C.A.P.A. (Children's Aid Program for Africa) is an
organization whose purpose is to address the health, education and environmental
issues of children and their families in western Kenya. This area has
one of the highest birth rates, infant mortality rates and incidence
of AIDS and other infectious diseases in the world.
C.A.P.A. will accomplish its aims through such projects as improvement
of education facilities, construction of pit latrines, purchase and
distribution of solar cookers/ovens, orphan support programs, provision
of medical supplies to support health care and health education on
various issues (especially women's AIDS groups).
These projects will be organized in the United States by the Board
of Directors of C.A.P.A. and carried out in Africa by agents of the
organization and/or by local known African NGOs (non-governmental
organizations). The organization's U.S. project coordinators will
monitor all projects. Funds will be raised by private donations and
by grants from foundations, corporations, service organizations and
government agencies.
C.A.P.A. PROJECTS
CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Sanitation is probably the most important path to clean water in the third world. Building pit latrines in schools is an easy first step to introduce third world students to the requirements for good sanitation. C.A.P.A.'s aim is to build pit latrines in as many primary schools as possible. The community digs the pits; C.A.P.A. pays for the materials. This project also has a maintenance phase; the community takes ownership by putting aside a small amount each year to maintain and pump out the latrines. This ownership of the latrines educates and reinforces the connections among sanitation, clean water, and defense against many infectious diseases. It also helps to protect the environment.
SOLAR ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
C.A.P.A. provides solar cookers/ovens to help individual families do their cooking in a cheaper, healthier way. In an area where the sun shines almost every day all day, it would seem to be an obvious choice for energy, but the idea has not taken off in third-world countries (nor, for that matter, in most industrialized countries). Cultural practices and lack of basic technology in Africa have resulted in a resistance to changes in cooking habits. Of late, the difficulties in obtaining wood for cooking due to almost complete denudation of forests in many areas have made solar cooking a lot more attractive. Who would not prefer to cook a meal in the sun at home to trudging miles to get wood or buy expensive charcoal? Who would not prefer the safe fireless cooking of a solar cooker to the dangerous charcoal fires that often result in burns of their children and eye problems in family members who live in the smoky air of a charcoal fire?
FUTURE PROJECTS
Medical Supplies - Acquire, ship and distribute medical supplies for the health and well-being of local communities
AIDS Education - Focus on AIDS prevention in local communities
Orphan Support Program - Provide school clothing and educational supplies to orphans
Women's Groups - Supply materials to encourage economic independence
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Renée Brilliant, MD - President
Patricia Morin - Vice-President
Marcia Norton - Secretary
Lawrence Morin - Treasurer
Evan Berardi
Philip Carmichael
Eleanore Schafer
CONTACT INFORMATION
Inquiries, correspondence and tax-deductible contributions may be sent to:
Children's Aid Program for Africa
PO Box 474
Piermont, NY 10968
Note: Email addresses on this page are displayed in a manner that will deter automatic address harvesting programs. This step is taken to reduce unsolicited email sent to capakenya.org addresses. To contact a board member, please cut and paste his or her address into your e-mail program and remove the spaces around the "at" sign. We regret any inconvenience caused for our legitimate visitors.
A copy of our latest Financial Report may be obtained by contacting the office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
Medical Supplies - Acquire, ship and distribute medical supplies for the health and well-being of local communities