“HSHC aims to contribute to improved quality of life of forests-adjacent communities in Kenya through facilitation of innovative economic opportunities in sustainable agriculture and natural resource utilisation.”
 
 
  About Us / Introduction  
   
 

Every individual has capacities, ambitions and dreams. HSHC, a local Kenyan NGO, believes that all people have the right to live their life in dignity where they can use their capacities to meet their basic needs.
Entrepreneurship is the motor of development. Small businesses provide a livelihood to the owner and as businesses grow they create employment opportunities for others.
This is why HSHC support individuals and community groups in business development.
Working in a rural area where the majority of the population depends on small-scale farming, HSHC focuses on promoting agri-businesses.
Its geographical focus is the Mt. Kenya region, but HSHC also works in other areas where its expertise is needed.
 
  History of Help Self Help Centre

HSHC was established in Kenya in 1993. Its aim was to enhance the living standard of forest-adjacent communities in the Mt. Kenya region through capacity building of individuals and self help groups. Since its inception, HSHC has supported the formation of more than 280 self help groups whose capacities were strengthened in sustainable agriculture, non-wood forest products and agri-business.

For HSHC’s vision and mission: click here

  

Our view is that farms are more than a plot of land where food is grown, they are businesses! By training farmers in entrepreneurship, they get insight in how to improve the profitability of their farm.

We promote local processing of raw materials so that value is added and farmers receive a better price for their products. Our sunflower oil project is a successful example of this.

But we don’t only focus on better markets for the farmer’s products, we also strengthen business services at the start of the chain: HSHC helps farmers in accessing high quality seeds and through its extension services farmers are trained in the latest sustainable agricultural practices.

HSHC will continue its valuable work in the fields of value chain development and business development services so as to create a vibrant rural economy where poverty is history.

The benefits of trees
A consistent part of our activities is promoting agro-forestry: planting trees on-farm. Especially economic trees like fruit trees offer many benefits; they provide food to the families and the fruits can be sold for additional income. Read More

Millennium Development Goals
In 2000 world leaders agreed on a set of development targets that should be reached by 2015: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). By setting measurable and time-bound goals developing and developed countries aim to make a significant step forward in combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. They also include commitments in human rights, good governance and democracy.

HSHC contributes to achieving the MDGs by:

•  Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger (MDG1)
HSHC promotes income-generating activities and helps farmers to increase yields and profits so as to ensure food security

•  Promoting gender equality and empowerment of women (MDG3)
In every project, HSHC pays special attention to involving women and ensures that the intervention contributes to more equality between men and women.

•  Combating HIV / Aids (MDG6)
HSHC implements projects targeting HIV / Aids affected and infected groups as well as mainstreams HIV / Aids in other projects. The aim is to combat the pandemic and improve the livelihoods of those who are hit by HIV / Aids.

•  Ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG7)
HSHC's projects promote sustainable, harmonious use of the natural resources in forest adjacent areas. As such, we contribute to reforestation, improving water management, preventing soil erosion and enriching bio-diversity.

•  Developing a global partnership for development (MDG8)
By cooperating with international organisations and private actors, HSHC contributes to an international partnership for development. Our volunteer programme enables international students and other individuals to work together with us towards our development targets.

Indirectly, by fighting poverty and promoting income-generating activities, HSHC also contributes to ensuring that all children attend primary school (MDG2), reduction of child mortality (MDG4) and improving maternal health (MDG5). After all, when the income of a family increases, more children will be able to go to school and health facilities will become more affordable.