ACBO was founded to develop youth reintegration and reconciliation activities in the wake of the violence surrounding Kenya's 1992 elections.
Amani Community-Based Organization (CBO) Profile
Introduction
Amani Community-Based Organization (CBO) is a youth-driven initiative that was established in 2002 and officially registered with the Department of Gender and Social Development Services in the Mt. Elgon District of Western Kenya. Based in Chongeywo, Kopsiro Division (now part of Cheptais District), Amani CBO serves as a platform for addressing critical community challenges such as income generation, HIV/AIDS awareness, peacebuilding, and conflict management.
The organization brings together 150 members, including individuals and over 13 self-help groups from the Kopsiro region. Amani CBO was founded with the mission to empower youth, foster sustainable development, and address pressing community concerns, particularly in conflict resolution, HIV/AIDS prevention, and environmental conservation.
Since its inception, Amani CBO has successfully implemented a range of community-based interventions aimed at improving health, promoting environmental sustainability, enhancing livelihoods, and fostering peace. Our reach extends beyond the local community, with some projects also having a national impact.
Our Vision
A just, peaceful, and poverty-free society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Our Mission
To empower youth and women through training, community initiatives, and sustainable development projects, with a strong focus on environmental conservation, social justice, peacebuilding, and improving livelihoods.
Core Objectives
Amani CBO works toward the following specific objectives:
- Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation
- To provide a neutral platform for peacebuilding efforts and conflict transformation within the community, fostering inter-communal dialogue and reconciliation.
- Environmental Conservation
- To promote sustainable environmental practices, including reforestation, agroforestry, and food security initiatives, ensuring long-term ecological and community resilience.
- Poverty Reduction & Economic Empowerment
- To identify the root causes of poverty and implement community-driven solutions that uplift marginalized individuals, particularly youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
- Youth & Women Empowerment
- To empower youth and women through training programs, income-generating activities, and access to affordable credit for sustainable business ventures.
- Health & HIV/AIDS Support
- To reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS by providing prevention education, care, and support to people living with HIV (PLHIV), while integrating health services into the community.
- Advocacy for Marginalized Groups
- To advocate for the rights and needs of vulnerable groups, including PLHIV, persons with disabilities, women, children, and youth.
- Institutional Collaboration & Networking
- To enhance partnerships and collaboration with local, national, and international organizations for resource mobilization and effective program implementation.
Key Programs & Activities
- Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation
- Facilitate inter-community dialogue and reconciliation activities.
- Mobilize local stakeholders for peacebuilding initiatives, including cultural exchange and sports events.
- Promote human rights and conflict prevention through early warning systems and education.
- Environmental Conservation & Livelihood Enhancement
- Community-based tree planting initiatives, with over 500,000 trees planted since 2003.
- Support sustainable farming practices, including bamboo cultivation for environmental restoration and economic gain.
- Capacity-building for farmers to enhance food security and access to markets.
- Youth & Children’s Mentorship
- Provide mentorship programs for youth, focusing on moral behavior, education support, and HIV prevention.
- Facilitate HIV testing and counseling services for school children and out-of-school youth.
- HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care & Support
- Promote HIV awareness and prevention through outreach programs.
- Enhance the capacity of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to integrate HIV services at the community level.
- Provide psychosocial support and educational resources to orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) affected by HIV/AIDS.
Achievements
Amani CBO has made significant strides in improving community welfare, including:
- Mobilized over 500 community members and groups to promote coexistence, early warning systems, and human rights ahead of the 2022 general elections.
- Successfully planted over 500,000 tree seedlings (including bamboo) to promote environmental conservation and mitigate deforestation.
- Reached over 15,000 people with HIV prevention messages and provided access to prevention commodities between 2005 and 2015.
- Supported 100 orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) with education materials and psychosocial support from 2010 to 2015.
- Played a pivotal role in peacebuilding efforts following the Mt. Elgon land conflict, reaching over 10,000 people through organized peace meetings, cultural activities, and reconciliation efforts.
- Provided mentorship and HIV/AIDS counseling to over 450 schoolchildren between 2009 and 2014.
Strategic Partnerships
Amani CBO works with various organizations and networks to expand its impact:
- Anglican Development Services (ADS-Western Kenya): Partnering in community mobilization for peacebuilding through community and stakeholders dialogue projects.
- Sun 24 Solar: Promoting clean cooking solutions and reducing fuelwood dependency in Kenya.
- Eco Green Kenya: Collaborating with Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) and Bamboo International (INBAR) to build organizational capacity and support bamboo enterprise development.
Membership & Governance
Amani CBO operates under a well-defined governance structure that includes an executive board, management committees, and a dedicated secretariat. The organization is guided by a constitution and by-laws to ensure transparent operations and accountability. The secretariat is staffed by three dedicated volunteers, supported by a functional office equipped with necessary ICT resources.
Contact Information
Our office is located at the Sabaot Bible Translation and Literacy Centre (SBTL), along the Kopsiro-Chepyuk Road, opposite the District Officer’s offices, Kopsiro Division.
P.O. Box 337, Chwele-50202.
Email: amanicbokops@yahoo.com
Website: Amani CBO - Insight on Conflict
Facebook: Amani CBO
Contact Person
Mr. Alex Kiptorus, Project Coordinator
Phone: +254 721 607 597 / +254 721 674 834
Email: kiptorus.alex@gmail.com
