http://kenya.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://.tigblog.org/post/543203
Nairobi 26 November 2008: UN-HABITAT in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and the NGO Maji na Ufanisi, is convening a handing-over ceremony of water and sanitation facilities built under the Kibera Integrated Water, Sanitation and Waste Management (K-WATSAN) Project, part of the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP). The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 26th November, 2008 starting at 9.00 am.



KENSUP was set up in 2004 as a collaborative initiative between the Government of Kenya and UN-HABITAT. It draws on the expertise of a wide variety of partners in order to improve the livelihoods of people living and working in slums and informal settlements in the urban areas of Kenya through the provision of security of tenure and physical and social infrastructure, as well as opportunities for housing improvement and income generation.



K-WATSAN is a pilot demonstration project implemented in Soweto East (one of Kibera’s 13 villages) that aims to improve the livelihoods of people, by supporting small-scale, community based initiatives in water, sanitation and waste management, and by providing basic services, infrastructure and capacity building.



The project is guided by the following objectives:



· Improving water, sanitation and waste management through the provision of storm water drains, communal water and sanitation facilities, and small-scale door-to-door waste collection and recycling services;

· Improving mobility within Soweto East, by constructing a low-volume road, taking into account the needs of non-motorised transportation users;

· Providing household power connections in conjunction with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company;

· Establishing a computerized community and youth resource centre, a dispensary for small children and a rehabilitation facility for children with disabilities;

· Strengthening the institutional and technical capacities of selected key target groups by conducting training courses.



K-WATSAN introduced and tested UN-HABITAT’s new development approach within KENSUP and focused on the provision of basic infrastructure, such as water and sanitation, as a start to improving life for people living in the slum. The local community has been fully involved in the project which demonstrates that slum dwellers can take responsibility for their living conditions, and that their contribution is essential in finding lasting solutions. Their participation also builds social cohesiveness and integration within their community.





For more information, please contact: Sharad Shankardass, Spokersperson Head, Press Media Relations Unit, Tel: 7623153, or Ms. Zahra Hassan, Media Liaison, Tel: 7623151, Fax: 7624060, E-mail:habitat.press@unhabitat.org, Webiste: www.unhabitat.org



]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:03:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/543203 http://.tigblog.org/post/543373
The contrast and the irony of all those who were there talking about the youths and the children being our future hope for this country, one speaker after another standing and giving his/her speech and not even one of them addressing or even mentioning these children, even with the fact that they were seated on the grass right infront of everyone of them, sniffing glue from their containers and bottles. As they say or as it is said, these kids are a "ticking time bomb" awaiting to go off anytime. I have attended every celebration from the year 2000 at the same venue and the same thing has always been.

Most of these children are born of other street children who have grown up on the streets and become parents while most of them were still children. The hardships that they have to undergo, especially the girls are very unimaginable, including rape, molestation, violence and at times some of them are maimed permanently for life when they try to fight back and protect themselves. A good number of those who commit this crimes are so called "respectable people" during the day but when night comes, they turn into devils.

Though these has not been legally documented, a good number of the street girls have been infected with the HIV virus from these attacks and are spreading the virus among their street communities and also to those who dare attack and rape them or solicit for sex in turn for them to help and/or give them food. I shall be posting pictures of this event in a short while and I'll also send them to the media here in Kenya and await the response of the Kenyan people.

These is yet another reason why we are going to shoot a full feature film on the subject of the street children and use that film and others that shall follow soon thereafter, to sink sense into our larger community and the leaders, that if we do not act immediately on this issue, then not even our own children in our houses and home are safe. And more so, not especially our girls.]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:37:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/543373 -0.2833333 36.0666667-0.283333336.0666667 http://.tigblog.org/post/543207


United Nations Member States have committed to scale up their response to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Investments made in the AIDS responses over the last 10 years are starting to bear fruit and an increasing number of people in developing countries are receiving life-lengthening antiretroviral drugs.



However, an estimated 33 million people are still living with HIV, and there were 2.7 million new HIV infections and some 2 million AIDS-related deaths in 2007. For every two people put on antiretroviral drugs, another five become newly infected.



Sustaining leadership requires the world to focus on AIDS every day of the year. “By investing in AIDS we can halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and move forward in our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” says the UN.



The 20th anniversary event is being marked under the theme: “Lead, empower, deliver”.



Secretary-General on World AIDS DAY



Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon, in a statement ahead of the day, stressed the need to “sustain leadership”, build upon achievements, and maintain momentum. “The need to lead, empower and deliver on AIDS is as real and urgent as ever,” he said.



“We have to end the stigma and discrimination that still stop so many people from learning how to prevent HIV and get treatment,” stressed Mr. BAN.



Fewer people are being infected with HIV, and fewer people are dying of AIDS, he noted. “This success owes itself to people all over the world who are taking the lead to stop AIDS,” said the secretary-General.



Governments, he said, are delivering on their promises to scale up universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. However there is no room for complacency. “AIDS will not go away any time soon. People are still being infected with HIV faster than we can get them on treatment. AIDS is still one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, and it is the number one killer in Africa,” stated the Secretary-General.



An audio file of Secretary-General’s remarks will be available on 1 December in MP3 format on the UN Audio Library web site.



AIDS Outlook



The joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Friday, 28 November launched a new report: AIDS Outlook that provides perspectives on some of the most pressing issues that will confront policymakers and leaders as they respond to the challenges presented by AIDS in 2009.



“In many ways the year ahead will be a year of transition—and acceleration,” said a UNAIDS statement. Many countries are reviewing their national strategies on AIDS, and “even though political commitment for AIDS is at an all-time high, recent developments in the financial world will test the resilience of many,” noted UNAIDS.



The report, the UN agency said, is an opportunity for reflection on what has been possible to achieve with leadership as well as for refocusing on some key areas that are impeding progress. “It is not a ‘how to manual’ or a ‘policy statement’, but provides insights based on evidence on new ways to build on and improve the AIDS response,” says the statement.





New York



The UN Inter-Agency Working Group on AIDS (IAWG) is supporting the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of WAD at the historic Riverside Church in New York, 490 Riverside Drive - between 120th and 122nd streets.



The event at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, 30 November will be an evening that underscores the need to lead, empower and deliver more resolutely on AIDS.



The Secretary-General’s message to mark the Day will be delivered by video. Other speakers at the event will be United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Goodwill Ambassador, Mpule Kwelagobe, chairperson of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, and the speaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn.



The Lavender Light Gospel Choir will perform during the programme and there will be a reception and entertainment by The Karla Harby Outcats Jazz Trio. HIV and hepatitis testing will be available at an information fair following the reception.



The support of the IAWG to this event aims among other things to bring the UN and New York communities together and, in the process, cultivate a stronger relationship between UN entities, member states and civil society organizations.

It is also to sustain the momentum generated by the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the 2008 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS as well as motivate various interest groups to be personally involved in the response to AIDS.
]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:25:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/543207 http://.tigblog.org/post/542775
A total of 600 delegates from around the world will attend.
The categories of expected leaders include: political leaders, visionary leaders, development leaders, youth leaders, diplomatic leaders, Christian leaders from different countries.

The delegates will be distributed as this; Kenya-200, Africa-200, global-100, volunteers-50, organizers and staff-20, volunteers-50, speakers and facilitators- 30.

We are now accepting abstracts from various leaders, presenters, speakers and facilitators who are ready to offer a 30 minute paper and presentation on the theme or related topics.

Topics include:
1. African vision for development in the21st century

2. Technology and development in Africa

3. Christianity and leadership - must Christians be leaders?

4. Political leadership in Africa

5. Globalization effects on Africa

6. Youth leadership and entrepreneurship

7. Aid and poverty reduction strategies

8. visionary and role model leadership

9. Economics of developing Africa

10. Role of Christianity in developing Africa

The conference cost is Us dollars 100 for non-Kenyans inclusive of meals and another optional Us dollars 100 for 3 days accommodation. A wide variety of hotels will be offered according to preference.

Kenyan delegates will pay ksh.2000 before 5th February 2009 inclusive of meals and another ksh. 1500 optional for 2 days accommodation. All delegates must be aged at least 18 years. The charges will be ksh.3000 for late registration of Kenyans.

Members of Global visionary leaders forum and students will pay half the total cost before 5th of February 2009.

Donors and individual sponsors are encouraged to partner in making this event a success.

Tickets will be available at local bookshops and selected centers.

Sponsored by GLOBAL VISIONARY LEADERS FORUM

email:globalvisionaryleaders@gmail.com

http://orgs. takingitglobal. org/31435
]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:55:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/542775 -1.2666667 36.8-1.266666736.8 http://.tigblog.org/post/542811
This has greatly improved the living standards of the people directly and indirectly.
From the socio-economic survey, it has been established that the need for E-business/Ecommerce has risen very considerably as the world changes with sophisticated technological advancement.

This need has been deterred by the rising cost of living at the expense of essential commodities or services.

It is on this basis therefore that I decided to solicit for computer aid to help me develop computer training in the Lucky Summer Society by enhancing, Computer Training, E-commerce/E-business, employment, communication, marketing business,entertainment, games, sharing resources, newsroom, net meetings, E-learning and chart groups.

OBJECTIVES / ACTIVITIES

To provide computer training to the Computer illiterate and improve their skills and offer computer Services.

To contribute towards improving the economic standards through internet based initiatives.

To supplement other means of communication by using the electronic mail and telephony using voice over the internet protocol, which is even considerably cheaper across the globe as compared to other means of communication.

To improve E-business/E-commerce, done over the internet.

To provide entertainment such as computer games, sports, movies, music, net meetings and chat groups, over the internet thus reducing idleness among the youths.

To serve as a source of employment for income generation.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The low state of the economy coupled with the high rate of dependency, say on parents and [or] relatives, for the provision of education and other basic needs to young people in the society has greatly undermined the quest for quality education and [or] professional training as far as information technology is concerned. Due to this, the talents possessed by people remain unexploited.

On the other hand, securing jobs in the professional line has become hectic. In view of all these, I therefore decided to resort to getting self-employed in the information technology industry after having trained in that respect. Following wide consultation with players in the field, I was inspired to solicit for computers to initiate into Cyber Camp Training project, having taken into consideration the high cost of initial capital required to jump-start, which I could not raise all alone.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS

1. Job creation through self-employment.
2. Reducing the over-reliance on the other forms of communication.
3. To provide entertainment through computer games thus reducing idleness among youths, thereby cubing drug abuse.

Your consideration and support will be highly appreciated,

Thank you in advance

Hillary,
Nairobi - Kenya
email- brownismail@gmail.com


]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:25:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/542811 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/542813
This has greatly improved the living standards of the people directly and indirectly.
From the socio-economic survey, it has been established that the need for E-business/Ecommerce has risen very considerably as the world changes with sophisticated technological advancement.

This need has been deterred by the rising cost of living at the expense of essential commodities or services.

It is on this basis therefore that I decided to solicit for computer aid to help me develop computer training in the Lucky Summer Society by enhancing, Computer Training, E-commerce/E-business, employment, communication, marketing business,entertainment, games, sharing resources, newsroom, net meetings, E-learning and chart groups.

OBJECTIVES / ACTIVITIES

To provide computer training to the Computer illiterate and improve their skills and offer computer Services.

To contribute towards improving the economic standards through internet based initiatives.

To supplement other means of communication by using the electronic mail and telephony using voice over the internet protocol, which is even considerably cheaper across the globe as compared to other means of communication.

To improve E-business/E-commerce, done over the internet.

To provide entertainment such as computer games, sports, movies, music, net meetings and chat groups, over the internet thus reducing idleness among the youths.

To serve as a source of employment for income generation.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The low state of the economy coupled with the high rate of dependency, say on parents and [or] relatives, for the provision of education and other basic needs to young people in the society has greatly undermined the quest for quality education and [or] professional training as far as information technology is concerned. Due to this, the talents possessed by people remain unexploited.

On the other hand, securing jobs in the professional line has become hectic. In view of all these, I therefore decided to resort to getting self-employed in the information technology industry after having trained in that respect. Following wide consultation with players in the field, I was inspired to solicit for computers to initiate into Cyber Camp Training project, having taken into consideration the high cost of initial capital required to jump-start, which I could not raise all alone.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS

1. Job creation through self-employment.
2. Reducing the over-reliance on the other forms of communication.
3. To provide entertainment through computer games thus reducing idleness among youths, thereby cubing drug abuse.

Your consideration and support will be highly appreciated,

Thank you in advance

Hillary,
Nairobi - Kenya
email- brownismail@gmail.com
http://easystepscomputerict.page.tl


]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:25:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/542813 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/541275 We should all be out to support the following project by YEAH which endevours to empower youth on HIV/AIDS

To all our friends of YEAH,

Please consider taking 5 minutes to show your support in the lead up to world AIDS Day and help YEAH raise vital funds for our peer education program in 2009…

5 minutes of your time can help YEAH raise €20,000 and build a network of support for our cause on neo.org

YEAHs WORLD AIDS DAY Campaign - DECEMBER 1st 2008

In the lead up to World AIDS Day, we invite you to join YEAH and build a social network for change at www.neo.org

The bigger the network of support we can build by December 1st the greater the chance YEAH will have to raise €20,000 as a gift from neo to support our peer education program in 2009:

1. Schedule It: Take 5 minutes to complete 2 simple steps: Step 1: Declare yourself an earth citizen by joining neo.org and then Step 2: Take up YEAHs World AIDS Day declaration by Clicking here or use the search function to find YEAHs declaration

2. Share It: Share this invitation with your Networks

3. Stand for It: Make your own declaration of commitment to empower young people to take the lead stop AIDS

After you have registered on neo.org, do not forget to accept YEAHs Declaration to make your vote count

Thank you for your support!

The YEAH Team :-)
_______________________________________________________________________________

Alischa Ross
CEO Y.E.A.H.
Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS

alischa@yeah.org.au
www.yeah.org.au

]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:37:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/541275 -1.2666667 36.7166667-1.266666736.7166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/539465
It's too easy to complain about your present position, whether it be as a nightshift cashier in a supermarket or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, without appreciating how you got there. Where would we be without mothers taking in laundry so that their children could take piano lessons, or fathers working second jobs so that their children could attend college? Before you go any further, stop and give thanks for the contributions others have made in your life.

You say, "But things are not going too well for me right now." Perhaps, but when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers he couldn't possibly conceive that God would turn their evil intentions inside out and establish him as a leader to save the nation. The Bible records story after story where adversity leads to advancement and loss leads to gain. There's a master plan unfolding in your life. Be wise, take the lessons you've learned into the future God has in mind for you. When evil comes, be comforted in knowing that God is in control. The Devil may be stoking the fire you're in, but rest assured that God has His hand on the thermostat!

The story of Job teaches us that the Devil has to be given permission to attack us. So if God is allowing the attack, surely He's planning our victory. He wouldn't allow us to be in a battle we couldn't win! God looks for hand-picked people He can send into difficult environments, that He might be glorified. He makes all things "work together for good" (Ro 8:28) so don't be intimidated. Just keep your eyes open and see what God is up to!


]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:14:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/539465 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/537247 By DANIEL WESANGULAPosted Saturday, November 22 2008 at 21:48

When America’s President-elect Barack Obama defeated Senator John McCain, a carnival mood engulfed Kenya. Unknown to many, “that one” would not be the only source of pride for Kenyans in the diaspora and in the homeland.

A week later, across the northern US border, another Kenyan son, James Atebe, would convincingly defeat his opponent to win a second term as mayor of Mission in the province of British Columbia in western Canada.

The celebrations were not as high profile as those for the Obama victory, but a homestead in a rural Kisii village is gearing up to celebrate one of their own.

James Atebe was born and brought up in Ekerenyo village in North Mugirango. He was first elected mayor of Mission in 2005 after serving two terms as councillor.

Social democrat

He ran on a ticket of the New Democratic Party (NDP) that has a progressive social democratic philosophy. NDP supports environmental protection, national water safety standards, corporate taxes, poverty reduction in Canada and human rights protection.

Mr Atebe’s opponent in the November 15 election was a 24-year old who received less than 20 per cent of the vote. A clear favourite of the electorate, Mr Atebe was humble in victory, saying he would work with his opponent.

“I know we ran against each other, but the election period is over, and I will definitely work hand in hand with him,” Mr Atebe told the Sunday Nation by telephone from Mission. “Mr Matt Johnson (his opponent) is a brilliant young man whom I would love to work with to attract the youths into their town’s politics.”

Unlike in his first attempt, Mr Atebe was better prepared this time with a record of fulfilled promises. “When I first ran for office, I based my re-election pledges on development issues. For instance, I promised to redesign the town’s waterfront, and before the elections, a plan was already in the implementation stages.”

According to Mr Atebe, his first-term successes instilled confidence in Mission residents in his ability. But his track record did not prevent opponents from smear campaigns targeted at him.

“At some point during the campaign, people who were anti-development tried to create controversy over a housing project I had proposed. But the community saw that they were anti-development and their arguments were devoid of facts,” he said.

The project in question involved the building of more than 14,000 low-cost housing units on a 442-acre piece of land.

Such was his confidence that his election campaign slogan was simply: “I am your mayor and I have delivered. I ask for your continued support.”

The voters heard him. Fully aware of the power of the Internet in modern-day campaigns, he set up an interactive website where voters would send him questions about his policies and plans for the city.

For his second term, he has pledged to complete the projects that he initiated. “I want my second term to be seen as the icing on the cake. I want to give my all to Mission residents,” he said.

As mayor his schedule is tight, but he still creates time for his family.

Back home

“Every day, I wake up at 5.00 a.m. and I am in meetings throughout the day. I go back home at around 10.00 p.m. for dinner with my family. However, weekends are ‘us’ time where I switch my mayoral robes with a whistle and coach a children’s soccer team,” said the father of five.



]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:23:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/537247 -1.2666667 36.8-1.266666736.8 http://.tigblog.org/post/537111 Just Follow the link http://howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-8.10]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:11:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/537111 0.5166667 35.28333330.516666735.2833333 http://.tigblog.org/post/537075 My wish that everyone will see the need to treat disability with the right concern.These people have not denounced their citizenship in Kenya.How is it that on the evening of last Friday while in Nairobi city at tom Mboya street,many people with physical challenge were left stuck begging??

Who is happy when his/her children go begging for food at the neighbors yet the parents have just as much? Man the neighbors be more well wishers to your children than you do? How much can it cost the Kenyan Govt to set aside funds to assist the people with special needs? Is the government waiting until it faces the same challenges so it can feel the pinch? I'm sorry I just don't understand how you expect someone with no legs to live by begging from the streets and you feel proud to be part of some government administration;resign!! Kenya do something about these people with urgency please.]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:59:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/537075 -1.3 36.9166667-1.336.9166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/534963
Under the agreement, UN-HABITAT will provide the NGO with USD 167,537 to construct water storage facilities in the prisons and connect them to the municipal water system. The money will also be used to rehabilitate existing sanitation facilities and construct new improved facilities to ensure better hygiene in the prisons. These activities are scheduled to be completed within 9 months.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the head of the Water and Sanitation Programme of UN-HABITAT, Mr. Bert Diphoorn, noted that the project would uplift the living conditions in the prisons by providing clean drinking water, an extremely rare commodity in many Kenyan prisons. “ Caravans of prisoners trooping to nearby springs and other dirty water sources will be a thing of the past”, he said.

Reiterating her NGO’s commitment to implementing the project according to the agreed schedule, the Executive Director of the Prisoners Care Programme, Ms. Jemima Gichungu, thanked UN-HABITAT for supporting the prisons water project, noting that Kenyan prisons are currently characterized by severe overcrowding, with inadequate and rudimentary facilities. “Lack of clean drinking water and inadequate sanitation facilities often result in deaths of inmates due to water-borne diseases”, she said.

The Prisons Water Project is a component of the ongoing Lake Victoria Region Water and Sanitation Initiative, a joint project by UN-HABITAT and the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It promotes improved access to water and sanitation, encourages efficiency in water use through demand management, and supports capacity building activities to help towns around the Lake to attain the water and sanitation targets of the Millennium Development Goals. The first phase of the programme has as already provided improved water services to over 114,000 persons and improved sanitation to about 20,000 persons.
]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:51:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/534963 http://.tigblog.org/post/534125 It is claimed that those prisoners were punished for having mobile phones in their cells. The big question is; How did these phones find their way though the so called maximum security? This exposes utter hypocrisy and corruption of our prison officers. I have always believed that prisons are correctional centers but the images I watched recently proved otherwise. They are nothing less than torture chambers. This would explain why our prisoners, instead of coming to the society rehabilitated, most are more hardened. We all have duty to help prisoners and ex-convicts rebuild their lives other than alienating them and viewing them as social misfits. They are our brothers and sisters with a soul and body like anyone else.
I wish to see Perpetrators of this crime face justice.]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:22:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/534125 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/532429 Mau Forest is no ordinary water catchment area. Covering 320,000 hectares, it is the largest single indigenous forest in Kenya. Eight major rivers and five major lakes owe their existence to this endangered natural resource. Perhaps the biting reality that 10% of Kenyans derive their breath from it may sound a warning bell for anyone underestimating its potential. Its potential has already been downplayed by communities settling around it as evidenced by the lowering of the water table. With the world currently facing massive food shortages, with vivid signs of starvation looming from the horizon, Kenyans have nowhere to turn to for help except for reclaiming its diminishing prized asset. But the question in everyone’s lips is: where do we take the communities living around it?
n Kenya, as in traditional Africa, land is always handed down from our forefathers. This means that the government, with its noble ideas to conserve the environment, holds no right to ‘evict’ me from my ancestral land, the only other piece of asset that ties me with my entire lineage-after blood. With Kenya getting wide coverage from the world during the post election violence earlier this year, and with land issues continuing to up political temperatures, no government advisory board would recommend the eviction of the indigenous communities settling around Mau Forest as a solution to saving this natural heritage. It is therefore, suffices to say, that the involvement of the communities in this exercise is the first step towards achieving the desired objectives. With a predominant subsistence economy, land is the communities’ only livelihood source. By ‘reclaiming’ the original boundary of The Mau, change will force the communities to adjust their modes of production and this is the spine of all the controversies around this initiative.

Resettlement is the word coming out of everyone’s lips now. History has it that the resettlement option cannot take root if the underlying causes are not addressed.

Since all these issues stem from the fact 10% of Kenyans control 90% of the economy, the majority find themselves clumped up in manmade reserves with partial to total dependence on the elites who choose to leave ‘their land’ in an idle state. Being in the lower cadre of the nation’s economic pyramid, the indigenous communities would make do with suggestions that are geared towards ‘putting food on their table’. It means that with guaranteed subsistence agriculture, they shall accept a tentative plan to move them to their new abode as their long term economic issues get addressed by the government, in the meantime saving the beautiful Mau from turning into an eyesore.
]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:05:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/532429 -0.1666667 35.85-0.166666735.85 http://.tigblog.org/post/530327 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:18:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/530327 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/530189
BUSINESS PLAN

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tazetta has designed an online magazine for secondary school students. The objective of the magazine is to promote journalism as an esteemed profession among secondary school students.

The online magazine will provide exposure for articles written by journalism club members from secondary schools. It will also be a teaching platform for online courses on ethics, civic education, spiritual and religious learning and human growth and development.

The magazine website will also be a platform to conduct campaigns aimed at creating behavioural change among students. Such campaigns include the anti-drug abuse campaign by NACADA, the Youth violence prevention campaign by UN-HABITAT, and the anti-AIDS campaign by the NACC among others.


2. BUSINESS HISTORY

The idea of an online magazine started off in early 2007 to serve the youth. It soon emerged that internet access is not so prevalent especially in rural areas. I gave the idea time to grow and mature organically and it’s around July 2008 that a niche presented itself, the student population in secondary schools. This group is easily reachable through the established institutional framework and the drive towards e-learning is preparing schools for the ICT revolution. This setting was the perfect foundation to launch an online magazine on.

It is at this time that we learned of the AWPLI initiative. AWPLI stands for A Website per Learning Institution. The project is spearheaded by Elimu Holdings Ltd and its objective is to create websites for secondary schools among other learning institutions. We arranged to meet with their chief executive officer who embraced the project as value addition to their initiative. However it would cost us to integrate the magazine into the website network they had created. Elimu Holdings gave us a quotation of KShs. 105,000 which is still beyond our means. So far, 35 secondary schools scattered across the country have their websites complete and online. A business partnership with Elimu Holdings would avail the magazine with a readership base of 28,000 students. This readership base is growing rapidly as Elimu Holdings enrolls more secondary schools onto the AWPLI network.

Due to the high cost of integration, our next option was to host the magazine on our website and create links to the Elimu Holdings website. This option is much cheaper and gives us more control over the magazine. We however haven’t been able to commence that either due to unavailability of start-up capital.

3. PRODUCT AND/OR SERVICE

The online magazine for secondary school students aims at promoting journalism as an esteemed profession among the students. Most secondary schools have a journalism club as part of their extracurricular activities. These clubs are very active as they have the mandate to accompany any troupe going for activities outside of the school. They then bring back a report of what transpired which is read out at the school assembly or pinned on the notice board for all students to read.

The online magazine will collect such news stories among other articles from talented student writers and publish them online so that students from another part of the country can learn of what is going on in another school. They will also be able to exchange ideas and most importantly exercise their freedom of expression in a manner that is peaceful as an alternative to burning down schools to air their grievances.

In addition to publishing news stories from journalism clubs, the magazine’s website will offer online courses on ethics, civic education, spiritual learning and human growth and development. Various organizations that currently offer such courses have been identified. These include but are not limited to the following; Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Brahma Kumaris Foundation, National Council of Churches of Kenya, Peak Performance International, Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims.

The magazine website will also be a platform to conduct campaigns aimed at creating social change. Such campaigns include the anti-drug abuse campaign by NACADA, the Youth violence prevention campaign by UN-HABITAT, the anti-AIDS campaign by the Red Cross among others.

4. MARKET

The consumers of the online magazine are secondary school students. The schools that have enrolled on the Elimu Holdings website network will form the first batch of schools to be reached.

Young people are by nature very creative. This has been expressed on the internet through the success of viewer-generated content websites. This is where more and more young people are exercising their power to create their own media rather than consume what has been created for them by someone else. The success of the video-on-demand website www.youtube.com and social networking website www.facebook.com are good examples of the power of the liberalized young person. The online magazine works with the same principle whereby, rather than writing stories and presenting them to the students, we empower the students by asking them to write articles which we then publish in the magazine. This way, the students identify with the product. This module of community participation has been used very successfully by Not-for–profit organizations.



5. COMPETIION

The secondary-school-level population has largely been neglected because it has little or no control over economic resources. However, one player has been dominant in this niche market. The Insyder magazine has over the last five years been targeting the secondary school segment. A new magazine has recently joined this market segment. The Sikika magazine now targets teenagers.

Both of these magazines write what they think students like to read. They then take the magazines to students, teenagers and sell to them. The fundamental difference with our magazine is that it collects stories written by the students in journalism clubs, edits them and publishes them. The students get to read their material alongside that of other students. They are empowered to determine their own fate, and in the process grow their writing talent. They themselves understand their issues and can tell their own stories.

This need for a people to tell their own stories has been on the African agenda too, where Africans don’t like how their continent is reported on by western broadcasters and have thus been agitating for a 24-hour African news channel that will tell African stories from an African perspective.

In an effort to ensure that the content produced by students adheres to basic journalistic principles, the journalism clubs have a patron who is an English teacher. The English teacher acts as an executive editor and checks whether the quality of the stories is appealing to all audiences. This works in our favour as it lessens our workload.

Finally, both our competing publications are printed and thus we have no real competition on the online arena.

6. MARKETING AND SALES

The online magazine will be distributed over an already existing online network of school websites. Elimu Holdings Ltd has already laid down infrastructure which they are ready and willing to share with us. Secondly, we will work with the Director of Education at the Ministry of Education who will assist in disseminating this information to school heads across the country. The school heads will then pass on the information to their students and encourage them to write articles, poems, plays and other literature and submit them.

As for sustainability, the magazine will recover costs through advertising revenue. We will sell advertising space to universities and middle level colleges, manufacturers and distributors of school items. Advertising space will also be sold to organizations that carry out campaign on social change like NACADA’s anti-drug abuse campaign, Youth violence prevention campaign, anti-AIDS campaign, and the anti-corruption campaign. Advertising space will be sold at KShs. 60,000 per month for a banner advert. This is at a rate of KShs. 2.00 per student for the initial 28,000 readership base.

7. OPERATIONS

The magazine will be published on the internet. In addition to this, we are exploring the future possibility of publishing it in print for schools that don’t have internet connection in their computer laboratories.

8. MANAGEMENT

This project was initially founded by three journalists. These are Bernard Muhia, Moses Karanja and Mitchel Mkok. We have invited two more partners from the Information Technology field and the Marketing field.

We have also consulted two journalism associations for professional mentorship in this process. These are the Media Development Association and the Kenya Association of Photographers, Illustrators and Designer (KAPIDE). These bodies will compensate for our little experience in the publishing of magazines.

9. SIGNIFICANT RISKS

Our little experience in publishing magazines accounts as a risk which we have tried to address through linkages with professional bodies in the media industry.

10. EXIT ALTERNATIVES

We fully realize that we can take the magazine business only so far down the line. This will necessitate an exit as our creative muscles will have been stretched to the limit and the business portfolio will have exceeded our management capacity.

Our first option is to bring in expert managers to take the business to another level. Our second option is to sell our stock to investors and hand over the business to them. The investors may include Elimu Holdings Ltd.
]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:49:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/530189 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/529951
Dear TIG Friends and Colleagues,
I have come across this message and those who are interested in the respective countries could apply..


We are pleased to announce that the Fund for Global Human Rights has issued
a new Request for Proposals for human rights organizations based in *Burundi
**, Guinea, Pakistan and Uganda.* The deadline to submit proposals is *January
19, 2009*. You can access the RFP in English and French on the Fund's
website http://www.globalhumanrights.org/for-grantees.


Please share the link to the RFP with organizations you think would be
strong candidates for funding. As always, we greatly appreciate your help
in referring human rights activists in need of financial support to the
Fund. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would
like more information about the Fund.

Cordialement,

Jerusha Burnham


]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:54:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/529951 -1.2666667 36.7166667-1.266666736.7166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/526901 Nairobi



Although worldwide urban growth is expected to slow, a new report by UN-HABITAT is projecting the reverse in Africa with the continent’s urban population being projected to more than double by 2030.

According to the State of African Cities Report of 2008, by last year, Africa’s urban population stood at 373.4 million. However, the figure is expected to rise, the report says. “Projections show that by 2030 there will be 759.4 million African urban dwellers, more than today’s total number of city dwellers in entire Western hemisphere,” it says.

The report which was launched at the just concluded Fourth Session of the World urban Forum held in Nanjing, China adds that the world’s shortest urban population doubling time, less than nine years, is found in the East Africa region, from 50.6 million in 2007 to a projected 106.7 million by 2017.

Among the report’s highlights is that Africa is in a historic period of demographic change. Around 2030, Africa will enter its urban age with 759.4 million people - half of its total population - living in cities. It is projected that by 2050 there will be more than 1.2 billion African city dwellers. That means that by 2050 there will be more people living in African cities than the combined urban and rural populations of the Western hemisphere.

In 2007, Africa was still the least urbanized region in the world with only 38.7 percent of the continent-wide population residing in settlements classified as cities. The African population is geographically very unevenly distributed and there are significant intra-regional urbanization differences within Africa. The East Africa region is the least urbanized of the world, but urbanizing rapidly. The North Africa and Southern Africa regions have the continent’s highest urbanizations figures and their average annual rates of urbanization, as expected, are now declining. They nevertheless continue to be rapidly urbanizing regions.

The urban population growth in Africa is, contrary to common wisdom, not absorbed by its largest cities. In the foreseeable future, the intermediate cities (towns with less than 500,000 inhabitants) will be the localities where two-thirds of all African urban growth is occurring. The implications of this swift urban growth should be clear: African governments should start strengthening the governance capacities of their intermediate and smaller cities so that these fast-growing towns will be prepared for rapid increase in new and additional demand for urban spatial planning, urban housing, urban services and urban livelihoods.

The larger African cities, however, will also continue to grow, albeit that their annual growth rates are now declining. But since these lower growth rates apply to ever-larger urban populations, these cities will, in absolute terms, still see more and more people added. The larger African cities will absorb the remaining one-third of the continent-wide urban growth and, consequently, both the number and average size of African cities larger than 500,000 inhabitants is on the rise. In 1950, Alexandria and Cairo were the only African cities exceeding one million inhabitants. In 2005, there were 43, with an average size of 2.5 million and a combined population of more than 110 million. In 2015, there will be 53, with an average size of 3.1 million and a combined total exceeding 168 million inhabitants.

Africa’s three giant urban agglomerations, Cairo, Kinshasa and Lagos, continue to rise rapidly in their ranking among the world’s largest metropolitan regions. In 2007, the urban agglomeration of Cairo had 11.9 million inhabitants; Lagos had 9.6 million and Kinshasa 7.8 million. In 2015, Cairo will have 13.4 million; Lagos 12.4 million; and Kinshasa 11.3 million inhabitants - 11th, 17th and 19th respectively among the world’s largest metropolitan regions. Projections show that Kinshasa, with 16.7 million inhabitants, will be Africa’s largest urban agglomeration in 2025, Lagos 15.8 million and Cairo 15.5 million, ranking 11th, 12th and 13th among the world’s largest megacities.

]]> Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:21:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/526901 http://.tigblog.org/post/526001 This is usually characterized by display of bravado on how well we do understand our sexuality and behaviour. Common practice reveals that youth are well educated in issues of reproductive health through in school and out of school training.
In fact so serious is the issues that during youth functions abstinence, faithfulness and condom use are commonly displayed as advocacy messages on t-shirts bill board and banners,
I recently had a discussion with pupils from a local school within my region; it was very interesting.
90% of them understood dangers of unprotected sex.
10% did not understand the importance of faithfulness as a means of protection against HIV/aids. Feeling proud of knowledge amongst youth I decided to focus my discussion to sexually active youth.
This was the genesis of my epitaph.60% of them had been engaged in sex at least once.
20% were regularly engaged in sex and 2% had unsuccessfully attempted sex. My group constituted pupils aged 13-14 years with 25male and 40female.are you surprised? Don’t be.
I continued with my discussion and this is the point I felt we need to share.

70% of all who had had sex never used a condom.
90% of all pupils who had used a condom used it the first time only and continued without.
98% of female sexually active never suggested contraceptives.

This scenario repeated it’s self with different FGDs later and perhaps formed the basis of my submission.
What are the levels of condom consistency amongst youth?
What is the right age to contraception amongst female?
What are the current levels of safe sex practice?
Who is the custodian of morality amongst youth?

With common characteristics within youth it is possibly a challenge and with probable need to restructure youth approach to behavior change and perhaps need to evaluate youth convincing on current sexuality approaches.
]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:43:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/526001 -0.2833333 36.0666667-0.283333336.0666667 http://.tigblog.org/post/525853
Why cant our leaders be in front by responsibility not just by salary? Yet a teacher in Kenya whose salary is much less than a ministers communication allowance is highly taxed!

someone help me understand the way forward about this.
shall we have a devolution of power system with is a bicameral parliament one for salaried youths and the other for the non tax payers legislators?]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:37:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/525853 -1.3 36.9166667-1.336.9166667 http://.tigblog.org/post/524695 Many have predicted the end and i do not know the exact date.However i can tell the period of the as end times has begun. what are you doing to save your friends,village, campus, estate, town, city, country and also yourself.

We are lucky in our generation because we have many teachers and now some can see the future both Christians, Muslims,moralists and all believers in God. Though many false teachers have come and gone, one day an ordinary person will surely emerge right in predicting the end. He or she will worn us that the end has come. Then, we will ignore and be caught up in shame. we do not need another Joseph smith to begin Mormon churches but let us look keenly with the eyes of our understanding. The end has come.

Seriously the world is coming to an end according to my research of 8 years. we have only a few...i mean very few countable years in this century. All people in the world are busy chasing riches.preachers and non preachers alike.

So many are bound to perish. look at Tbn, prosperity preachers, faith movement, mega churches and charismatic preachers.no one should worry if they are right with God. All of them are chasing riches. we need to run and if possible fly to save our friends and family. From Robinson.

Fore sure my friends, this one will shock you and it also shocked me.Do not commit suicide but only believe. short riches are coming but most important let us save our souls. THE END IS HERE. JESUS IS COMING. SOME OF THE YOUTH WILL NEVER GET MARRIED. SOME WILL BE CAUGHT UN AWARE. SOME WILL BE SAFE. SOME WILL PERISH. You can invite me in your church or attend my teaching and preaching sessions. TODAY IS YOUR DAY. SAVE YOUR SELF, SAVE YOUR FRIEND. BELIEVE IN GOD.

see Daniel 9-12.

Contact me when you decide to follow Christ afresh and become a friend of God.

http://www.bibleplus.org/12signs.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7600966.stm]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:25:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/524695 -1.2666667 36.8-1.266666736.8 http://.tigblog.org/post/524577 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:27:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/524577 http://.tigblog.org/post/526881 Nanjing

UN-HABITAT on Tuesday unveiled a groundbreaking US$2 million fund to finance inspiring youth-led development projects around the world.


The Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development, announced at the Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China, was created to engage the partnership and leadership of young women and men in achieving sustainable urbanization. The Fund is initially being financed through a US$2,000,000 grant over two years, provided by the Government of Norway. Other governments and donors are being invited to contribute to the fund.

“Youth are the future of our cities, but often are rendered voiceless due to unemployment, lack of education and other issues,” said Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. “Through this new fund, we are recognizing the urgent need to bolster youth-led initiatives, and are at the forefront of a growing movement to place youth at the center of sustainable development strategies.”

The exciting event, featuring a series of illuminating speeches from international leaders in the field of youth-led development and performances from prolific young artists from across the globe, drew in a crowd which demonstrated the recognition which youth have achieved at this year’s World Urban Forum. Extra seating was required for scores of youth leaders, civil society representatives, government officials and private sector participants intent on being involved in this unique project. David Woollcombe, director of Peace Child International, underlined the uniqueness of this fund within the UN system, urging other agencies and governments to follow Norway’s example in supporting youth, as he says, “the world’s last remaining ‘superpower’”. Luis Zamorano, Director of Urban Infrastructure, Ministry of Social and Urban Affairs, Mexico agreed, offering to host the second global conference on Safety and Cities. As the Mayor of Dar es Salaam, Mr. Adam Omar Kabisa, stated, “Youth are leaders of yesterday, leaders of today and leaders of tomorrow.” Today marked a turning point in the history of international development: Youth integration must be considered crucial to the success of any future programme.

Young people are poised to play a crucial role in achieving sustainable urbanization in the world’s rapidly expanding cities and towns. According to the United Nations World Youth Report 2007, children and youth under the age of 24 make up nearly 40 percent of the global population. Nearly 18 percent are between the ages of 15 and 24, with 85 percent of these youth living in developing countries. The average age in the 10 least-developed African countries is 16 years or younger. This expanding demographic not only represents an unprecedented opportunity, but also significant challenges. Youth comprise 25 percent of the world’s working-age population, but account for nearly 44 percent of the unemployed. In the Africa region, 27 percent of youth are not in school or working.

“Youth-led development is about young people making a living and future for themselves and their communities,” said Mrs. Tibaijuka. “Any effective response to improve the living conditions of the urban poor and those living in the world’s slums must deal, prima facie, with the challenges facing youth.”

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:13:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/526881 http://.tigblog.org/post/523507 Finally elections are over and we watched to religiously as it all happened. It is important to acknowledge technology as apt solutions towards globalization.
I wish we Kenyans could borrow a leaf; I admit I was intrigued and applaud the American electoral system for efficiency and effectiveness.
It might seem so obvious to other countries to get results within few hours after casting votes but my brothers and sisters that was the Alfa of conflict in kenya.
Having closely followed politics of now president barrack Obama it draws me to a tethers position.
1. Youth precedence to world leadership decision making organs.
2. was the elections characterized by youth euphoria or advocacy
3. Where will youth shift their energies after campaign?

Probably with regards to common clichés of ``tomorrow’s leaders’’ it is important for the archaic and classical thinking politicians to embrace the fact that youth is basic bedrock in government formation.
Dynamics of representation in decision making bodies draw sooner than later. it is important to acknowledge the fact that WE YOUTH ARE HERE TO STAY.

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:02:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/523507 -0.2833333 36.0666667-0.283333336.0666667 http://.tigblog.org/post/522473 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:10:00 EST http://.tigblog.org/post/522473 -1.2833333 36.8166667-1.283333336.8166667