The Organic Health Response seeks to activate social solidarity, information technology, and environmental sustainability on Mfangano Island in Western Kenya to turn the tide against the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS across Lake Victoria. OHR embraces a philosophy that champions social justice and environmentalism not merely as political ideals but as the key components of a comprehensive strategy to improve and sustain human health. OHR is rounded in the recognition that the health of human beings is fundamentally connected to the strength of their communities and the sustainability of their environments. We seek to augment health services by taking into consideration local understandings of disease, and integrating the power of biomedical science with the insight of indigenous knowledge.
Most importantly, OHR seeks to move beyond the rhetoric of "International Development" to put power into the hands of rural communities and at-risk youth. Rather than requiring rural communities to develop according to agendas set by international organizations, OHR strives to equip Kenyans on Lake Victoria with cutting-edge resources to grow a locally-directed future.
OHR is based on a unique collaborative system. Our programs are designed and implemented by Mfangano residents working in small teams with student volunteers from around the world, and supported by IT industries, international "Green" movements, and global health partners. As an inspired cooperative of grass-roots activists, we are working together to plant seeds of solidarity and cultivate local visions of wellbeing.
