Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre Holds a Stakeholders Meeting

On the 19^th July 2012, thirty three stakeholders’ representatives were able to converge in a stakeholders meeting at Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre. 

Since the beginning of the year 2012, we hadn’t had a stakeholders meeting to chat on the way forward concerning the Maarifa Centre’s management and even on the new dimension ALIN has taken as a whole in terms of serving Ndhiwa community best.

The day’s agenda were majorly dominated by Mrs. Esther Lung’ahi and Mr. Anthony Mugo from the ALIN headquarters in Nairobi. Impact was one major focus that the organization was totally focusing on and the need of the stakeholders to work as a team to ensure that we help our people grow in terms of knowledge and skills.

Later on in the day, an advisory committee of 11 members was elected under the presence of the Ndhiwa Ministry of social services officer. 

The team was oriented on their new roles after a brief on how ALIN operates, especially in terms of policies. Otherwise we were able to achieve much of the days objectives. 

164 Maarifa Centre ICT Trainess Graduate During a Colorful Tree Planting Event

With the rise of the sun on the 13th of July 2012, 164 Ndhiwa Maarifa Centre ICT graduates were full of delight as they waited to receive their certificates in an occasion that was highly graced by the district's D.O 1 as the guest of honor. Amongst the many that were present were members from the government departments, NGOs, Community Based Organizations and other community members from all walks of life.

The event begun at 10.00 am with a word of prayer and welcoming remarks from the Advisory Committee chairperson and the Field Officer under the program guidance of Mrs. Emmy Osano. After the short speeches and introductions, everyone proceeded to the tree planting venue whereby each person planted 2 trees at the focal group farmer’s home marking 502 new trees in the globe.

In return to the Arena, the D.O 1 called upon every community member who hadn’t undergone the ICT training to take advantage of the available chance to do so for the universe has taken a new dimension that dictates that all individuals must be ICT complaint. She further mentioned on the idea of planting trees and the call for each farmer to have at least 10% of their farm covered by trees. So much was discussed by our guests concerning the growth and development of this community with inclusion of security matters.

Finally the awaited moment came when each trainee from the 164 graduates had the privilege of receiving their certificates from of guest of honour. Out of the 164 graduates we had:

•  80 youths
• 43 government staffs
• 35 Teachers
• 6 High school students

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Visiting Ajuang Women Group

On the 5^th of June, we visited Ajuang Women group in Aora Chuodho. This group is one of the most outstanding groups in this region who have had the tendency of acquiring and implementing knowledge from various stakeholders who have worked with them for a while.

The group is composed of 26 people (4 M – 22 F aged people) of which despite having a group farm where they major on Kitchen Gardening, Beekeeping and cassava production, adult education school; all these members have a similar kitchen garden at his or her home, they call it ‘Orundu’.

From the long discussion we had with the group members, it is amazing at how much each home saves from buying vegetables at the market. They say that whenever the weather is okay, one is able to get surplus from his production and take to the market as source of income too. In their kitchen gardens, each member has:

• Kales and spinach
• Indigenous vegetables e.g. Nderma, Apoth, cow peas e.t.c 
• Tomatoes and onions e.t.c.     
• Some 10 maize plants

Despite all these good practices, this group of aged and young adults has found solace in adult education under their senior teacher Madam Milcah. I was able to attend the class for 15 minutes and you can’t imagine how amazing it can be sitting in a class with your grandparents.

The group had some info gaps that they had asked us together with the Ministry of agriculture to find away on how they could be trained on like: 

• How to rear dairy goats How to produce water melon and butter nut  
• They required more training on savings and loaning 
•  And a few members on fish farming

Concerning the above info gaps, I was able to identify Mr. Timothy Obabo, a farmer who had been trained and practiced water melon farming for the past 2 years to train them in early July 2012.

 Contact person: Milcah 0722-396 310.