIDs by educating young adults and children. Currently, the Kenyan government estimates that 7.4% of Kenyans age 15-64 are infected with HIV. This means that about 1.4 million adults are living with HIV.

In an effort to catalyze the critical work of YOCHAN, The 1010 Project has funded two separate income-generating projects:

1) Prestige Detergent Production

2) Peanut Butter Production & Distribution

YOCHAN profits $46.15 every month as a result of these income-generating activities. These profits are reinvested into YOCHAN’s HIV/AIDS education programs. Because of this small but significant investment, YOCHAN has grown from an organization with 8 members in 2005 to 17 in 2009. Members of YOCHAN lead workshops, distribute informational materials, and help out with the income-generating activities. Charles and his youth instructors are influencing and educating thousands of young adults and children in the Eastlands area of Nairobi, leading advocacy and awareness campaigns about HIV/AIDs on the grassroots level.

A recent update from Charles indicates that the peanut grinding machine needs some work:

“Our peanut grinding machine has also developed a problem. So for the last 3 weeks we’ve grounded our work till we fix the problem, but all in all we hope to continue and hope for the best.”

Last week, The 1010 Project gave an income-generating grant of $250 to YOCHAN for peanut butter production, allowing them to fix the peanut grinder.

Thanks to you, we are able to meet needs, enact positive social transformation and utilize the power of peanut butter in Nairobi.

Because of your support, at The 1010 Project, a small investment = big change.

$10 empowers the lives of our friends and partners in Kenya and beyond.

Please consider joining our pledge drive and investing $10 per month.