How a small bakery is destigmatizing a once quiet community in Turkana - Kenya
Staff at the Erichom Bakery readying the baking oven. Photo: Otis Dundos
Sitting at the corner of the small bakery is a determined Agnes Omina, she reflects on how different her life was two years ago. Agnes is the group secretary of Erichom Self Help Group, which consists of twenty-three members including three men, and two persons living with disabilities; one of them passed away earlier this year. The group has been active; albeit inconsistently, since 2019 when they came together at the hospital during routine check-ups as they are all living with HIV/AIDS.
Erichom Group members during their routine meetings. Photo: Otis Dundos.
They had just begun restructuring in 2024 when Oxfam came into the picture through local partner TUPADO (Turkana Pastoralists Development Organization). Oxfam selected a few promising community-led businesses to strengthen and train on VSLAs; and since Agnes and her group had been trying their hand at baking on and off since 2023, their group Erichom Self Help Group was selected.
The members were led through several training sessions on entrepreneurship, loans, savings, and business development. They then received a grant of KES 200,000 from Oxfam through the Australian DFAT project. "The drought had also really affected us. We used to meet twice a month, but two months would go by without any savings at all for most of us. Fishing was hard because all the fish had moved further into the lake and we had no means of making money even for our daily needs. By August last year we had nearly lost all hope," Agnes shares.
The grant from Oxfam energized the group to double down on their efforts to establish a business in the area, leading to the birth of Erichom Bakery. They invested half the funds into their project, enabling them to put up a basic structure on a piece of land offered by one of the groups’ members. This was a huge step up from the hospital kitchen they had been using before, which they had since been forced to vacate.
Packaged Burn ready for dispatch. Photo: Otis Dundos.
They had just begun restructuring in 2024 when Oxfam came into the picture through local partner TUPADO (Turkana Pastoralists Development Organization). Oxfam selected a few promising community-led businesses to strengthen and train on VSLAs; and since Agnes and her group had been trying their hand at baking on and off since 2023, their group Erichom Self Help Group was selected.
The members were led through several training sessions on entrepreneurship, loans, savings, and business development. They then received a grant of KES 200,000 from Oxfam through the Australian DFAT project. "The drought had also really affected us. We used to meet twice a month, but two months would go by without any savings at all for most of us. Fishing was hard because all the fish had moved further into the lake and we had no means of making money even for our daily needs. By August last year we had nearly lost all hope," Agnes shares.
The grant from Oxfam energized the group to double down on their efforts to establish a business in the area, leading to the birth of Erichom Bakery. They invested half the funds into their project, enabling them to put up a basic structure on a piece of land offered by one of the groups’ members. This was a huge step up from the hospital kitchen they had been using before, which they had since been forced to vacate.
Erichom Group members during a routine savings meeting. Photo: Otis Dundos.
As the group has progressed into a cornerstone of the community, the members have found renewed purpose and recognition. Where once there was shame, discrimination, stigma, and fear, there is now dignity and confidence. They are energized to work and have something to look forward to. Their health has improved as they now have the means to buy medication, and eat frequent and balanced meals. Those living with disabilities also now have access to better equipment, greatly improving their quality of life and enabling them to contribute meaningfully in their communities.
The self-help group has also created a safe space for the larger community, and particularly those living with HIV, to combat the unfortunately rampant issue of violence and attacks based on their status. The group offers a support system to help members and others recover and rebuild.
“We are not the same people who joined this programme one year ago. And even in the event of another drought, we will not be affected as badly as last time, because we now have our business here, equipment, and the knowledge to carry us through,” Agnes concludes.
Story: Oxfam communications.