Widows in Nyanza province have been encouraged to consider venturing in some income generating activities which can enable them to sustain the upkeep of their children and to help them improve their livelihoods.
Mary Ogutu of BOMA Community Development Organization observed the need for engaging in such economic ventures, adding that most widows often languish in abject poverty after the death of their spouses, a matter she said has contributed to several orphans suffering from neglect.
She said due to poverty, some women even end up abandoning their homes and run to the beaches where they are put at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS which she noted is quite prevalent amongst the beach community.
Ogutu, who was addressing a group of widows during an HIV/AIDS awareness creation forum in Bondo town, challenged them to start up small scale businesses which can keep them busy to prevent them from engaging in immoral behaviors that can lessen their life spans.
She further appealed to community members to develop an attitude of assisting the needy and vulnerable persons in the society more so the widows, orphans and the elderly citizens.
She revealed that through such a workshop that was organized by her organization in collaboration with GENO community Development organization, they have been providing socio-economic empowerment support to widows and that they will soon extend the support to youths and the elderly persons in the region.
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