GENESIS
The Care for Aging Sisters Association Kenya (CASAK) is a non-profit organization established following an international study on the care of elderly and infirm sisters, conducted across Africa, North America, and South America by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. In Kenya and four other African countries, the research was carried out by the Centre for Research in Religious Life and Apostolate (CERRA-Africa, 2021). The study highlighted the urgent need for interventions to support older and sick sisters, prompting several religious congregations under the Association of the Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) to collaborate in addressing these needs.
In 2022, the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi took the initiative to seek partnerships with interested congregations to form a network focused on the care of elderly and infirm sisters.
With the guidance and support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, 22 pioneer congregations met on 1st March 2023 to officially launch the network. During this meeting, members elected the first Board of Governors, began drafting the Association’s constitution which defined its identity, mission, and activities and established an office with appointed staff to lead the initiatives. The new Association operates independently of its parent body, the Association of the Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK), which continues to act as its Sponsor.
LEADERSHIP
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
2024-2029
To achieve its Mission Care for Aging Sisters Association Kenya will concentrate of the flowing objectives:
To improve the existing infrastructure and human capital capacity for CASAK Congregation for optimal service delivery
Enhance human resource systems:
Develop HR and administration policies
Improve career progression guidelines and job descriptions
Standardize remuneration and staff welfare programs
Conduct annual staff surveys and implement improvements
Build workforce capacity:
Carry out a Training Needs Assessment (TNA)
Implement TNA recommendations
Establish leadership and mentorship programs
Recruit and deploy qualified personnel across congregations
Upgrade infrastructure:
Assess, renovate, and modernize congregational facilities
Install necessary assistive and medical equipment
Acquire a specialized transport van
Secure office space for CASAK headquarters
Leverage technology for care:
Acquire health monitoring gadgets and applications for congregations
2. To enhance CASAK's financial stability
1. Enhance Resource Mobilization
Update and implement policies and strategies.
Strengthen project proposals and donor relations.
Train staff and Board on resource mobilization.
2. Diversify Revenue Streams
Develop new income streams.
Introduce organic food production.
Improve marketing of products and services.
Recruit more congregations.
3. Enhance Financial Management
Adopt financial management systems and policies.
Conduct annual audits.
Train staff on finance, procurement, and compliance.
Implement fraud detection systems.
3.To enhance care giving studies and integrated planning to inform sustainable utilization and development of care service
1. Strengthen Caregiving Information Management
Conduct a Frailty Prevalence Assessment.
Update caregiving data and address gaps.
Develop an integrated caregiving plan and curriculum.
Build capacity for funding and resource mobilization.
2. Create a CASAK Data Management & Clearing System
Establish data-sharing policies and protocols.
Develop and promote a data management platform.
Set up a Data Management Services unit at CASAK headquarters.
4.To enhance care giving studies and integrated planning to inform sustainable utilization and development of care service
5. Enhance the Ability to Harness and Manage Caregiving Information
Conduct a Frailty Prevalence Assessment by a certified assessor.
Review and update existing caregiving data and identify gaps.
Develop an integrated caregiving development plan and curriculum.
Build capacity and frameworks for funding and resource mobilization.
2. Establish a Data Management and Clearing House System for CASAK Members
Create policies and protocols for information repositories and data sharing.
Develop a digital platform for data management.
Promote and create awareness of the data platform.
Set up a Data Management Services unit at CASAK headquarters.
5.To enhance development projects that promote healthy and organic-based investments for sustainable development of healthy livelihoods
Monitor and evaluate existing projects.
Identify and implement feasible projects (e.g., solar, biogas, greenhouses).
Plan and execute integrated development projects.
Develop organic and nutrition management plans.
Mobilize congregations and communities for organic, nutrition, and conservation programs.
Strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.
Establish sustainable income-generating activities within congregations.
6.To implement climate change adaptation and mitigation programs to build resilience of elderly and vulnerable communities.
Train congregations on climate-proofing projects.
Review and redesign existing projects to prevent mal-adaptation.
Improve agricultural and livestock programs with stakeholder collaboration.
Develop a climate change action plan for CASAK members and communities.
Sensitize congregations on causes and effects of climate change.
Identify climate change champions and forums within congregations.
7.To Enhance broad consultative and collaborative frameworks with stakeholders for coordinated integrated development
1. Develop Framework for Coordinated Elderly and Infirm Care Management
Align policies with CASAK constitution.
Develop stakeholder engagement framework, database, and communication policy.
Conduct stakeholder dialogue forums and donor roundtables.
Train staff and congregations on stakeholder networking.
Periodically review and evaluate engagement effectiveness.
2. Establish Better Inter-Congregation Linkage
Develop and implement inter-congregation policy.
Organize inter-congregation dialogue forums nationally and regionally.
Disseminate CASAK Strategic Plan and Budget.
Increase CASAK’s visibility.
Get to understand Our strategic Plan for the period 2024-2025
A WORD FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In the profound words of Pope Francis, we are reminded that a society neglecting the elderly and the young jeopardizes its own future, for it disregards the precious well of wisdom and potential........
SR. JOSPHINE KANGOGO KEINO, DSH
FOREWORD
As the world faces the growing concern of caring for aging sisters, particularly those who have dedicated their lives to various ministries such as to education, health, social ministry, and pastoral care, just to mention a few, a pressing question emerges........