About one third of the money raised from Red Nose day is spent on projects in the UK and the rest goes to Africa. The case studies featured are just two of the thousands of projects that are sustained by Red Nose cash. More information about other projects can be found in the teaching pack or on the Comic Relief website.
Homeless International: National Co-operative Housing Union - Kenya
Life expectancy in the eastern African state of Kenya is 47 and more than a quarter of the 31 million plus population live in poverty.
Rapid urbanisation of the capital city Nairobi has left 60 per cent of the population living in slums which lack adequate sanitation and clean water.
Since 1979, the National Co-operative Housing Union has offered loans, advice and training to Nairobi’s slum dwellers. Its innovative loan scheme provides groups with money to buy land and build safe and decent homes.
Once they have their homes, they repay the loan which is then passed on to another group.
Eunice, 13, used to live in a house made of scrap metal and polythene sheets. It provided little shelter from the rain and lacked water and basic sanitation. Her family also lived under the constant threat of eviction because the local council wanted to sell the land. Her family received a house building loan and now live in a secure home of their own.
Since 1997, Comic Relief has awarded more than pound;500,000 to Homeless International to fund housing projects in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
Edinburgh Young Carers Project
An estimated 50,000 young people in the UK help to take care of relatives with chronic illness, physical disabilities or mental health problems and the Edinburgh Young Carers Project (EYCP) offers a range of support services for those who are in this situation. Research shows that 54 per cent of young carers are aged 11-15 and 12 per cent of them care for more than one person. Unlike their peers, they have to carry out the bulk of domestic chores and intimate personal care. Many have problems with school, and little or no social life or time to themselves.
The charity offers individual support with individual counselling, group activities, counselling and weekends away as well as running a number of projects that raise awareness of the needs of young carers.
Claire, 14, is a regular visitor to EYCP. She has been providing emotional and physical support to her mother who has suffered from severe depression for the past six years. Claire had problems with school but with one-to-one counselling life has become more settled and she now has ambitions to study for a social work degree.
Since Red Nose Day 2001, EYCP has received a grant of pound;90,000 from Comic Relief.
