Shepherd school & Trade centre in Marsabit, Kenya education & trade from the power of youngsters! Augustine Lenamoe 26th of September
NPYDO & project leader The project leader is Augustine (Orengo) Olenamoe, Founder of NPYDO & youth leader of more than 200 youngsters. During the project he creates teams of youngsters who studied in Nairobi and are able to give education to the different groups of young women, men and youth.
Why the project In Marsabit, 80% of the people have no access to education.
UBUNTU: I am because We are
The project therefore aims to improve illiteracy among the pastoral communities who remained marginalized in Marsabit. The project is important to ensure a 100% transformation in the education sector through provision of education for all in line with the 17 SDGs. The project will promote understanding of local communities by building knowledge, skills and attitudes. The adult learners through the project can easily participate in socio-economic and po litical activities, in addition to developing life skills. It will contribute to a positive change in the lives of an average of 500 young adults (mostly young moms) directly and 2000 (their children) indirectly per year. The access to education through the project will directly contribute to the creation of employment and income for young people and other residents of Marsabit, bringing peace and future prospects in the various communities.
Education & Trade with No One Left Behind
How the project works The project provides literacy and numeracy skills to adults who are pastoralist herders disadvantaged in accessing education opportunities besides support in life skills. It is generally impacting knowledge and skills in day to day life.The project has been operational for 6 years. The project is undertaken by NPYDO as youth Development organisation in collaboration with ONE WORLD Citizens (Nethrelands), CNM (Nepal), Necessary Generation (Rwanda) and the department of education. The resources needed are: teaching and learning materials, equipments for life skills, mobility (transport for selling products in the big cities), facilitation for volunteer teachers (youngsters). The education is given in the Shepherd school during weekly days for young women, youth and during evenings for the young men who are moving around with the cattle during the day.
People are moving around with their livestock for water and green pasture. In times of drought they have to go far.
Project activities The project activities as earlier mentioned involves access to education by the pastoralist adult shepherds. The project provides 2 main activities: education in the Shepherd school and common trade by the Trade centre. The education program is given by young adults who were able to study in Nairobi and returned to Marsabit after study. But also by women who became expert in different life-, household-, and small business skills. The education program is to help them to read, write and solve basic arithmetical problems. It is also to prove life skills and skills to make high-quality products from milk and skins. But also about tayloring, small scale agriculture and regreening. So that the Shepherd School students can create small jobs and more income in Marsabit. Similarly, it is also to disseminate government information regarding policies to help them participate in governance aspects. To contribute to peace which plays an important role because the different tribes are in conflict more often. Due to drougth and poverty. By lack of education they miss the ability to find and create solutions for this in daily life by which the conflicts could end.
The previous (first) Shepherd school classroom
Impact The education program in the Shepherd school will have a big impact on the youth and adults in Hulahula and other communities. ●
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The mindset of people will change because they read books, write and get access to al kind of school subject such as math, but also agriculture, renewable energy, regreening. By which the can start solving the problems they are facing now in their daily lives. The first education program that has been given to groups of young women enabled them to start small businesses ad improve the income and lives of 40 famlies. By a donation of 4 sewing machines and tailoring courses the first group of women already started producing cloth that can be sold on the local markets.
The trade that will improve the income of many people and enable them to create more high-quality products that are hand made and can be sold on the markets in the bigger cities. The extra income reduces poverty and contribute to a stable society with peace among the tribes.
The first women group who graduated in the Shepherd school
Evaluation, challenges & solutions The project impact evaluation confirmed; ● ● ● ●
progressive learning without discontinuity learners applied life skills in day to day life improved enrollment for the learners Enrollment of small business that brought more income to families.
The organization is proud by the learners ability to practice language speaking skills during forums and meetings.This besides maintaining basic records keeping at their business. Some became leaders already taking local leadership roles as Committees. The challenges encountered are; ● ● ●
inconsistent support realization from stakeholders learners absenteeism due to engagement in domestic chores, need for additional learning infrastructure due to the increasing interest by learners.
However,there is continued consultation with stakeholders to resolve these challenges.
Next steps & supplies The project proposes to accommodate the increasing demand for education amongst the adult learners. This is besides transitioning the shepherd school graduates to the formal government Adult literacy classes. It is also proposed to provide ICT skills to the adult learners to ensuring that they are abreast with technology. Similarly, it is proposed to initiate mobile schools for children from nomadic pastoralist areas to attain significant trend towards"education for all". The project also propose to increase income of the families by high quality products made from milk and skins and by common trade from the Trade Centre. To increase trade and income from the Trade centre a small truck is needed to bring the products to the cities. The Organization seeks to develope funding proposals and similarly enhance stakeholder's consultative dialogue and engagement. The Living Legends community facilitated by OWC is brought to light to admire this tasking project activities as voluntarily consented and implemented. They are further urged
Fencing to keep the Elephants away from the school
Future perspective The need to initial this project was driven by high illiteracy levels and abject poverty in the target locality. The motivation was further to people's ignorances on most government policies of benefit to them. The reason being higher marginalization and discrimination by the successive regimes in the post independence. My dreams are to ensure access to education, trade and job opportunities particularly in the Nomadic pastoralist communities at the optimal by 2030.
The first seedlings to start regreening Marsabit at school