The Safe Water and AIDS Project (SWAP) is a non-governmental organization based in Western Kenya that provides women with HIV/AIDS a range of services (counseling, emotional support, paralegal assistance, health and nutrition education) as well as income generating activities. SWAP also provides support to AIDS orphans.
SWAP was started in 2005 through support from Rotary Atlanta. It was officially registered in Kenya as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in June 2006, with a Board of Directors. SWAP aims to improve the health and socio-economic status of Kenyan people through disease prevention and socio-economic empowerment of the target population.
Local SWAP groups are trained about safe water, health, and good business practices, and are offered the opportunity to obtain microcredit. The women become "Avon Ladies" for health, selling WaterGuard, PUR, modified clay pots, insecticide treated bednets, condoms, protein fortified flour, skin antiseptic, birth control pills, and other products, and keep a small commission. This project enables the women to improve the health of their neighbors while earning money to support their families. SWAP promotes and sells safe water and health product at subsidized price to the HIV support groups and self help groups. The groups buy the products at wholesale price and sell at retail price.
SWAP also run a two year child-centered research project on Nutrition, Child Health & Education (NICHE) in Nyando district.
SWAP draws its capacity to implement its programs from a pool of experienced and dedicated technical staff of trainers, microfinance experts and field officers under the leadership of an able resource mobilize,r a hands-on Project Director and a competent management committee. This is further strengthened through strong collaboration and technical Advice from CDC Atlanta and K-Rep Development Agency (KDA).
SWAP partners with local and international organizations including Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), CARE Kenya, government of Kenya line Ministry, WHO, World Bank, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, USAID, UNICEF, Gates Foundation and Population Services International, Kenya for the implementation of various projects.
In recognition of SWAP’s rapid growth and success at reaching the neediest populations, the project was a recent winner of the World Bank Global Development Marketplace Award.
