- LOCATION:
It is located in Kitunduni village, Iveti location, Kathiani division of Kathiani district curved off the expansive Machakos district. It is approximately 27 Kilometres away from Machakos town.
- COMMUNITY and LOCAL PARTNER:
The community is inhabited predominantly by the Akamba speaking people who occupy the expansive Eastern province. Kitunduni community CBO was founded in 2006 and registered as a community based organization courtesy of the Ministry of Culture and Social services. Poverty levels are extremely high in the wider Eastern province, especially among the Akamba region that faces grave climatical challenges due to the geographical setting. The majority of the community folk are peasant farmers who eke out their livelihood through small scale farming, small business, handicraft (basket weaving) and artistry.
- FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT:
According to the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2001 report, 65% of the people of Kenya live below the poverty line. The approximate statistics for poverty levels are as follows: 53% rural poor, 52% are overall national food poor, who are unable to afford a daily 2250 calories, 51% are rural food poor while 38% are urban food poor. In majority Kenya over 65% live below poverty line and are food poor. The problem of poverty is further compounded by rampant HIV/AIDS, poor health facilities and infrastructure, declining education and literacy levels, breakdown in social and cultural structures, insecurity, declining land productivity, poor administrative management among others.
Malaria, acute respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, skin diseases, intestinal worms, ear and eye infections and AIDS are the common diseases found among the people of the area. In addition, cases of malnutrition have also been reported. Mechanisms of coping up with the management and control of the diseases and other health related problems are lacking. A well organised health system, will, therefore, need to be in place for the needs of the people.
On this background, KVDA has the motivation to create change in the lives of the needy in society as well as create a forum that will open up the community to freely discuss issues affecting their lives and crave to establish mechanisms to improve income levels at the community level through establishment of small and medium scale projects that would spur socio-economic development with the potential to establish pro-poor strategies to address the widening gap in society between the “haves” and “have-nots”
Environmental issues continue to capture global attention and it is a major issue of concern to all who are involved in international development matters. Effects of climate change have worsened efforts geared towards poverty alleviation and the quest to address social upheavals on continental Africa.
The focus of the volunteers alongside Kitunduni community members is to make good use of the opportunity to educate the community on sustainable development approaches and emphasize on the negative effects of development that continue to pose grave danger on the environment. Inappropriate technology and its application hamper socio-economic development.
- PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
- Levelling of the Kitunduni-Kaseve road.
- Tree planting.
- Home visits and Cultural nights (All the different nationalities will have one night to present their country).
- Teaching and interacting with children in nearby primary schools.
- ORIENTATION:
9 January 2010.
Orientation for all the volunteers will be done on the 9th January 2010 from 9 am at the KVDA Residence in Kilimani-Nairobi and all the volunteers must attend in order to initiate the much-needed teamwork. It will entail introduction, team building and group formation, visit to residential estates for both privileged (the elite) and the under-privileged (slum dwellers) to grasp and understand poverty levels in the global South, psychological preparation and set out possible interventions. KVDA will be responsible for meals and accommodation for volunteers during the one-day orientation sessions.
- LEISURE:
There are possibilities for group excursions during the workcamp and especially over the weekends and these will be done at an extra cost borne by the volunteer.
Such excursions should be organized in consultation with the community leaders and the KVDA project facilitators will play a key role. It should also be noted that the majority of Kenyan volunteers are either students or youths out of school and may not have money for such excursions and volunteers from other nations have no obligation to pay for those who do not have money. This issue should be handled with care so as to avoid possible conflicts that would be injurious to the harmonious relations among volunteers.
- TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS:
Volunteers will travel as a team to the camp site on 10 January 2010.
The workcamp ends on 30 January 2010 and the volunteers travel back to Nairobi on 31 January 2010. Transport to and from the camp will be organized by KVDA.
- AIRPORT TRANSFER:
Transfers on arrival to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and departure from Kenya will be done by KVDA. Flight confirmation MUST be done by e-mail with full flight details provided. On arrival volunteers will be taken to KVDA residential.
- ACCOMMODATION:
The local community will accommodate the volunteers at a house with two rooms made available for male and female volunteers. There are pit latrines and bath-shelters for use and we strongly advice volunteers to be flexible and easily adapt to the provision of other culture within the local environment and appreciate its uniqueness. Volunteers will sleep on the floor to experience the complex development challenges and will be expected to climb down to the level of the host community, to be guided on the customs and conduct and should not strive to portray living standards beyond their means.
Volunteers will prepare their own meals. Most of the foodstuffs are Kenyan and it will be provided by KVDA.
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