THE JOY BRINGERS KENYA ELDORET

MR JOSEPH OBONDI NYAKWEBA
Ministry of youths and Health Elected Representative Coordinator Rift Valley Province
I am the Executive Director and the founder Joy bringers Kenya, Eldoret, Rift valley province.
I have been living positively with HIV/AIDS for seven years since I knew my status in January of 2002 when by then I was down with illness and my CD-4 count was less than 3, my body weight was staggering 26 kgs.
I have been on ARV’s since January 2002 January where I was administered the first regimen, to 2004 March which refused to work on me necessitating me to move to the 2nd regimen this has since enabled my CD4 cell count to move from 125 to 855 and my kilograms have also increased considerably from 58 to 63.
I have been living positively since 2002 I was Elected from Eldoret to represent youths at the Nairobi conference
JOY BRINGERS KENYA
OUR MOTTO
Empowering live s through Income Generation Activities
OUR MISSION
To be economically empower people in the community
So that they are able to provide for themselves and their family contribute to the good living of every Kenyan
OUR VISION
To become the best makers and producers of Commercial Craft Worldwide.

HUMAN INTEREST STORY

Joseph The founder Joy bringers Self Help Group in Eldoret Kenya is the Net work of Young People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya I Joseph Am Young people living with HIV and AIDS who had been for a long stigmatized, Marginalized and discriminated against by their colleagues at their places of work and their family members at home and was condemned and abused by my Christian Church leaders,About my HIV Status and as a young boy and I was not allowed to attend the Church prayers . At that time I faced a lot of Stigma and Discrimination from my Christian Community and the my Families members place of work and friends since they believe that being HIV Positive is a sin or accurse for for being promiscuous. I didn’t stop but went ahead for a network for young people living with HIV/AIDS and Christians Youths living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya by the name The joy bringers self help group at that time I did a lot of Advocacy on prevention and access treatment among the people who live with HIV/AIDS .The Joy bringers Self Help Group prides itself as a pioneer youth led group which champions the fight of HIV/AIDS from the constituency level, the group’s activities are unique and cuts across all gender irrespective of social and economical classes.
Members of the group are trained in various fields ranging from Home and community based care and support to behavior change and communication, armed with the knowledge of HIV/AIDS the group has managed to educate, share experience and contributed positively to the government call to fight against HIV/AIDS. Since its inception in 2005 the group has been involved in various activities targeting its members, the community and People living with
HIV/AIDS in Kenya with common interests fighting against HIV/AIDS. The activities include Home and Community based care(HCBC) program, Outreach program, Home visit program, Giving Support to the HIV Positive Children and Orphans, Giving support to Hiv Positive people ,widows and widowers Group therapy sessions and Job creation through income generating activities(IGA’s).
BACKGROUND IN KENYA
Most People living with HIV and AIDS after diagnosis lost their jobs because of Stigma and Discrimination in Kenya were not able to get an employment and those still in stigma could not continue providing for themselves and their families. Great support is needed to empower the young people with HIV/AIDS in Kenya in order to continue with their lives and empower themselves. The joy bringers self help group for PLWHAS was founded by a person living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya with an objective to economically empower positive adolescent and youth to re discover themselves and contribute to the good living of these youth.

METHODES
Joy bringer Self Help Group for Young People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya is having A workshop by the name Joy bringers Workshop an avenue where People Living with HIV and AIDS would be able to continue with their normal lives even after diagnosis. Joy Bringers Self Help group created an avenue to nurture PLWHAs and young people living with HIV/AIDS talents through income generating activities like making commercial crafts ,Jeweler’s’ ,Bead work ,HIV/AIDS Ribbons, Tailoring and Dress marking, Painting ,Printing,Computor Training Centre ,HIV/AIDS Counseling ,Youth friendly services ,Group Therapy ,Bro test club (B.T.C) psychosocial care and support.

RESULTS
Over 30,000 of these items have been sold world wide to date, including HIV advocacy ribbon, this has led to an enrollment of more youth changing their perception about living with HIV and AIDS. 20 Commercial sex workers and have been saved from the streets where they used to exchange sex for money they are working at Joy bringers workshop. HIV positive youth are also able to provide for themselves and their families. They are now empowered economically and continue with their normal lives.
Behavior change among PLWHAs has also helped reduced the new number of people getting infected with HIV.
OUR CONTACTS US FOR ANY SUPPORT AND DONATION
P. O. BOX 4606 03100, GPO Eldoret
Phone: +254 725 801 424
Email: joybringerselfhelpgroup@yahoo.com /
joybringerskenyaselfhelp@gmail.com
Website:www.joybringers.co.ke