We create hope
Projects
We develop projects and partner with governments, NGO's and companies to achieve lasting results
Food Stations
Bridging the Gap in Rural Communities
We understand that reaching out to distant and mainly rural communities is crucial in our fight against hunger and malnutrition. With our innovative mobile food stations project, we can cover remote areas and provide much-needed food assistance to families in need. These mobile food stations are specifically designed to deliver cooked meals and essential raw food items, ensuring that communities receive nutritious and well-balanced food options.
In addition to providing food assistance, our mobile food stations play a pivotal role in promoting education in these communities. By closely coordinating with our Food in School project, we aim to reach families who may be hesitant to send their children to school due to financial constraints or lack of access to adequate food. By offering nutritious meals through our food stations at or near schools, we encourage families to enrol their children in educational programs, fostering a positive learning and empowerment cycle.
Our mobile food stations will be staffed by dedicated professionals passionate about making a difference in the lives of those they serve. They distribute food and engage with community members to raise awareness about the importance of proper nutrition, health, and hygiene practices. This holistic approach helps address the root causes of malnutrition and hunger and contributes to the community's overall well-being.
To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of our mobile food stations, we collaborate with local partners, suppliers, and government agencies to source and distribute food items most efficiently and cost-effectively, maintaining a consistent presence in rural communities, providing ongoing support and fostering long-term relationships built on trust and mutual understanding.
Through this project, we are committed to bridging the gap between food assistance and education in remote and rural areas. By nourishing the body and the mind, we strive to create a brighter, healthier, and more educated future for the communities we serve.
Health Centers
A Lifeline for Communities in Rural and Non-Rural Areas
Small health centres are vital healthcare services to communities in rural and smaller cities where health support is very limited or non-existent. Our commitment to improving health and well-being drives us to support the establishment, expansion, and enhancement of health centres, ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of their location.
In rural communities, our health centres serve as lifelines for those with limited or no access to healthcare services. We focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by these communities, such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of trained medical professionals, and lack of essential supplies.
By partnering with local and international organizations, we work to establish and equip health centres with the necessary facilities, staff, and resources to provide comprehensive medical care, including maternal and child health services, nutrition support, and disease prevention and treatment.
In seller cities, our health centres cater to the needs of underserved populations. Across all locations, our health centres emphasize the importance of preventive care and health promotion. We provide educational resources, workshops, and counselling to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health and adopt healthy behaviours that can reduce the risk of illness and improve their overall quality of life.
Access to quality healthcare is fundamental in Africa, and we are committed to breaking down barriers and bridging the gap in healthcare services for rural and non-rural communities.
Food in School
We combine education and nutrition programs to support rural families.
Nourishing Education: - Combining Food Support and Learning to Fight Malnutrition
At Echra, we understand the power of education in transforming lives and breaking the cycle of poverty. However, in many communities across Africa, families face the difficult decision of sending their children to school or keeping them at home due to food insecurity and support constraints. To address this challenge, we have developed a unique approach combining food support and education to encourage families to send their children to school while fighting malnutrition.
Our Nourishing Education initiative operates on multiple levels to support families and ensure regular school attendance.
Attracting Children to School with Nutritious Meals
By providing well-balanced and nutritious meals at school, we incentivise families to send their children to school. These meals ensure that children are well-fed and contribute to their overall health, cognitive development, and academic performance.
Take-Home Food Rations for Families
Our initiative includes providing take-home food rations for children attending school. This not only eases the burden on families but also reinforces the benefits of sending their children to school, further strengthening the link between education and food support.
Community Outreach and Engagement
We work closely with local communities to raise awareness about the importance of education and its long-term benefits in breaking the cycle of poverty and malnutrition. Engaging with families, community leaders, and local organisations fosters a supportive environment that values education and promotes regular school attendance.
Strengthening Educational Infrastructure and Quality
To maximise the impact of our food support initiatives, we invest in improving the quality of education offered in the communities we serve. We support teacher training, provide learning materials, and promote inclusive, child-friendly learning environments to ensure children have the knowledge and skills they need for a brighter future.
Monitoring and Evaluation
To ensure the success of our Nourishing Education initiative, we continuously monitor and evaluate its impact on school attendance, child health, and overall community well-being. By tracking our progress, we can identify areas for improvement, refine our approach, and expand our reach to more communities in need.
By focusing on attracting families to send their children to school through food support, our Nourishing Education initiative tackles both malnutrition and lack of education holistically. Through this innovative approach, we empower children and their families to create a better future built on the foundations of health, knowledge, and opportunity.
Poulty
Combating Malnutrition with Poultry in Africa: Our Poultry Empowerment Project
Millions of people in Africa struggle with extreme poverty, making it challenging to meet their basic nutritional needs. One surprisingly effective solution to this issue is raising chickens. At Echra, we have initiated the Poultry Empowerment Project, which directly provides a small number of chickens to needy families and empowers communities across Africa.
Why chickens? Here are some reasons:
Easy and Affordable Care
Chickens are relatively simple and inexpensive to maintain. Many breeds can forage for food on the ground, while supplemental feeding can help them grow faster. Hens require a shelter for nesting, and as the flock expands, a coop made of wood and wire may be necessary. Chickens also need a few vaccinations, such as the one for Newcastle disease, which costs less than 20 cents.
A Wise Investment
Imagine a new farmer starting with five hens and a neighbour with a rooster to fertilize the eggs. Within three months, she could have a flock of 40 chicks. With a typical sale price of $5 per chicken in Africa, she could earn over $1,000 yearly, surpassing the extreme poverty line of about $700 annually.
Improved Child Health
Malnutrition is responsible for more than 3 million child deaths annually. Eggs, rich in protein and other nutrients, can help combat malnutrition. Farmers with small flocks may find it more economical to hatch eggs, sell chicks, and use the proceeds to purchase nutritious food. However, if a farmer has a large enough flock to produce extra eggs or has a few broken ones, she might choose to cook them for her family.
Empowering Women
Since chickens are small and generally remain close to home, they are often considered a woman's animal, as opposed to larger livestock like goats or cows. Women who sell chickens are likely to reinvest their profits in their families.
Our Poultry Empowerment Project seeks to amplify these benefits by providing families with chickens and the necessary support to succeed. The project involves:
Distribution of Chickens
We carefully select families living in impoverished areas and provide them with a starter flock of healthy chickens, establishing a sustainable source of nutrition and income.
Training and Education
We offer comprehensive training and education programs to teach families how to care for their chickens, manage their flock, and maintain proper hygiene and sanitation practices.
Community-Based Approach
Our project involves the entire community, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and support. By establishing local networks of farmers, we encourage them to work together, share knowledge, and create a thriving poultry ecosystem.
Monitoring and Ongoing Support
We closely monitor each family's progress and offer ongoing support and guidance as needed, ensuring the project's long-term impact.
By supplying families with chickens and the necessary knowledge and support, our Poultry Empowerment Project has the potential to create lasting, positive change in the lives of millions of people across Africa.
Street Children
Building Hope for Urban Youth
At Echra, we are deeply committed to addressing the plight of vulnerable street children in major cities. These children often lack access to essential resources like food, medical care, and a stable home environment. Our project, "Street Children", focuses on providing these necessities while serving as a reliable point of contact for children living on the streets without the support of a family.
Key Components of Project "Street Children"
Medical Care
Through collaborations, we aim to ensure street children receive medical attention. This includes regular check-ups, vaccinations, and treatment for any illnesses or injuries they may have. Our goal is to promote their overall well-being and prevent long-term health complications.
Nutritional Support
Food security is a significant concern for street children, who often struggle to find their next meal. We work to provide these children with nutritious meals regularly, ensuring that they have the energy and nourishment they need to thrive. This involves partnering with local food suppliers and organizing meal distribution events in areas where street children are known to gather.
Safe Spaces
One of the key objectives of Project "Street Children" is to create safe spaces where these children can find refuge, support, and guidance. We establish drop-in centres in strategic locations where children can access various resources, including educational materials, recreational activities, and counselling services.
Education and Skill Development
Education is a vital tool for empowering street children and breaking the cycle of poverty. We collaborate with local schools and educational institutions to provide these children access to formal education or vocational training. This enables them to develop valuable skills, increasing their chances of finding stable employment and a brighter future.
Reintegration and Family Support
We strive to reunite street children with their families or find alternative supportive living arrangements when possible. Our team assesses each child's situation and develops a tailored plan for reintegration into a stable home environment. We also offer support to families to address the underlying issues that may have led to the child living on the streets.
Through Project "Street Children," we aim to create a lasting impact on the lives of these vulnerable children and pave the way for a more promising future. By providing essential resources and opportunities, we hope to empower them to overcome the challenges they face and reach their full potential.
Malaria Bus
A Mobile Lifeline for Malaria Prevention and Treatment
At Echra, we understand the urgent need to address the widespread issue of malaria in Africa. Malaria, a life-threatening disease transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, continues to be a significant public health problem on the continent. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, there were 229 million cases of malaria globally, with 94% of these cases occurring in Africa. The disease also claimed approximately 409,000 lives, with children under the age of 5 being the most vulnerable.
To combat this devastating disease, we have launched Project "Malaria Bus," a mobile healthcare initiative that directly connects malaria prevention, treatment, and education to communities in need. Our Malaria Bus travels across the country, offering essential services to help reduce the impact of malaria and save lives.
Key Components of Project "Malaria Bus":
Malaria Prevention
Prevention is crucial in the fight against malaria. Our Malaria Bus distributes insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and educates communities on their proper use and maintenance. ITNs are a proven method to reduce the risk of malaria transmission, providing protection to those sleeping under them and reducing mosquito populations.
Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment
Rapid and accurate diagnosis is vital in treating malaria effectively. The Malaria Bus is equipped with malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to provide quick and reliable diagnoses. For individuals who test positive for malaria, our team offers appropriate antimalarial medication, ensuring timely treatment and reducing the risk of severe complications.
Community Education and Awareness
Knowledge is a powerful tool in the fight against malaria. The Malaria Bus team provides information and educational materials to communities, raising awareness about the disease's causes, symptoms, prevention methods, and the importance of early treatment. By empowering communities with knowledge, we aim to encourage proactive measures and reduce the overall burden of malaria.
Collaboration with Local Health Facilities
We collaborate with local health facilities to maximise our impact, sharing resources and knowledge. This cooperation enables us to provide comprehensive care to communities and ensure that the Malaria Bus complements existing healthcare services.
Data Collection and Monitoring
As the Malaria Bus travels across the country, our team collects valuable data on malaria incidence and the effectiveness of our interventions. This information is crucial for monitoring the project's impact and informing future strategies to combat malaria.
Project "Malaria Bus" represents our commitment to reducing the devastating impact of malaria on African communities. By providing accessible prevention, treatment, and education services, we strive to save lives and empower communities to protect themselves against this deadly disease.