Keeping bees and harvesting honey in relation to gender

Keeping bees and harvesting honey are traditionally seen as jobs for men, in many countries. But when using modern types of beehive - which are kept on the ground rather than put in trees - beekeeping can be a very good way for women to earn extra income.

In Uganda, the Api-Prodex company is promoting beekeeping in farming communities, through training and supply of equipment. Farmers are able to lease beehives, smokers and other equipment from the company, and repay the cost through honey sales. They are also given full training in beehive management to maximise their honey production.

The company, now over ten years old, is run by Margaret Ndekera, who was recently recognised at an Africa-wide forum for agribusiness leaders. At the event, in Kampala, she explained more about her successful business to Pius Sawa.

To listen to the full interview, click here: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=384

Finally the library is here

Ndhiwa Maarifa Center has finally finished with the renovations and the first stocking of the community library.
It is the pleasure of the entire community to have this library hosted here since poverty scale in this community is high causing challenge to most pupils and students to access any reading materials once out of the school library.
The library is to be fully in use as from 10th January 2010.

2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference

The 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Cancún, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010.[1] The conference is officially referred to as the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 6th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP 6) to the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, the two permanent subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC – the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)– held their 33rd sessions. The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference extended the mandates of the two temporary subsidiary bodies, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), and they met as well.

This is for your information on international matters concerning climate change; for more updates visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference

Walking the Talk; Religious leaders demonstrate by planting trees

A field trip about 50 kilometers from Kampala, was an exciting moment for the religious leaders to show cause for their call to addressing challenges affecting the world today. As the world gathers in Cancun, Mexico for the climate change meeting, Men and women of God were digging holes to plant trees in a farm belonging to one of the particiapnts in a four day training workshop for religious leaders, on Understanding climate change. Imam Kasozi from the Muslim faith, has planted hundreds of acres of trees in his farm in Kalule, Luwero district. The trip started from a tree nursery in Kakiri, Wakiso district, where district officials welcomed and addressed the religious leaders. Each participant was given free seedlings(fruit and trees) to take home.The training, funded by International Network for the Availability for Scientific Publications, INASP was aimed at empowering the religious leaders with skills to influence policies on climate change and science.

I believe this is an idea that we as Kenyas' religious leaders can learn from and be part of the world that is trying to save the universe. Think about it!

http://sawa.podomatic.com/entry/2010-12-09T08_39_25-08_00

Go and support the rest with the knowledge

We are glad to release another lot of computer literate group, that brings us to the number 122 of the computer students who have acquired knowledge from this center since the year 2009 when we embarked on serious training.

This lot has proved to be one of the most disciplined and responsible groups that we have had since last year, and as they are walking out, i would like to appreciate them for the cooperation they have given me during the three months period that we shared together.

May you be blessed and carry the same degree of discipline into all walks of life that you are going to come across. Merry Christmas and a happy new year, we love you all.

Seeing is believing

Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre has really appreciated the efforts made by the FORD foundation in terms of 8 bookshelves and a 21" TV set.
I would wish to stand in a witness in a court of law to defend the slogan of 'seeing is believing'.

Through the use of this television set, the center has found it much easier to impart permanent 'how-to-do'/practical know how into the minds of our people.
We would like appeal to all our friends, partners and donors who have any practical information in the form of videos or books to please share it with us through our contacts, as together we grow.

Thanks once more.

Group storage to earn more from maize

Maize farmers are often forced by poverty to sell their crop when prices are lowest. But in Rwanda, a group of 60 farmers are among the first to benefit from a system called warrentage which is enabling them to earn double the normal price paid by traders at harvest time.
Under the system, farmers deposit their maize in a group storage shed and can receive 60 per cent of the value of their stored crop as a low-interest loan.
The group, in partnership with a local bank, then sells the maize when prices are high, greatly increasing farmers' profits while also giving them access to credit at the point in the season when they most need it.
This is one of the best practices adopted by our neighboring country and they have been able to reduce the degree of poverty amongst their communities. Most communities in Kenya here are poverty dominated not because they are poor but its due to luck of knowledge and cooperation.
As farmers we can adopt this idea and soon we shall be reaping our long lost efforts.

Improving soils with green charcoal

Adding finely chopped charcoal to soil offers many benefits - improving nutrient uptake by plants, boosting water retention and enhancing soil structure.
The International Biochar Initiative is supporting the development and use of an environmentally friendly type of charcoal as a soil improver.
'Green charcoal' or Biochar is made from waste organic material, such as sawdust or crop residues, rather than from timber. Produced in a specially designed kiln, the charcoal is chopped into small pieces, which can then be incorporated in the soil.

Adopted from: http://www.agfax.net/

For more audio and text information on this, click here

Ndhiwa Does it Again in 2010; Dont Miss!!!

Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre, in Ndhiwa district, Nyanza province of western Kenya, is in great honour of inviting you to its' annual Open Day that will be taking course on the 25th August 2010 as from 8.00 am-4.00 pm.

Open days are community forums and shows, whereby people from diverse economic disciplines, occupations, interests and specialization are brought together in a forum where they exchange knowledge in regards to their areas of expertise.

We are looking forward to see you there!!!

Contact the Field Officer for reservation: 0716-760 726.

Exam Week is here!

Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre is currently running on a new mood; our computer students are sitting in for their internal exams in preparation for external examining bodies that are to follow there after.
Their immediate performance is worth an appreciation! Watch out for detailed updates...

The updates indicates that the class finished their training successfully and currently we are having a new class.

Statistics indicate that since October 2009; the centre has successfully trained 88 computer students.

great community volunteers that committed all their efforts to assist the community members achieve the desired goals, they carry our brand and they are worth the honor.

Drop Box

2010 - 2011 Strategy & Calendar of Events

To see our strategic plan for the year 2010-2011, click here

February 2010 Computer Course Intake

It has been to the surprise of many of how the centre has surprisingly grown in terms of being the most decent and presentable resource centre in almost the whole of Nyanza province; currently the centre is hosting 32 computer students as the previous class of 15 awaits their graduation mid this month.

Watch out for the photos by Friday.

ICT GRADUATION

We are highly appreciative to the Arid Lands Information Network for having supported us honor 14 computer students since the initiation of the of free services at the centre including the computer trainings.

It has been grateful to me as to handle this class as their tutor stroke advisor. It proved to be the greatest class i have handled with so much passion.

The class is officially graduating on the 20th of February 2010. This has always been my dream to set standards for this centre that will never be shoved by whichever circumstances that may arise.

Watch out for the graduation.

Background Information of the Centre

Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre was established in the year 2006, with the collaboration of Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) and Institute for Rural Development (IRD-K) as the host organization.

The centre is situated in West Kanyamwa location, Ndhiwa division, Ndhiwa district of Nyanza province. The centre is approximately 300 meters from Ndhiwa township, off Rodi-Kopanya - Sori Road.

we particularly promote local level network through the formation of clusters called "focal groups" comprising of non-state actors, community members, and government departments within the geographical region.
The centre runs' under the management of the Community Information Volunteer (CIV) with the support of the of the advisory committee and the focal group.

SERVICES OFFERED

• Free computer training
• Free internet access
• e-government services
• Multimedia content
• Online market information
• Publications and documentation
• Advisory services
• Library services
• Social centre