Mr Okwenye, for Whom Teaching is a Calling
 | |
Mr. Evans Okwenye, Kiwimbi Kenya's Grade 7 Program leader.
|
When the officials of Kiwimbi Kenya inquired from seven different authorities as to which of the hundreds of teachers in Teso North district to enlist to lead the Kiwimbi Grade 7 program, all lists of suggested names included Mr. Evans Okwenye.
For Mr. Okwenye, teaching is a calling, and all children are his children. The children say that Mr. Okwenye is kind, understanding and helpful. And he says that he would teach even if he were not paid to teach. |
Agroforestry: a sustainable technology that helps farmers address the challenges of diminished land area and decreased agricultural productivity tied to climate change. To learn more, click here.
Swahili (or Kiswahili): a language spoken by various ethnic groups in Africa. Although it is not the native language for everyone in Kenya, Swahili, along with English, is a national language of the country.
Teso (also called Iteso): refers to a traditional ethnic group whose language still predominates in certain parts of eastern Uganda and western Kenya. The language is also referred to as Teso or Ateso. Teso is the native language for many of the people served by Kiwimbi. Swahili is their second language and English a third. |
| Kenya's voter registration is scheduled to end this month, in anticipation of the election in March, 2013. This will be the first election under Kenya's new constitution, approved in a 2010 referendum. |
|
Kiwimbi Global is comprised currently of two entities: Kiwimbi International, a US organization registered as a charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and Kiwimbi Kenya, a Community Based Organization established in the Teso North District in Kenya. Ultimately, our goal is to replicate best practices from Kiwimbi Kenya elsewhere, creating more organizations under the Kiwimbi Global umbrella.
|
|
We see a world where all people are empowered through education to enrich their lives and reach their fullest potential.
To achieve our vision, our mission is to create regional community centers internationally.
These centers will:
provide education, training and other learning opportunities;
facilitate cooperation and coordination among other resource organizations; and
provide access to innovation and technology.
The combination of these efforts is intended to maximize self-sufficiency and self-actualization for individuals and communities to prosper.
|
|
|
|
Kiwimbi Pilot Community Center and Library
|
|
Kiwimbi is the proud recipient of building space in Amagoro, Kenya, granted by the Town Council, for the purpose of developing a Community Center and Library. This hub, the first of its kind for Kiwimbi, will serve as a pilot program for one of our core programmatic concepts - establishing resource-rich "nerve centers" within a region that will promote education, collaboration and technology transfer.
Among the core elements planned or underway are:
- Renovations to accommodate library resources and functional needs
- Equipping the space with computers and e-readers (4 Amazon Kindles® have been purchased to date)
- E-learning programs to support individualized and remote learning
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to advance this initiative and grateful for the generous support from the Malaba Town Council. Without their donation of space, Kiwimbi would need to immediately embark on a lengthier and costlier endeavor to purchase land and construct a new building for this purpose. So this collaboration also exemplifies another core Kiwimbi principle - that more can be done, and done better, faster, and more efficiently, through partnership.
 | | Building made available by the Town Council. It is to be renovated for use as a Library and E-learning Center. |
Kiwimbi International welcomes financial support to cover the cost of renovating this building. The needed work includes installing windows, cleaning, painting and installing book shelves at a cost of about $5,000. If you would like to help, please click on the PayPal Donate button at the end of this newsletter and know that your money will be put to good use in Kenya! |
|
Agroforestry Makes a Wave in Amagoro |
|
The Amagoro Agroforestry Project began with 14 farmers who received instruction on agroforestry benefits and techniques. With funding from Kiwimbi, the farmers each planted 100 trees on their land. In six to ten years they can look forward to harvesting and selling the trees as timber, trees that will regenerate and grow to produce another harvest in another six to ten years. It is estimated that each tree will generate over $100 in income at the time of sale - an unprecedented earning potential for these rural farmers.
But that was just the beginning.
Equipped with the knowledge and skills acquired in his initial education and planting experience, one farmer was motivated to plant more trees. Others soon followed suit and in short order, what began as a 1400-tree project had blossomed into a 6000-tree initiative poised to enrich both the land and the lives of these rural farmers.
 | | Initial meeting with the Agroforestry Group Leader |
|
Kiwimbi International Welcomes
New Trustees and Advisors |
Kiwimbi is pleased to welcome Ife Osaga-Ondondo and Rebecca Spence to our Board as our newest trustees.
Ife is currently General Counsel for Innovations for Poverty Action and brings broad experience in law and international development. She has practiced law in both New York State and in Kenya. Ife has over 12 years experience in the public and private sector and extensive work experience focusing on Africa.She holds an undergraduate law degree from University of Nairobi, a MA in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University and an LLM from Columbia University Law School.
Rebecca has an extensive background in the private and not-for-profit sectors with concentrations in communications, marketing, and education. Rebecca has been employed by,and served on boards for several not-for-profit organizations and initiatives, both domestic and international in scope. She holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell, a MA from the University of Michigan, and a MBA from Harvard.
We have also begun an Advisory Council, a group of non-trustee friends who have graciously volunteered to bring their skills and expertise to our organization: - Co-founder of Maria's Libraries, Eva Kaplan, who is active in international development and holds an MSc from the London School of Economics.
- Artist Ahni Kruger, creator of the Kiwimbi logo, and active artist and teacher in New Jersey and beyond.
- Head of School of The Willow School, Kate Walsh, whose career includes extensive experience in education and administration both in the United States and abroad.
Kiwimbi is fortunate to have already garnered this level of enthusiasm from a diverse group of brilliant, talented and motivated people. We thank them all for their enthusiasm and support! |
Kiwimbi has launched its new website. We hope it will nicely complement these newsletters and enable anyone interested to stay up-to-date on our progress.
There you will find plenty of photos, stories written by students whom we serve, interesting reading material and much more. This is a work in progress, so be sure to check back frequently for the latest news! And if you have any suggestions for us, we do hope that you will let us know! KiwimbiGlobal.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
