Mfangano Island lies
near the boundary waters of Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda,in the
heart of Lake Victoria.Mfangano is
home to approximately 26,000 people of
Suba and Luo descent. The small beach villages that line the shores are accessible from the mainland only by a 2-hour ride on
wooden outboard ca.noes.Fishing and
subsistence farming are primary occupations forthe majority of residents.
The remote communities of Mfanganoface many serious
challenges.With over 30% of the popu
lation infected with HIV, Mfangano and the surrounding islands
represent one of the
most HIV prevalent populations onthis planet. Poverty and
disease has forced these vulnerable communities to make dangerous changes to their local
environment
in order squeeze out enough to survive. Deforestation on the
mountain and over-fishing in the lake has taken a huge toll,1hreatening annual rainfall
and draining the local economy.
A core
of volunteer Community Health Workers
link every household to remote
clinics.Talented teachers, most of whom
grew up here on Mfangano, return to educate
enthusiastic students in 19 Primary
Schools and 8 Secondary Schools.The
Glenwood Springs Sunset RC has supported various projects to improve the conditions on the
island, from helping to set up an HIV station to
providing a motor for the
ambulance boat.
If you would like to find out more about this project, feel free to contact Sandy Lowell of the Glenwood Springs Sunset Rotary Club slowell3@gmail.com