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Friends of Dago is a 5013C nonprofit whose purpose is to improve the lives of the people in Dago Kenya.

Dago is a village of 3,000 in the southwestern part of Kenya, not far from the border of Tanzania and Lake Victoria. Dago’s residents are part of the Luo tribe. With over three million people, it is the third-largest community in Kenya, making up around 13% of the entire population.  History suggests that the Luo traveled along the River Nile river from Sudan, arriving in Kenya around 500 years ago. They established settlements on the lands surrounding Lake Victoria, which is Africa’s largest freshwater lake.  The residents of Dago are all farmers, raising animals and cultivating plants to sustain their livelihood.  Animals include cows, chickens, and goats while crops are mainly vegetables such as maize and kale. Their diet also consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables and meat like chicken and fish. Their food staple is ugali, a dish with a dough-like consistency that is made from some type of flour like cornmeal. It is eaten by being rolled into a ball and dipped into a sauce or stew.

Our Desk Project is raising money to buy desks for the Dago Primary School (grades 1-8) which has been identified as a significant need.  A group of us will be traveling to Dago in August 2022.  In addition to donating money for desks, we will be taking clothes and sports equipment for the children of Dago.   Donations of funds in any amount or any of these items would be greatly appreciated.  You can make donations via cash, check, or online at www.friendsofdago.org.  Receipts for tax purposes can be provided.

Friends of Dago, bridges the gap between the community and all supporters, friends, donors, and partners. We try to bring and rally together all friends to help organize events, volunteer, support and partner with our community.
Friends of Dago is working to help Dago Community be self-sustainable by advocating for all the projects they are trying to undertake to achieve this goal.

Continuing Support Needs:
Daily feeding program for all the 150 children supported by the program.

Supporting and providing resources for girls across the board.
Support for the dairy program that is at the center.
Support the greenhouse technology installed at the center.
Support the security and the caretaker fees for the center.

Achievements:
We have managed to house now 20 girls at the center. Most of them got sponsorship to private boarding school. Thanks to our partners who have not only sent the young girls, but have sent 27 students along with the girls.

We have constantly provided adequate security for the center. We have one security guard always ensuring everything is safe.
We have 4 dairy cows at the center that provide milk for the center. Some used at the center and the extra is sold to support other needs at the center. We have provided a caretaker that makes all this happen.

We have the greenhouse now under the care of the center. We are still exploring the best way to use it. Thanks to our partners.

We have solved the water problems at the center. Through gracious friends, we installed a water pump that is able to provide enough for the center.

We have acquired 3.4 acres of land, that we are using now to produce corn and beans, but we are exploring the best way to utilize the new farming technology to make it our main source of sustainability for the center.

Challenges:
Always faced with changes in climate, making it difficult to rely on Agriculture as the main source sustainability.
Medical expenses for the center.
Feeding program needs of the center.
Funds for security and caretaker needs for the center.

Opportunities:
With the 3.4 acres in our bucket, we can build a successful farming system that will not only support the program, but also create surplus that will in turn support other initiatives for the center.

With many volunteers and supporters interested in different projects, we are branching more to work with the community, especially empowering the women, youths and men.

With the children center, being located in the public school compound, we have great partnership with the school and the community. Working to improve the education performance of the local school.

Working as a liaison office for USAID, we are reaching far more with the health program supporting over 5000 children and serving more than 500 homes.

There are always opportunities to partner with other organizations, universities, volunteers and well-wishers to help us reach more community needs.

We have lots of volunteer opportunities at Dago Children Center year round. Groups, family and individuals are welcomed

We realized through sports, we can reach a lot of people in the area and use the sports avenue as a major hub for communicating and spread good citizenry as we create awareness on issues affecting our communities. We have successfully used this avenue to raise awareness on Hiv/Aids, counseling, family life, talent development and opportunities for the community to congregate and share ideas. So far we hold two events annually for the juniors and clubs.

Kenyan Goal – Club Sports Camp:
Kenyan goal sports camp is an annual camp where communities get together and compete in sports. This includes and not limited to Soccer; Netball and Volleyball. This camp has attracted well over 60 teams and over 1000 participants from over 14 communities annually. This amazing event is held every August. The main aim of this event is to attract and in turn use the avenue to teach youths on the dangers of HIV/Aid; Importance of knowing your health status and also general education on health, family life and team work. We have had some of our local participants also benefit by securing scholarships to high school and also joining local sports clubs.

Kenyan Goal – junior Sports Camp:
Kenyan goal junior sports camp is also annual camp that attracts juniors from the age of 10 to 16 years. This includes and not limited to Soccer; Netball and Volleyball. This camp has attracted well over 16 teams and over 300 children participants from over 14 communities annually. This amazing event is held every April/May. The main aim of this event is to attract and in turn use the avenue to teach young youths on the dangers of HIV/Aid; importance of knowing your health status and also general education on health, family life and team work. We have had some of our local participants also benefit by securing scholarships to high school.

Achievements:
We have been able to secure scholarships for the students to join high school via their sports talents.

We have been able to reach over 3,000 annually during our events, providing various services.

We have also been able to empower teams by providing sports uniforms and equipment’s to enable clubs succeed.

We have been able to offer first aid training to the teams, so they can take care of each other in cases of injuries.

We have been able to offer a lot of education regarding the dangers of HIV/Aid; Importance of knowing your health status and also general education on health, family life and team work.

Opportunities:
There are always opportunities to partner with other organizations, universities, volunteers and well-wishers to help us reach more community needs.

Always looking for resources to provide to the sports teams to empower their efforts and make them successful.

Looking for guidance and counseling resources for families and people that attend our camps during the long week event.

Looking for fresh talents and activities to add to our wonderful initiative that will boost the program.

Friends of Dago have made it possible for the community to have various medical camps throughout the year.
Working with USAID, as a liaison partner, all our children are provided with medical care. These the children are able to get treatment for free or at a reduced cost at specific medical facilities.

Kenyan Goal – Medical Camp:
We also have our big annual sports and medical camp every year for over 14 villages called “Kenyan Goal” This event is held every year in August. This event attracts and we usually see over 3000 people who otherwise would have not had any medical checks. We have supported this program since 2009.

Aldersgate UMC Eye Clinic:
Friends of Dago in partnership with friends have established an annual eye clinic for the community. This wonderful camp happens usually in July. The team from the church provides eye check to over 200 people during this time. This program is one that is offering a wonderful service to all ages.

Sawa Sawa Foundation Medical Camp:
Friends of Dago in partnership with friends have established an annual general medical camp for the community. This wonderful camp happens usually in February/April. The team from Berkshire provides general medical and medicine to over 200 people during the time. This program is one that is offering a wonderful service to all ages.

Annual Deworming Campaign:
Friends of Dago for the past 7 years have engaged in providing annual deworming exercise for all the students at Dago local primary school. This activity is done at the beginning of the year in collaboration with the local hospital. This is aimed at controlling scabies amongst the students over the school year.

Achievements:
We have had a lot of success with all our partners who have provided and offered their expertise to help make the clinics successful.

We have also developed great relationship with the local district hospital that have always provided local staff to work along with our teams.

We have been able to help so many people with not only guidance, but also medical services that they would have not had.

We have successfully been able to provide 4 different camps annually to the Dago communities and surrounding.

Challenges:
It is not always easy to get volunteers, especially with the security situations across the world.

We have not been successful in building a medical resource center that can serve the needs of the people whole year round.

Opportunities:
There are turns of volunteer opportunities for the medical professionals to help in various ways towards this wonderful projects.

The community is always inclined to support and donate a piece of land where a medical facility can be built.

There are always opportunities to partner with other organizations, universities, volunteers and well-wishers to help us reach more community needs.

We have been blessed with wonderful project organizers for this programs, they have always returned to Kenyan annually to help give support to the programs.

Volunteers love to spend time in Dago, we have lots of volunteer opportunities with our educational initiative. Groups, family and individuals are welcomed.