I've been a volunteer with Kageno for 2 months now. Before coming to Kageno, I worked in Germany for a manufacturing company, and then got my MBA from Purdue University. I've been interested in community development work in Africa for a while--I've visited rural parts of South Africa every year during the past three years--and when I got back from my most recent trip this May, there was an email from the placement office at Purdue with the volunteer position at Kageno. After reading the description of what Kageno was doing, I realized that it was a perfect chance for me to get more experience in rural Africa while having a chance to make a difference in a disadvantaged community.
One of the most important parts of how Kageno helps communities in Africa develop is sustainability—meaning that within a few years, each Kageno project needs to find ways to raise money locally, so that the donations and money raised in the US and around the world can be used to start new projects to help more people. I've been volunteering with Kageno through an organization called "MBAs Without Borders," and I am working primarily on sustainability.
There are several things that Kageno is currently doing on Rusinga Island to earn money. These "Income Generating Activities" include our clean water program: treating the dirty lake water and selling it affordably (it costs less than 2 cents to buy 5 gallons of clean water, which is enough for one person for a day). Other Income Generating Activities include providing computer training and internet access, photocopies, and charging cell phones for the community, since no one has electricity at home.
The Income Generating Activity that I'm working most closely with is the craft program. Women from the community get water hyacinth from Lake Victoria and dry it. After they dry the plants, they tear them into strips and then braid ropes. After the ropes are braided, they then weave the ropes into all kinds of things—placemats, baskets, stools, and even coffee tables!
Over 200 women have been trained by Kageno, but because most of the crafts are sold to tourists who come to visit, only about 20 women have been able to take part in the craft project and earn a good wage. The biggest problem that faces the craft project is finding a market for the products—people and companies who will place large orders to allow many women to have jobs making crafts and to allow Kageno to earn money from selling the crafts.
In the last two months that I've been here, we've been able to establish a relationship with Tuskys, the second largest supermarket chain in Kenya. They have placed their first order for 100 laundry baskets, which the women are working on now. After we complete their first order, they have promised additional, larger orders. I hope that we will be able to grow the craft project further with additional orders from Tuskys and other companies, and hopefully it will be the main source of funding for Kageno on Rusinga Island in the future.
After living and working with the local people here on Rusinga Island for 2 months (and with 2 months left to go), I think that the project
has profoundly reinforced the importance of empowering the disadvantaged members of a community in a problem solving approach to
the problems they face.
Living in a local mud house here has also shown me that the standard assumptions we make about our needs are often inflated--while I look forward to having running water, a microwave, and a flush toilet again, I do fine with chlorinated lake water, a propane burner, and a
latrine. I think it's been a healthy chance to "reset" of my expectations and needs. Of course, if you decide to visit the Kageno project, there is a very nice lodge on the island which has all the things you'd have at home -- running water, electricity, every kind of food, and a great swimming pool. I would really encourage anyone who is interested in what Kageno is doing to come for a visit--it's a lot better than just reading a blog entry.
That's it for now... Feel free to ask any questions
Andrew
below are photos of Andrew and Alphonse ( Kageno Kenya Project Director) then Andrew and Shadrak from Tuskys
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