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SOTENI INTERNATIONAL



Sponsors: Victoria Wells Wulsin HR’75 & Therese Steiner HR’73

Website: www.soteni.org

Video: SOTENI Video

Contact: vwulsin@gmail.com

Mission:  To break the cycle of poverty and disease among the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Impact Model:



CONTEXT

DOTENI International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the United States and Kenya with 22 years of experience in sustainable development, the fight against HIV/AIDS, and community empowerment.

TARGET

SOTENI works primarily with women, children, and families in rural communities of Siaya, Bungoma, and Meru Counties in Kenya, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty. The organization directly supports more than 3,000 individuals through 169 community-based support groups and indirectly impacts over 17,000 people, with women comprising more than 90 percent of support group members. In Eswatini, with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS, SOTENI empowers women with training, psychosocial support, and entrepreneurship.


RESPONSE

SOTENI delivers an integrated grassroots model through three community-led hubs known as SOTENI Villages of Hope (SVHs) in Ugunja, Mituntu, and Mbakalo. Each SVH is registered as a Community-Based Organization and governed by democratically elected Local Management Committees that assess community needs, prioritize interventions, and oversee program implementation.

At the core of SOTENI’s work is the AIDS Barefoot Doctors program, which trains community health workers to provide home-based care, HIV education, psychosocial support, and access to clean water for support groups and families. Economic empowerment is strengthened through entrepreneurship training, pilot funds, and ongoing mentorship. Their income-generating activities enable women and families to build sustainable livelihoods. SOTENI also responds to local priorities through need-based investments such as our health center (operating 24/7 for 20 years) , clean water initiatives, and secondary education support, ensuring programs remain locally owned and sustainable over time.



OUTCOMES

SOTENI supports 169 community-based support groups, reaching more than 3,000 people living with HIV/AIDS and their families with home-based care, health education, and psychosocial support. In partnership with Procter & Gamble, SOTENI has delivered over 9.8 million liters of potable water to more than 17,000 individuals, significantly improving health outcomes for 3,000 families. More than 200 women from 20 support groups now operate small businesses that generate income, improve household stability, and enable families to pay school fees and meet basic needs. The 24/7 Mbakalo Health Clinic provides preventive, primary, maternal, and diagnostic care to a catchment population of over 15,000 people in a region with limited access to healthcare. Together, these outcomes have strengthened community resilience while laying the groundwork for expanded inpatient services and long-term sustainability.


vision

VISION

SOTENI’s vision is to ensure that all three SOTENI Villages of Hope have reliable access to clean water, sanitation, electricity, education, entrepreneurship, and quality healthcare. Central to this vision is upgrading the Mbakalo Health Clinic to a Level 3 facility, allowing expanded inpatient, maternity, and emergency services for communities with limited access to care. By strengthening essential infrastructure alongside economic opportunity, SOTENI seeks to address the root causes of poverty and disease rather than their symptoms alone.

Current Status and Project Goals: SOTENI has 22 years of experience implementing community-led health and economic programs through three established SOTENI Villages of Hope in rural Kenya and 5 years of entrepreneurship training of women in Eswatini. Current priorities include expanding entrepreneurship training across all SVHs, ensuring sustainable clean water solutions in each community, and strengthening local governance and financial systems. A major short-term goal is completing the upgrade of the Mbakalo Health Clinic to Level 3 status to expand inpatient, maternity, and emergency services. Together, these efforts focus on deepening impact while building long-term sustainability and local ownership.

Skills and Assistance Needed:

SOTENI is seeking classmates who are interested in meaningful engagement beyond limited conversations. Areas where support would be particularly valuable include:

  • Introductions to corporations, non-profits, and other organizations that fund international development.
  • Board members with experience in nonprofit governance, finance, healthcare, or international development
  • Individual donors interested in long-term, sustainable global health impact
  • Volunteers with time and skills to contribute in advisory or mentoring roles
  • Professional consulting, including:
    • Fundraising strategy and donor development
    • Grant writing and institutional partnerships
    • Financial management, accounting, and compliance
    • Strategic planning and organizational development
    • Monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement
    • Communications, storytelling, marketing and digital outreach

Classmates may support SOTENI through advisory conversations, introductions to networks, professional expertise, or deeper ongoing involvement aligned with ClassACT’s bridging goals.

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