While participating and being actively involved in development work, a bilateral exchange usually occurs whereby the Westerner learns more from the community than aid or help is actually given. During these bilateral experiences, people use clichés such as, “enlightening, life altering and change.” This idealism, and “do-good spirit,” quickly transforms, when one actually sees the [...]
Archive for the ‘Kenya’ Category
A Little Piece, by Benjamin Harris
Posted in Kenya, Mombasa, tagged bui bui, colonial history, corruption, culture, due process of law, equality, F.I.D.A. (Federation of Women Lawyers, G10, Grand Coalition Government, hijabs, patriarchal, romanticized, stereotypical, Swahili, transperancy, women's empowerment on September 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Endeleo, by Josh Silverman
Posted in Kakamega, Kenya, tagged Amalemba, bicycle taxi, boda boda, Chuck Norris, Duke, Dukeengage, fsd, Kakamega, KES, Kiswahili, microcredit, microfinance, small business loan, sugar cane, Sustainable Development on August 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
My Work Plan : A Summary
June 23, 2009
First of all, let me just say that I cannot believe that I have already been in Kakamega for over a month. Talk about how time flies! Even scarier, however, is the thought that I only have one month left to accomplish any of my goals at work. [...]
The Boss at Work and the First Meeting, by Arjun Khanna
Posted in Kakamega, Kenya, tagged African culture, Arjun Khanna, Dr. Bomji, fsd, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, host family, Iguhu Health Center, Kenyan Ministry of Health on June 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
MAY 27th
RECAP OF THE DAY: Woke up really early because I fell asleep at 9:30 yesterday night, had a fight in the dark with my mosquito net (I’m still not sure how it got tangled the way it did), got up, got ready, off to work, met Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bomji, discussed ideas, [...]
Developing Courage, by Jon Blackwell
Posted in Kenya, Mombasa, tagged activism, corruption, female entrepreneurs, Jon Blackwell, Justice Minister Martha Karua, LICODEP, Likoni, microfinance, MIMA on May 13, 2009 | 4 Comments »
I had no idea what to expect during my 9 weeks spent in Kenya. I decided it would be best to keep an open mind in order to best handle any situations and experiences that lay ahead of me. All that was certain was that I would be working at MIMA, the micro-finance [...]
Women Entrepreneurs in Likoni, by Mary Paul
Posted in Kenya, Mombasa, tagged community development, entrepreneurs, fsd, LICODEP, Likoni, Likoni Community Development Program, Mary Paul, microenterprises, Mikopo Ni Maendeleo (MIMA), Mombasa, small business management class on January 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
When I first arrived at Likoni Community Development Program (LICODEP) I was not sure which direction my internship would take. Located just south of Mombasa, Likoni is a bustling community with a rich culture and a diverse set of development issues. LICODEP is the flagship community development organization in the area and they work [...]
Power of the Forest, by James Perakis
Posted in Kakamega, Kenya, tagged deforestation, environmental conservation, fsd, fuel briquette initiative, James Perakis, Kakamega Rainforest, Kenya Power and Lighting Company on November 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Western Kenya is one of the most densely populated rural areas in the world, putting tremendous pressure on natural resources in the region. In Kakamega district, agricultural expansion, cattle grazing, fuel wood collection, and logging have reduced the once mighty indigenous rainforest to only 240 square kilometers. This trend is likely to continue, it seems, [...]
Dung Paper and Chili Peppers, by Evan Sorley
Posted in Kenya, Mombasa, tagged fsd, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, dung paper, chili peppers, Ndovu, Evan Sorley, cash crop, Kenyan Wildlife Service on September 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Upon arriving at my new home, my supervisor and I were taken by my host father to inspect the field. Though I could not understand all that was being said, I caught his motioning to the distance, pointing to bare patches of earth surrounded by maize, and the word “Ndovu” – Elephant. The subject of [...]
Faulu Kenya’s Welfare Association: Keeping Members on the Bridge to Success, by Ryan Gentzler
Posted in Kenya, Mombasa, tagged developing economy, Faulu Kenya, fsd, loan, microfinance, Ryan Gentzler, small-scale entrepreneurs, welfare on August 20, 2008 | 7 Comments »
I learned about the concept of microfinance about a year and a half ago, and the idea instantly captured my attention. Reading about Muhammad Yunus’ experience starting and building the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh gave me visions of leaving for an exotic faraway land where I would trudge through sweltering jungles to meet with [...]
Helping Children at the Camp David Centre, by Sara Zelek
Posted in Kenya, tagged Camp David Centre, Changamwe, children, classrooms, fsd, Kenya, Mombasa, nutrition, Sara Zelek on July 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
During the lunch hour the children at Camp David Centre exit their classrooms, while more come in through the gates to eagerly wait in line for a well-prepared meal. Laughter and playful banter echo, and the childish excitement that permeates makes it difficult to believe that many of these children are living in conditions of [...]