Project Evaluations – Meru, Dol Dol, etc.

In February I spent a few days travelling with VSO staff on an evaluation exercise assessing the impact of the funding and volunteers. This was great as it gave me the opportunity to visit other volunteer’s placements. But the one I had heard so much about and wanted to visit was the Dol Dol Masaii women’s group. This is a great programme that helps Masaii women set up support groups to work together to sell their products better in larger groups. It also helps them with accounting and book keeping, pricing products, improving product quality and consistency and in particular identifying product diversification and markets.

We traveled a couple of hours in the hot sun on dusty dirt roads into the bush. Passing a very dry and arid landscape and many dry river beds. This is a very inhospitable environment. Finally, we passed Il Polai and then another 20 mins to Dol Dol – this link is a good background to the programme http://www.vsojitolee.org/news/press-release/38426/

Zaitun and one of her daughters

Some of the products they make

Modelling one of the ear rings

Another of the group members making bead work

We arrived on time but, it being Kenya, it was another hour or so before the rest of the ladies arrived. Luckily two of the main representatives were there so Mike did the individual interviews with them whilst I entertained one of their kids. Inevitably, in minutes I was entertaining half the village kids!!

A happy "student"

Studying hard

The class is growing!!

Great fun and they had an impromptu computer lesson and “helped” type a little report for me. They seemed to love it. It helped to let the Mums focus on the questionnaire. When they had finished we had time for a trip to one of the ladies, Zaitun's, home for photos for the report, etc. We needed photos of the Zaitun and her family doing the beadwork on location etc. The house was a little out of town up on a small hill. Zaitun used to rent it but due to income improvements resulting from the training etc she ha been able to buy it and was slowly making it int a lovely home as the money came in. 

"Look at what I made!"

They had made it very homely and I was made very welcome. The kids loved the photo opportunity and were not shy at all. The son decided to be solemn for the photos but had a great smile like the others when the camera was not in his direction!! Then after some fine chai we headed back to the village for the focus group discussions.

Finally we were through and it was time to leave, what a great insight though into this amazing group of ladies. 

New Sewing Machines - Income Generation Opportunity

It has been a good end to last year and start to this one. The fruits of early efforts are coming off. We received and new Singer sewing machine and an overlook machine for the tailoring and dressmaking dept. We previously had 14 “butterfly sewing machines which are very old fashioned and do not generate the quality needed to do income generating activities. The samples we took to schools were rejected.

Now with the new machines we already have orders from two schools for around 400 uniforms already. We will now need to get more of the better quality machines (£300 each) to meet the demand and hopefully grow the income generating side this in turn will help us get more equipment – a very positive cycle towards self-sufficiency.  If anyone feels they can support with getting more machines please contact me via the contact link on this blog.

New Toilet Block

During last year the Poly received 250,000 Kshs (just under £2000) for a new toilet block. The current ones look like this.

The current Staff and visitor pit latrine toilet - in 30+ degrees heat - just imagine!!

The boys pit latrine and urinal

The new WC block progressing well

The new ones are well on the way and will be vast improvement. Try as I might to avoid getting back to project managing construction – what I escaped from my old life!! I am having to adopt my style to the much more random approach too but it is a good experience overall. Same problems as the UK, clients changing their minds, late information from the contractor etc etc. Despite this progress is good and we hope to have it finished soon. Might be delayed by the elections though.

9 Jan – Polytechnic Re-opens + Computer Class Starts

January saw the start of a new year at the Polytechnic after the 2 month of Christmas holiday. These holidays are far too long really and the trainees often forget a lot of the good stuff they have learnt or find other things to do. But hey, we soldier on and as you can see from previous posts I make the most of the time!!

We are expecting a slower intake this year as the result from school exams are going to be delayed due to strikes last year. Also we have the election campaigning and the youth can earn cash helping the campaigns which often takes precedence over learning. Short term gains at the expense of education. We still hope to break the magic 100 barrier this year due to marketing and the start of the Computer course. Time will tell. When I started intake had been 27 in 2011, we increased that to 62 in Jan 2012. Let’s see if we can hit a population of 100, a personal challenge I set myself at the start of my placement.

Last year I asked friends and colleagues to search their cupboards etc for old laptops that they could donate for the poly. Ithiru YP had no computers at the start of 2012 and over the last year I gradually acquired some from various sources. We now have 8, a printer and projector. 4 from UK donors, 2 from VSO, one from a departing volunteer and a measly one from the Ministry, the latter is disappointing but I am still working on that one! We therefore have a functioning course. We did not have an instructor however, so for 3 weeks I was Mwalimu Simon (Teacher Simon). This was great fun and a good change from the normal role. Now we have Joseph a very popular and effective teacher and the classes are becoming increasingly popular.

Below - Winnie from VSO hands over 2 more laptops and a projector  

Joseph the new computer teacher with Winnie from VSO (centre) and our youngest "student" sat on a laptop!!

We do still need more computers so that, as the class grows, we ensure there is a laptop for each student in the class (up to 20). If any of you can assist with donating your old ones then please get in touch via the contact option of this blog. The benefit that can be gained here and the change to peoples lives by an old laptop which is currently sitting in your cupboard is amazing, so get searching and get in touch.