Sema Kenya

Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, Kakamega rain forest

2009-09-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

Muliu Farmers Conservation Group and their Ocimum kilimandscharicum (Naturub) project in the Kakamega rain forest.

Muliru Farmers have now been awarded the 2010 prestigious global "Equator Prize" and "SEED Award". They also now have their own website.

Please also see their latest information brochure.

Address: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, 58-50107, Shinyalu-Kakamega, Kenya.

Pamoja Youth Foundation

2008-04-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

PAMOJA YOUTH FOUNDATION

Pamoja Youth Foundation (P.Y.F.) works to help youth better the life chances and quality of living by improving their talents using limited resources. In doing so P.Y.F. aims to help in the transformation of youths from lives of crime and drug abuse to self-reliance and into people who promote peace and justice in the globalize world.

P.Y.F provides a platform where the voice and work done by the youth will continually thrive, and thus enables them to address and resolve problems facing young people in this country. P.Y.F exists not only in Kibera alone but also in rural areas such as Ugenya in Nyanza province.
Under our motto, which is ‘Be inspired before you expire’, we are advising young people to stand firm and join hands for a better tomorrow. We are appealing to everybody not to view us not as a political or religious based organisation but as people who are out to help others. The quote of the organisation is ‘be inspired before you expire’.
Pamoja Youth Foundation is a registered organisation with the Ministry of Social Services.
The word Pamoja is the Kiswahili word for 'together'.

VISION
To change the live of youth towards a positive living

MISSION

To empower on various issues affecting their lives.
To better the talents that are in youth.
To advocate for equal right and justice for all young people in this country.

OBJECTIVES

To unite and empower young people both socially and economically. To improve the youth creativity and access to information that can help to a positive transformation.
To create environment that youth can participate in decision making and conservation of environment.

MEMBERSHIP

Pamoja Youth Foundation draws its members from different villages in Kibera, such as Soweto, Katwekira, Raila, Kianda, etc. Currently the organisation has 46 members, of whom 22 are female and 24 are male, ages 12-26. These members are willing to use their talents in traditional dancing, drama, acrobatics, peer education and environmental knowledge to sensitize and entertain the world.

HISTORY
Kibera is a well-known slum worldwide, however many people only know the negative side of Kibera. They do not realize the talents that many youths in Kibera enjoy. God created people with different talents and abilities. When someone stays in a slum area, it does not mean that he or she has no talent. For many years, youths have tried to use their talents to earn their living, particularly through talents such as football, culture and theatre techniques, however resources are very limited. It is for this reason that Pamoja was founded - to help the youth better their talents using the limited resources available.
Project Pamoja began last year in December 2006 in collaboration with Community Support Group. It has helped the youth to improve their talents in theatre and cultural activities. The majority of its members went to a one-week theatre training course at Tafakari Centre in Kibera. The training was facilitated by three actors from Canada, namely Laura, David and Alex. These three people are professional actors well known worldwide. After the training, members who passed the exam were issued certificates and were delegated the duty of training others.
Pamoja Youth Foundation was officially registered in 2007.

INITIATIVES

ART, THEATRE, AND MUSIC
P.Y.F has a team of drama crew, Asia and African traditional dancers and secular and gospel musician such as hip-hop, raggae and ragga rappers. We are using our talents to entertain and educate the community on various issues such as child abuse, drug abuse, rape, abortion, human rights, HIV/AIDS, environmental and sanitation.

Our commitment
P.Y.F is willing to have cultural exchange programmes with youth all over the world.

PEER EDUCATION

Almost all members of P.Y.F. are trained peer educators. We always do advocacy programmes in schools and organise community outreaches to educate the community

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

We have tthree sub-programmes under this programme.
Youth in leadership and governance
We advocates for youth representation in any democratic process in this country. We are therefore appeal all young in this state to participate with commitment. We have realised that what the young people need is elementary participation which means there must be consultation and young people must be asked their opinion before a decision made. Youth need participation with autonomy and power.

Gender equality

Young ladies in Kenya have not been given a chance to speak by their own. We need more ladies on board so that we can change this country together. P.Y.F. is ready to empower ladies from marginalised community to fight for their position in this country. We do organise work and camps for ladies. During this time they got the opportunity to express themselves and understand each other best.
Entrepreneurship
P.Y.F. is looking forward to start it devolved fund for its members. This is to reduce the level of poverty and unemployment amongst the youth. Current the group is now training members on entrepreneurship and credit management with the help of Uzima foundation.

YOUNG MOTHERS

These are girls who conceive at the early stage in life. The community that we live on have neglect and discriminate these ladies for so long. As P.Y.F. we need these ladies to feel a sense of belonging and very valuable in this community. Having been neglected for so long, they only found themselves prostituting. aborting, violating the rights of their young ones unknowingly and some times causing death. As a young people, we do understand our fellow better because some of us have been victims, this is why we have:
A back to school programme
Vocational training
Economic empowerment.
But at the end of it all, children suffered most. Current P.Y.F has three trained Paralegals and two members trained on child rights. Child rights violation has been a culture in this country. We have there came up with some resolution. One of the resolution is to establish children council.

Children Council

To help children in this society, we have realised the formation of children council in this country can help address children issues. We will be organising workshops and camps for the children and parents. Community outreaches is one of the tools that we will enable us reach the community.

ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION.

P.Y.F. has five members trained on environmental issues by Cathrine a student form Nairobi University doing masters on Environment. The team work with other members to improve environmental condition in Kenya. P.Y.F members have been planting tree in different parts of the country. We also provide lectures in schools and society at large. We promise to continue planting trees and conduct many community clean-ups in Kibera slum. The major challenge has been seeds.
This is why we have been slow to our commitment. If you think you can help please contact us.

ACHIEVEMENTS

- Planting 2634 trees around Kibera.
- Training 3 members on journalism
- Emerging the second best overall performing group during the competition organised by CARE KENYA and sponsored by USAID.
- Joining many international and national networks.
- Participate in many event such as Africa Child Day.
- Conduct media campaign. We were on Metro FM a programme called Beste wa Mtaa sponsored by Trans World Radio and Hot 96 sponsored by DSW advocating for youth friendly - - VCT and also mobilising youth to visit VCT Centres.
- Organise 3 successful community outreaches.
- Training members on peer education and theatre.
- Publicising the “New Dawn’ a community magazine that is issue to the community free of charge.
- Launching community radio in Kibera.
- Sponsor fifteen members for computer classes

CHALLENGES:

Lack of financial support. Inadequate resource to run the projects. Following the post election violence in Kenya our office was burnt. Office equiments

PARTNERS.

UZIMA FOUNDATION
Y PEER
NAYA KENYA CHAPTER
DAKAHUMAS
DSW KENYA
CARE KENYA
HELP KENYA
GREEN BELT MOVEMENT
KENYA FOREST WORKING GROUP.

The Pamoja Youth Foundation would like to establish an international link &/or cultural exchange between their organisation and groups/individuals in UK, USA or elsewhere, who are also involved with cultural/theatre/dance/drama activities.

CONTACT DETAILS

Pamoja Youth Foundation P.O.BOX 23739-00100 NAIROBI, KENYA.
Group Coordinator: Raphael Omondi. Email: raomosh@yahoo.com.

Latest News from Community Groups in Kenya

2008-01-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

Latest news and updates from the community groups mentioned on this blog can be found across at 'Postcards From Kenya'.

If you are a community group in Kenya and would like to let people know how you are, or if you have a message of peace, prayer, hope and support for other community groups in Kenya during this difficult time, please send them as a comment to this post and we will try to put them on-line for you.

The latest daily newspaper coverage of current events in Kenya can be found at
The Standard on-line and the Daily Nation on-line.

Further in-depth coverage on the situation in Kenya is also available at BBC News on-line.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross Crisis Appeal for Kenya.

Mathare Roots Youth Group - From Roots to Fruits

2007-12-14T23:11:00.000-08:00

Mathare Roots Youth Group - 'From Roots to Fruits' was formed by a group of 15 youngsters in March 2006 and has its roots in the much longer established Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA). Mathare Roots to Fruits now has over 40 members and its membership is still growing.

(The following information is from Mathare Roots website at http://www.mathareroots.org)

The name Mathare 'Roots' came from the fact that the group has emerged from the Mathare slums (reputedly the second largest slum in Africa after Kibera), where most of the group's members were born and raised, hence the members know the struggles of the residents and would like to try and bring 'good fruits' from the slum, which would paint a better picture of the community.

Mathare Roots prides itself on vast experience of community development and individual growth related issues, acquired from long-term involvement in other community groups (such as MYSA) based in and out of the Mathare slums. The group is still young but the spirits are high amongst the members, resulting in high and very positive popularity in the slum and its environs.

The group is very active in helping to try and reduce the level of HIV/AIDS in the slums, organising and participating in HIV/AIDS awareness activities, providing positive role-models for the young and vulnerable members of the community, providing hope, educational support and a positive alternative to drugs, gangs and the negative aspects of living in a slum environment.

The group's main activities are:
Arts - (music and dance, poems, graffiti and drawing, drama and skits, design;
Community Service - environmental clean-ups, and home visits
Sports - all kinds of sports, including football & volleyball.
Recreation - hikes, camps, picnics
Educational - seminars, workshops, lectures
Social - mentoring and counselling

Mathare Roots Youth Group would like to establish a link with a football club or a football-related community group or youth group based in an inner city area in UK, so that they can share support, mutual ideas & experience with other local youngsters, perhaps with the possibility of some football-related cultural exchange visits, fundraising/sponsorship, etc.

Contact: Elijah Kanyi (Email: monelijah@yahoo.com).

You can find more photo's and information about Mathare Roots Youth Group and their life and activities in the Mathare slums at the Mathare Roots Youth Group website (http:www.mathareroots.org).

More information about Mathare Youth Sports Association can be found at http:www.mysakenya.org

More photo's and information about the making of a new documentary with Mathare Roots and the difficulties of life in the Mathare slum can be found at the 'Living & Bleeding' website.

'Friends of Kinangop Plateau'

2007-12-02T00:10:00.000-08:00

· 'FRIENDS OF KINANGOP PLATEAU' (FoKP)

Background
'Friends of Kinangop Plateau' (FoKP) community group was founded in 1997, by a group of Kinangop residents concerned about their environment. The Group aims to conserve biodiversity and ensure wise use of the environment in Kinangop plateau and its surroundings especially the area's unique highland grasslands. Membership has grown tremendously spreading across the plateau to four sub-branches in Murungaru, Engineeer, Njabini and Magumu/Nyakio. The Group currently has around 400 members. Membership is open to all who share the Group's aim. The Group has a spinning and weaving workshop at Njabini in South Kinangop, a small honey refinery at Engineer Township in North Kinangop, as well as a Resource Centre and a new campsite and community bandas. Kinangop is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and 'Friends of Kinangop Plateau' is a Site Support Group of Nature Kenya. Mission 'Friends of Kinangop Plateau (FoKP) will endeavour in partnership with others to dedicate efforts and resources towards conservation of biodiversity - elegant and graceful wildlife, scenic beauty and rich socio-cultural heritage, especially in the unique native tussock grasslands of the Kinangop Plateau.

Objectives
· Creating awareness of the importance of conserving and protecting the environment
· Establishing a network of young conservationists to protect Kinangop highland grassland's biodiversity
· Promoting grasslands-friendly environmentally sustainable income generating activities
· Developing Kinangop Plateau's potential for eco-tourism
· Carrying out conservation education for schools, environmental clubs and the community at large
· Promoting bird-watching as a hobby
· Creating links and partnerships with other institutions doing similar work

FoKP activities
· Grasslands and species conservation
· Wool spinning and carpet/rug weaving
· Environmental education
· Eco-tourism
· Kitchen gardening
· Survey and monitoring of grasslands and grassland birds
· Bird walks
· Beekeeping
· Cultural dances

Membership
Open to all who are interested in grassland conservation.
Benefits include:

· Gaining knowledge using group's library resource materials
· Participation in conservation work
· Being part of a community-based conservation group in near you in Kinangop
· Group outings to conservation areas including camping
· Guided bird and nature walks
· Participation in bird counts and animal census
· Environmental and conservation education

CONTACTS

Friends of Kinangop (FoKP) – Murungaru branch
PO Box 265, Naivasha, Kenya

FoKP Engineer branch
PO Box 49 North Kinangop, Kenya

FoKP Njabini branch
PO Box 174, South Kinangop, Kenya

FoKP Magumu/Nyakio branch
PO Box 22 South Kinangop, Kenya

More information is also available at Nature Kenya
PO Box 44486, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Email: Nature Kenya

You can also find more information about 'Friends of Kinangop Plateau' and their activities at 'Postcards from Kenya'.

Welcome to Sema Kenya Youth and Community Forum

2007-02-27T02:34:00.001-08:00

Hi, there! Karibu sana!

Thanks for coming by. If you are a member of bona fide Youth Group or Community Group in Kenya and would like to participate in our new website link/forum facility then this is the place for you.

Are you needing help and advice?

Can you help or advise other youth or community groups based on your own experience?

Are you just wanting to reach out and say "Hi, we're here, too, it's nice to meet you?

If you'd like to reply or to make contact with any of the other groups here on the Forum you can do so by leaving a relevant comment under their post.

If you'd like to have a main posting of your own here at Sema Kenya then please send details about your Youth or Community Group plus any relevant issues that you would like to share with others. Remember to send the name of your group, contact person and email address and once verified your group will then be able to post relevant comments and receive feedback, too.

Sema Kenya also has a list of useful website links to funding organisations as well as advice on proposal writing to help you.
If you yourselves know of any other good links please send them in to us and we'll add them to the list too.

Sorry, please note that no requests for funding will be included here on the forum.

Please also let us know what you think of Sema Kenya and how the forum might be of interest or help to you or your own youth or community group. It's important to have your feedback. Asante....

Lenkisem Matanyok Youth Group

2007-02-27T02:21:00.000-08:00

Sopa! (Hi!),
We are Thomas Lekanayia aged 20 years (member) and John Silankei, aged 22 years (Chairman) of the Lenkisem Matanyok Youth Group. Our Youth Group has been formed by young educated members of the community to address the problems that are affecting the whole community. These problems are to eradicate poverty by supporting education and fighting HIV/AIDS. The Youth Group was formed basically to spearhead development projects in the area.

These are our Youth Group's Aims and Objectives:

Promote the rights of the women, girl child and the less fortunate in the society;
Promote the awareness of HIV/AIDS menace;
Promote equal education for all;
Fight for the proper management of community resources;
Take measures to help to eradicate poverty;
Teach the community on other forms of investments;
Teach the people on the right skills of political participation;
Encourage conservation of wild animals;
Environmental awareness and preservation;

Our Youth Group is involved in the following Activities:

Adult education
Evening classes for children involved in looking after livestock during the day;
Drama groups in HIV/Aids Awareness;
Education fund to help those who can’t afford school fees, etc;
A microfinance Fund to help the Youth to start business;
Various visits to villages to help local people change their mentality regarding immorality, FGM, wife-beating;
Visits to the sick, the needy and old people;

Forthcoming Activities:

Building a community library and offices;
Fund-raising;
Poultry-keeping
Bee-keeping;

We hereby encourage other assocations and other youth groups to share with us and to contribute their ideas to enable our youth group to move forward.

We are just starting our own new website at http://lenkisem-matanyok.blogspot.com/
You can find out more about us there.

Please contact us here at Sema Kenya or at our website.
Ashe oleng! (Thank you!)

Kakamega Forest Entertainment Group

2007-02-22T01:29:00.000-08:00

The Kakamega Forest Entertainment Group was started in 2000 with KEEP but is now its own group since 2003.

The group is made up of 10 members, all guys (musicians & singers).

Girls are also expected to join and already help with the singing.

Story-telling is done by elders and mamas - about how the local community is living, how dependent it is upon the forest, how life used to be when they were young.

Musicians:

Alex Igumilu -drumset & also sings

Josephat Murilla – sings

Evans Lukalia -

Plus others.

The musicians play mostly environmental music & conservation songs in praise of the forest, also songs about Isukha culture.

Music and lyrics composed by the group themselves, as well as some traditional cultural songs such as at circumcision and funerals. The group also used by the Church for gospel music.

Group members work as boda-boda riders, 1 is also a mechanic and boda-boda rider.

Entertainment provided for visitors each Saturday from 2pm till 5.30pm.

No charge is made but donations are left according to the wish of each visitor (so some will pay a few shillings whilst others will pay more, for example, depending on their means.)

The group is also linked with Rondo Retreat, Golf Hotel and Sunset Hotel.

The group's musicians make their own instruments:

guitars - (wood Cordia africana (Mukomari in Kiluhya)
cymbols – iron sheets
drums – wood (as above) and occasionally tins
drumsticks – wood (Declea nobilis (Lutero in Kiluhya)
guitar strings – wire and these are normally bought at the following cost:
1^st @ 150/=, 2^nd @ 180/=, 3^rd@ 210/=, 4^th@ 250/=, 5^th@300/=
Switch – one set costs 1200/=

Chairman: Benson Ayuku, Treasurer: Evans Lukalia, Secretary: Josephat Murila

Organiser of the group- Abraham Imbayi. Contact +254 (0)73499438

Information provided by Abraham Imbayi. 15.2.07

KABICOTOA (Kakamega Biodiversity Conservation and Tour Operators Association)

2007-02-22T01:14:00.000-08:00

KABICOTOA was formed as a Community-based Association to uplift/improve the living standard of the local community neighbouring the Kakamega Rain Forest.

Activities carried out by the group:

Tree Seedlings – raising both Indigenous and Exotic
Protection of the Forest Flora and Fauna
Research and Education
Tour Guiding Operations

Although we have realised that this is not enough in the basics of conserving, protecting and improving the living standards of the entire Kakamega Rain Forest.

Needs and challenges:

Education/training on proposal writing is one of the weaknesses
More research and training in both medicinal plants, bird monitoring, mammals, welfare set-ups as income-generation among others.

All this was realised to set a sustainable management as an end goal.

Members of KABICOTOA:

Kevin Job Ilondanga
John Atsango
David Makonjio
Eunice Inziani
Smith Likane
Nicholas L. Shikuyenze
Nancy Khatioli
Humphrey Muhalia
Glaphas L. Isayi
Joyce Anjouje
Carolyne Shikuyenze
Moses Livarsia
Ben Obanda

Age range of the group is 20 years to 45 years. Majority below 40 years.

Some members of KABICOTOA are also members of other groups such as Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, APECAFOR (Area of Protection/Conservation of the Kakamega Forest.

KACOFA (Kakamega Community Forest Association)

1 is a member of KEEP (Kakamega Environmental Education Programme)

Contacts:

Email: <kabicotoa@yahoo.com>

Postal: KABICOTOA, Box 2153, Kakamega

Tel: 0720 366455

KABICOTOA are also just starting their own website at:

http://kabicotoa.blogspot.com

Information provided by : Secretary: Kevin Job Ilondanga. 15.2.07

Photo by Rest House at Isecheno Forest Station: Kevin Jog Ilondanga (Secretary), John A. Atsango (Vice Chairman), Nicholas Shikuyenze, Smith Likare (member, former chairman)

Ilkidotu Youth Group in Loitokitok District

2007-02-08T05:13:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Joseph Parteri Lekanayai,
I am the Chairman of Ilkidotu Youth Group. We are a youth group from Loitokitok District near Amboseli, Kenya.
We are doing the following activities:
Nature Conservation,
HIV/AIDS Awareness
Importance of Children's Education (particularly girl-child)
Soon we will be sentisizing the community on issues of FGM.

Please, if you would like to know more about us, please contact us at our website Ilkidotu Youth Group http://www.ilkidotu.blogspot.com and let know what activities you are doing.

The World Social Forum...

2007-01-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

The World Social Forum is now underway here in Nairobi...

What do you think about the issues?? How do they effect you and the life of your family and community?? How would you like to see the world become a better, fairer place???

Some useful website links for Youth and Community groups in Kenya...

2007-01-13T03:59:00.000-08:00

Some useful website links for funding organisations and advice on writing proposals, etc...

Further useful website links can be found by clicking here.

http://www.aridland.go.ke/contact.asp (World Bank). Email: alrmp@aridland.go.ke , alrmphq@africaonline.co.ke

http://www.fordfound.org/about/address.cfm?expanded=africa&view_office=Nairobi (contact for Ford Foundation. Email ford-nairobi@fordfound.org)

http://www.fordfound.org/about/guideline.cfm (Ford Foundation)

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSOCIALDEVELOPMENT/EXTCDD/0,,menuPK:430167~pagePK:149018~piPK:149093~theSitePK:430161,00.html funding for community-driven development)

email >EAdvisor@worldbank.org>

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/funding/civilsocietyguidelines06.asp#Who_can_apply_to_the_CSCF (DIFID Civil Societies funding scheme)

http://www.allavida.org/finder-donors.html (list of useful funding organsiations, etc)

http://www.christensenfund.org/ Backing the stewards of cultural and biological diversity

http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2wid.htm (grants for non-profit orgs.)

http://www.firelightfoundation.org/Grants-Countries/Grants-Kenya.htm

http://www.firelightfoundation.org/apply-2006.htm (funding org)

http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/privint.htm (database of funding orgs)

http://gdrc.org/ngo/ (the NGO Cafe)

http://www.coreinitiative.org/Grants/cigrants/small_grants.php (CORE Initiative & grants for HIV/AIDS community projects support)

http://www.nonprofitexpert.com/international.htm (useful grant database)

http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/about/grantseekers/grant_guidelines_April_06.pdf

http://www.proposalwriter.com/intgrants.html (how to write proposals, etc)

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/shortcourse/index.html (Free On-line Short Course on Proposal Writing)

TearFund http://tilz.tearfund.org/ (a useful resource base for community groups on issues such as water, sanitation, HIV/AIDS, etc)

Further useful website links can be found by clicking here.

Koija HOPE Club....

2007-01-12T02:42:00.000-08:00

(Photo of Koija HOPE Club's Treasurer, Secretary & Chairman)

Introduction

Koija HOPE Club (KHC) (Health Operations for Pastoralist Environment) is a community-based organisation located at Koija group ranch in Olaibrosoil Location, Ewaso Sub Location, Laikipia district, Mukogodo Division, Kenya. The club was founded by the youth - Koijan pastoralists, warriors and girls. The club registered in the Ministry of Gender, Sport, Culture and Social Services of Kenya in the year 2004. KHC was formed with a view of working for the betterment of general healthcare/AIDS Awareness and Land Rehabilitiation & Reseeding. The implementation of the club’s goals and objectives should be inline with overall government policy on development and resource mobility.

Vision

To make the pastoral community realize the importance of healthy environment and proper biodiversity and to have a clear picture of the killer disease AIDS.

Mission

To enhance the community by a better understanding of the importance of healthy environment and by good management, and by using the local available resources to uplift their standards of living

To see the pastoralist community mobilised towards the achievement of a better understanding of the monster AIDS, to have healthy people and a healthy environment.

Rationale of the Club

In order for the Koijan pastoral community to be able to address development programmes from grassroots level, a lot has to be done in terms of capacity building and participation. Koija Hope Club (KHC) is therefore working with its community back at home, trying to make things good and sustainable.

Problem Statement

The community environment is endowed with varied flora and fauna. Attractive, beautiful and very unique cultural values of its people and young people are yet to be explored due to poor land management and deadly disease HIV/AIDS. This and many aspects of the Maasai culture and physical environment need to be conserved and communicated in and out for healthy people and healthy environment.

Because of poor communications systems and unreliable infrastructures, the youth felt there is need of uniting people together in the H.O.P.E. Club to give hope and support and a better standard of living.

Objectives

The club is interested in promoting community-based initiatives in consideration of their lifestyles with a view to improve and strengthen their capability and better standard of living.

To educate the community on how best they can conserve if re-seeding has to be done.

To educate the community on the present position of HIV/AIDS.

To educate the community on importance of personal hygiene and environment.

Text provided by George Naptari, Chairman, Koija HOPE Club

Contact: <koijahope@yahoo.com>.

For more information please see Koija HOPE Club Plan (pdf)

Koija Photo’s & Captions

Musul Naramatisho Women’s Group

2007-01-12T02:41:00.000-08:00

Musul Naramatisho Women’s Group

Text provided by Mary Kesier, Secretary, Musul Naramatisho Women's Group. 1/12/2005

Vision

Working together so as to have a self-reliant society or people

Mission

Sharing knowledge, empowering women to know their rights

Goal

To sustainably exploit all available traditional, cultural and natural resources

Introduction

Musul Naramatisho Women's Group was formed as a women's project to try and assist local women in Musul to uplift their living standard. The group was first started as Piriwua women's group and then changed its name to Musul Naramatisho Women's Group to cover the picture of its vision, mission and goal ("naramatisho" is maasai, meaning "the one who cares"). The group was registered with the Ministry of Gender, Sport, Cultural and Social Services of Kenya on 7/7/2005 and since then the group of 16 dedicated members has been running its activities well.

Background

The group is situated at Musul village or Musul Sublocation of Ilpolei Location, Mukogodo Division in the Laikipia District of the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.

Main Activities

Bead work

Livestock

FGM & HIV/AIDS awareness

Objectives

1) To have a Cultural Manyatta to sell the group's jewellery and have a tourist attraction.

2) To provide a market for local jewellery

3) To sensitise and mobilise the community on prevention of HIV and AIDS through workshops and meetings

To ensure each child is enrolled in school and educate girl child to understand the effects of FGM.

To prevent livestock disease in order to have quality and improve livestock products.

Achievements

Group structure - How the group is formed and its formation, starting from the Chairlady to all members

Registration and monthly contributions - to be a member you have to register yourself with 500 Kenyan Shillings and a monthly contribution of 100 Kenyan Shillings, which is good and which has enabled us to run some of our activities e.g. emails and buying beads, etc.

Regular meetings - the group has arranged to meet twice each month and this has been done.

By-laws - the group by-laws have been followed accordingly

Contacted Propoortourism Development Centre in Nairobi - now developing a catalogue for the sale of jewellery.

Problems facing the group

Market for our products

Capital to start a big business

Training of our members

Lack of willing donors

No office

Poor proposal writing

Illiteracy

Employed staff to run the affairs of the group

An access to emails, transportation and other problems pertaining to this

Need for a Cultural Manyatta/curio shop

Musul Naramatisho Women’s Group are also working closely with MBEKEC (Mukogodo Beekeepers & Environmental Group) to overcome local community needs & challenges.

Contact: Mary Kesier at: <musulnaramatisho@yahoo.com>

Daniel LeMolo <mbekec@yahoo.com>

“The Mukogodo Beekeepers and Environmental Conservation” Group” (MBEKEC)

2007-01-12T02:39:00.000-08:00

“The Mukogodo Beekeepers and Environmental Conservation” Group” (MBEKEC)....

MBEKEC are working hard along with members of the local Musul Naramatisho Women’s Group & others in the local community towards urgently finding the necessary funds, practical assistance, training & capacity-building that they need to successfully implement their important 2006 –2012 Strategic Plan.

INTRODUCTION –

Mukogodo Beekeepers and Environmental Conservation Group (MBEKEC) is a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) that was established by Indigenous local people in order to address the needs & challenges of the Ildigiri Laikipiak Maasai Pastoralist Community.

MBEKEC values participation as a driving force behind the full realization of genuine development efforts towards long-term future sustainability of environmental conservation, improved livelihoods & poverty reduction.

BACKGROUND & LOCATION

Mukogodo Beekeepers & Environmental Conservation Group (MBEKEC) is based at the Musul Group Ranch, Ilpolei Location, in the western area of Mukogodo Divison, Laikipia District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya.

Situated in a hilly area with good rock catchment in what is otherwise a harsh semi-arid environment, Musul Group Ranch is 7,000 acres in size, with 2,000 acres of this land set aside & managed by the local community as a conservation area for wildlife.

The Group Ranch has a human population of approximately 450 indigenous pastoralists (plus children), & their livestock (mostly cattle, goats, sheep & some camels), & is legally owned by the indigenous community with full title deeds. The homesteads at Musul Group Ranch are widely scattered throughout the area. Musul Group Ranch is bordered by three other community-run group ranches – Ilpolei to the south, Momonyot to the east, & Kijabe to the north. Musul is bordered in the west by 2 small-scale ranches run by local community people as non-conservation areas. Kijabe Group Ranch also operates as a conservation area & eco-lodge.

MBEKEC’s Vision a just, progressive and self-reliant society through working together to conserve and utilize the traditional cultural and natural resources.

MBEKEC’s Mission

To promote and facilitate the empowering of the poor & marginalized Indigenous Ildigiri Laikipiak Maasai Community and enable them to transform themselves in a sustainable manner by pooling resources, sharing knowledge and collaborating with all stakeholders.

For more information, please see also-

MBEKEC 2006-2012 Strategic Plan. (pdf)

MBEKEC Project Profile pdf.

(Above information & text provided by Daniel LeMolo, Secretary, (MBEKEC)

Contact: Daniel LeMolo <mbekec@yahoo.com>

Local Youth at Musul in Mukogodo

2007-01-12T02:38:00.000-08:00

Local Youth in Mukogodo...

There are approx 50 youth (boys and girls of 15 years and upwards) in the community based at Musul Group Ranch in western Mukogodo who would like to be able to start up a local Youth Group and also to develop links and communication with other youth groups elsewhere in Kenya - so that “they can be together” and to “share ideas and experiences”. This is a great ambition for the youth in such a remote area of the country which is without regular public transport or reliable mobile phone network.

To help get their idea underway, I've suggested possible links with the Koija Hope Club, some 20 kilometres distant, whereby youth from the two communities might be able to meet up at the local 'soko' (market) at Kimanjo on Wednesdays. The provision of a football to help the youth start a local soccer team at Musul in the New Year will also help.

Funds for monthly contributions to a group are also a problem for the youth, so to help overcome this, they might begin practising traditional singing and dance, etc which could be of interest to visiting tourists once Musul's new eco-tourism facilities are constructed.

(Photo's and further info can also be found at Postcards from Kenya)