Wednesday, 23 May 2012

14-17 May - More Funding


First full week back, we have a good staff meeting and plan the term ahead. Tuesday w micro finance organisation Songa Mbele (way forward) I had arranged to come gave a presentation to the students to explain how microfinance work, how much cheaper this type of finance is and show them the opportunities they may have. Another advantage is that knowing how they work means the students are less likely to be taken in by scams and other more expensive finance. It was well received and the students asked for more of the same.

Another result this week is that we received confirmation that funding applied for last year for modern toilets has been approved to the value of 250k Kenyan shillings but we have to raise 84k (£600) of that as a 1/3rd contribution to get it. We do not have the funds in the Poly bank so are frantically approaching MP’s and councillors (well it is election year J ). Hopefully all will be resolved soon and we will have a new WC block to replace the current wooden hut and pit latrine.

Late Thursday I received a call from VSO confirming the Poly had been selected to join the 2nd year of a 2 year funding programme called SVTED (Strengthening Vocational Training for Enterprise Development) which is a Ford Foundation programme supporting Youth and particularly girls. Without being part of this programme you cannot access the funding so this is a huge boost and may solve out problem of how to get computers to start the high demand computer course by Jan 2013. Fingers crossed and I will keep you informed. The draw back was that I had to join the 2nd day of a workshop at 12hrs notice. 30 mins into the workshop and I was listening to one group present their work from the previous afternoon when I was handed a note saying could I prepare one for Ithiru YP and go next in the presentations – winging it a little but helped by the work last term on the Strategic Plan and other business 
planning I got away with it!

All in all a good start to the Second Term…..

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