KVDA/STV/04/A: MKAMATHI SECONDARY SCHOOL
Location : Eastern Province in Igembe North- 6 hrs drive from Nairobi
Dates : 9th -30th April 2011
Orientation : 8th April 2011
Work : EDUCATION/CONSTRUCTION /SOCIAL
Theme : Environmental conservation
Camp Language : English
No. of Volunteers: 30
THE COMMUNITY
LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL
The School is situated 1 Km from Mutuati Market, along Mutuati-Antubetwe-Maura Road. The School is in Kabachi location, Mutuati division, Igembe North District in Eastern Province.
STAFF
The School has two teachers employed by Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) and five employed by the Parents. The non-teaching staff includes, two cooks, a secretary and watchman all employed by the School
ENROLMENT
Currently the School has a population of 157 students from form one to form four; 79 boys and 78 girls
PHYSICAL FACILITIES
There are two permanent classrooms in use and two more of the same type under construction , 6 pit latrines and a small semi-permanent kitchen, 5 hectares of land un-fenced, water tank with storage capacity of 11, 000 litres
WATER SUPPLY
The School obtains water from Tuuru Water supply, a Catholic Diocese of Meru project. In addition water harvesting from rainfall supplements the overall supply.
PHYSICAL FACILITIES REQUIRED
Science laboratory, administration block, another classroom to accommodate the second form one class, perimeter fence, electricity, computer laboratory, dining hall, teachers’ houses and school bus
BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY
a)Provision of Secondary school education at low cost. The School does not charge School fees under the free Secondary School education program finance by the Government of Kenya.
b)Raising literacy levels in the community
c)Reducing crime rate and other social evils rampant among the youth who drop out of School
d)Job creation for the community members when the School expands
BACKGROUND MKAMATHI SECONDARY SCHOOL
Nkamathi Secondary School was started as a community educational project in the year 2007. The main objective was to help children from needy families acquire Secondary school education at affordable cost. Earlier, it had been realized that bright children were leaving school after Primary School level and such youths were turning to crime, drug and alcohol abuse among other evils spurned out of frustration and loss of direction in life.
In view of these, community members held a meeting, raised money and started the School in one of the classrooms of Mkamathi Primary School. The first form one class had 29 students. In 2008, when the second class was admitted, the School re-located and occupied Nkamathi Special School unit classrooms. In September 2008, the current Principal was posted to the School by the Teachers’ Service Commission and by this time the School had enrolled 72 students. The first Board of Governors was appointed the same year. In 2009, the first two permanent classrooms were constructed with the assistance from Igembe North Constituency Development Fund and these were built on a piece of land donated by Nkamathi village community and two more classrooms are under construction in 2010.
THEME: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
The stark reality on climate change has impacted negatively on livelihoods, rendering communities destitute, devoid of nature; as human beings and wildlife compete for resources; eventually dealing deadly blow on the eco-system. Never than before, is the reality sinking in at the moment as witnessed by persistent drought, erratic rains and untold natural disaster occasioned by the sudden change of climate.
It becomes imperative to champion the cause of tree planting and sensitization of environmentally friendly practices that are paramount to the safeguard nature, its endowments and posterity. Environmental conservation campaigns will put into consideration the big gap occasion by commercial ventures and compromises entered by state and non-state actors that gravely compromise the efforts to reduce the emission of dangerous fumes with impunity. It is incumbent upon all the player to be pro-active in efforts to green mother nature and be educated on what it takes to safeguard the interests of posterity; including the urgent need for civic education to trickle down to the Schooled and un-schooled masses in society to appreciate the impact of the environment on our daily lives.
WORK
Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Mondays to Fridays. They will be involved in awareness campaigns, construction of classrooms, brick making and home visits. Volunteers are advised to carry work cloths including rubber gloves, boots , sandals, rain coat, umbrella, torch, sleeping bags , mosquito repellant, sunscreen lotion , donations of every kind and official cloths for special occasions etc . A personal first Aid kit is also essential.
Others: Sun glasses, water bottle, musical instruments, Local food stuffs to be shared during the work camp, souvenir, gifts for friends or for the project.
ACCOMMODATION
Volunteers will be accommodated in classrooms at the school with two separate rooms for male and female. This will be in a workcamp set up where there are no beds and they will sleep on the floor on their mats and sleeping bags to experience complexities of development challenges in rural Kenya.
Volunteers with special needs like those who are physically challenged should alert KVDA on application so that efforts are made to accommodate them appropriately.
CAMP FEES
Volunteers participating in this project will be required to pay Euros 300 for a package of three weeks and this will include Airport Pick Up and drop off after the work camp, one day full board accommodation during the orientation day, fares to the project and back, food, facilitation, certificate of participation and will cater for Administrative costs as well.
KISWAHILI TRAINING PROGRAM {optional}
Kiswahili training program is tailor-made to suit volunteers’ preference and open to individuals keen to have basic knowledge in Kiswahili that is widely spoken in East Africa and nowadays taught in prestigious Universities in the world. The 10-day program is organized in a serene atmosphere in order to quench for thirst among volunteers. Those willing to participate in the program should inform KVDA at least two weeks before arrival.
Charges: Euros 200 all inclusive
EDUCATiONAL TOURS
KVDA Organizes educational tours to spectacular sites of Interest and the fees charged is all inclusive of meals, accommodation and tour guiding. This will be held before or after the work camp and those who wish to participate should make the application at least two weeks before arrival to enable KVDA put its act together. 10% of the income from the Educational Tours is used to support community projects.
Due to an increase in the park fees by Kenya Wild Life Service, the following are the charges with effect from 1st January 2011.
3 days tour to Masaai Mara National Park – 350 Euros
4th day tour to Lake Nakuru an extra 150 Euros
Nairobi National park (One Day) 150 Euros
Bomas of Kenya 100 Euros
KVDA/STV/05/A: CREDO CHILDREN HOME
Location : Situated in Mt. Kenya region- 4 hrs drive from Nairobi
Dates : 4th -25th May 2011
Orientation : 3rd May 2011
Work : EDUCATION/CONSTRUCTION /SOCIAL WORK
Theme : Rehabilitation
Camp Language : English
No. of Volunteers: 30
THE COMMUNITY
Embu ethnic group are the founding community of Mount Kenya region but the smallest in population with approximately 400, 000 inhabitants who occupy Embu East and Embu West districts.
BACKGROUND CREDO CHILDREN HOME
The Credo Children’s Centre- Kiaragana is a charitable children’s institution dedicated to protection and care mainly to children from the streets, orphaned and those who are vulnerable from within and outside Embu community who find themselves in susceptible situations that put their lives and their future at risk. The institution endeavours to facilitate rehabilitation through provision of education, care and protection in a humane and loving environment in which the children under its care can thrive to become mature and responsible adults. This is made possible through the support of its parent organization THE CREDO FOUNDATION in conjunction with donors, sponsor, volunteers and other well wishers.
The institution is the brain child of the chairman CREDO FOUNDATIONMtumishi,Augustine Njeru Kathangu. His vision to provide an alternative life for the street children and others, who have been deprived of their basic rights, was actualized in 1996 when the land owners of the old Kiaragana market agreed to lease the plots and through a work camp organized by Mr. Kathangu himself involving local and international volunteers, and the centre started. The owners of the said old market plots later agreed to sell the land to Credo- Foundation.
Since then the home has managed to change the lives of many children. The institution is run by a committee identified by Credo Foundation board of trustees whose secretary is the center’s manager also appointed by the said Board of trustees. The current manager Mr. Perminus Njue has been running the centre since the year 2000 and has ably steered it with the help of the Foundation Chairman and the centre committee to its current state.
THEME: REHABILITATION
Caused change of behaviour and attitude from that is undesirable to that which is desirable. This programme was developed in cognition that quite a number of children cannot attain normal growth into adulthood, either due to lack of commitment and good will on the part of parents/ guardians’, or the absence of an environment conducive for the proper development.
To achieve this, the following steps need to be taken:-
(i)Conduct investigations, collect data and compile reports complete with recommendations on all the children admitted to the centre or have the potential for admission with a view to establishing how best to assist them.
(ii)Ensure that all the children residing at the centre are committed fully by their parents/guardians and recommended by provincial administration and church ministers from their home areas with the aim of presenting them later to the children magistrate’s court for committal documents to the centre.
(iii)Create an active link between the parents/guardians and the child to ensure that the child will eventually be absolved back to the family.
(iv)Provide the child with the entire basic essentials as an individual and instill a sense of responsibility.
(v)Monitor physical growth and learning progress and make the necessary recommendations and follow ups.
WORK
Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Mondays to Fridays. They will be involved with members of the community on physical activities at the Children Center alongside together with several other educational activities as enumerated above including community visits and adaptation to challenges of development. Volunteers are advised to carry work cloths including rubber gloves, boots , sandals, rain coat, umbrella, torch, sleeping bags , mosquito repellant, sunscreen lotion , donations of every kind and official cloths for special occasions etc . A personal first Aid kit is also essential.
Others: Sun glasses, water bottle, musical instruments, Local food stuffs to be shared during the work camp, souvenir, gifts for friends or for the project.
ACCOMMODATION
Volunteers will be accommodated in classrooms at the school with two separate rooms for male and female. This will be in a work camp set up where there are no beds and they will sleep on the floor on their mats and sleeping bags to experience complexities of development challenges in rural Kenya.
Volunteers with special needs like those who are physically challenged should alert KVDA on application so that efforts are made to accommodate them appropriately.
CAMP FEES
Volunteers participating in this project will be required to pay Euros 300 for a package of three weeks and this will include Airport Pick Up and drop off after the work camp, one day full board accommodation during the orientation day, fares to the project and back, food, facilitation, certificate of participation and will cater for Administrative costs as well.
KISWAHILI TRAINING PROGRAM {optional}
Kiswahili training program is tailor-made to suit volunteers’ preference and open to individuals keen to have basic knowledge in Kiswahili that is widely spoken in East Africa and nowadays taught in prestigious Universities in the world. The 10-day program is organized in a serene atmosphere in order to quench for thirst among volunteers. Those willing to participate in the program should inform KVDA at least two weeks before arrival.
Charges; Euros 200 all inclusive
EDUCATiONAL TOURS
KVDA Organizes educational tours to spectacular sites of Interest and the fees charged is all inclusive of meals, accommodation and tour guiding. This will be held before or after the work camp and those who wish to participate should make the application at least two weeks before arrival to enable KVDA put its act together. 10% of the income from the Educational Tours is used to support community projects.
Due to an increase in the park fees by Kenya Wild Life Service, the following are the charges with effect from 1st January 2011.
3 days tour to Masaai Mara National Park – 350 Euros
4th day tour to Lake Nakuru an extra 150 Euros
Nairobi National park (One Day) 150 Euros
Bomas of Kenya 100 Euros
KVDA/STV/06A: MARAMA KISA UNITED YOUTH ASSOCIATION (MKUYA)
Location : Situated in Nairobi in the second largest slum Kibera (informal settlement) in Africa
Dates : 7th June-28th June 2011
Orientation : 6th June 2011
Work : STUDY/CONSTRUCTION
Theme : Shaking up the world: Euro-African Stories Promoting Youth Inclusion.
Camp Language : English
No. of Volunteers: 30
THE COMMUNITY
Kibera slum is located in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the biggest and the poorest African slum with a population of around one million.
The Kenyan Government has done nothing for Kibera. There are no title deeds, no sewage, no water, no roads, no government schools and hospitals and no services of any kind.
Most houses here are wooden shacks with a mud floor and a tin roof - no toilets or running water.
Kibera's water is piped in by private dealers. They lay their own hosepipes in the mud, and charge exorbitantly for the commodity.
The available schools have been started by NGO’s and the hospitals and clinics are either NGO or private.
The schools in this Nairobi slum will usually have mud/dirt floors, grey mud walls and old school wooden pews. The classes may be the size of your lounge and have as many as 60 kids and no books, no pens, pencils or other writing materials.
The inhabitants of Kibera live on less than a dollar a day. Often they do not have enough money to pay the school fees or buy food and medicine.
Fifty-Four percent of people living in Kenya slums such as Kibera are either HIV positive or have AIDS.
Aids prevention and Sexual Health education for Street children and slum children is desperately needed in Nairobi slums like Kibera.
BACKGROUND OF MARAGOLI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Marama Kisa United Youth Association is a nonprofit making organization founded in 2001 and registered under the social services. This came handy in handy with the challenges that face the Kibera slum such as poverty, unemployment, drug abuse etc. It is located in place known as Kisumu Ndogo with a membership of over 100 youths.
THEME: SHAKING UP THE WORLD: EURO-AFRICAN STORIES PROMOTING YOUTH INCLUSION
Summary of the project
THEME
The oral tradition and the story telling as a tool to preserve the past and to describe and better understand the present, as a way to encourage youth to become multiplier actors on local and national level, able to realize networking and grass-roots based projects.
AIM AND PRIORITY
The general aim of the project is to analyze the different backgrounds of the EU and African countries involved with specific regard to the situation in suburbs and slums, to encourage the development of local and international partnerships and the creation of a network composed by youth and organizations active on local and international level, for setting new concrete actions and developing new cooperative synergies.
The project also aim at meeting the annual European priority of 2010: Combating poverty and social exclusion and the specific priority aimed at strengthening the Euro-African dialogue, exchange and cooperation in the field of youth.
As described by the EU Commission and the joint Africa-EU Strategy, the cooperation between EU and African countries aims at strengthening the political dialogue, realizing bilateral cooperation projects based on common sharing and values, discussing about the global issues and empowering solidarity, mutual confidence and comprehension, promoting equality, justice and respect toward the human rights.