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The flip side of Teaching is learning
How often do you stop to think about what you put out there and how you put
it? According to Sharon Bowman in her book How To Give It So They Get It
you really need to think about the way you share, or teach the information
to people. I have seen a bright idea watered down in poorly designed campaigns.
Be it in Human Rights, Health or any other laudable idea you may have, your
message may hardly reach its target if you do not properly assess and put
in place the right strategy.
Ken Valenzuela, chief editor of BeALeader.Net summarises this into four steps
that I will like to share with you here.
1. Get connected with the people and make them comfortable
2. Share the information, facts and everything you believe needs to be known.
3. Make it real by linking the discussion to real life happenings
4. And finally encourage your team to use what they have learnt and also
share with others as well.
As you read this 25th edition INSPIRE and probably prepare for your next
action against HIV, Human Rights or what other great campaign for development
up your sleeves, think of these simple steps.
POCHI TAMBA (NAYD International)
Solar Untapped Alternative Sources of Renewable Energies and Health Improvement
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he sun, as a source
of renewable energy in Kenya has not received the attention it deserves.
Those of us who have sat on stones exposed to sun will clearly understand
how hot it can be .Some of those who have done so don’t have nice stories
to talk about. I vividly remember my pal who suddenly sat on a hot stone
to enjoy his ice-cream only to jump up but was busy rubbing his behinds
to ensure no piece of his flesh got burnt. It was real a fascinating scene
I wish I face booked it
Nowadays he is very careful before he sit down he must test by his hands.
A study carried out recently by a US agency called Clean Energy published in East Africa Journal May, 25-31, 2009 has shown that Kenya receives highest average monthly solar radiation in the world with high level of reliability especially in semi-arid and arid areas which cover about 75% per cent of land mass.
The highest level of average monthly radiation was recorded at Marigat in Baringo District but as the survey was carried out in a few selected areas there are probably higher levels in some places.The level of intensity of sun as a source of energy is not generally understood nor appreciated .Each square metre of land in Kenya receives more than one Kilowatt of energy when sun is overhead which is sufficient enough to boil a large kettle of water or operate an iron box. If this can be harnessed it presents a huge amount of about 1.3MW per hectare which can help not only reduce carbon emissions but also provide cost effective electricity to communities living in rural areas thus playing a leading role in achieving some of MDGS goals. Kenya’s 80% of household use firewood to cook food and light up their homes and if they can be encouraged to use solar as source of energy to cook food and light up their homes it will not only help to conserve forest but also help to have a clean environment. Because charcoal usage not only causes smoke but also causes disease like eyes irritations. The major challenges which can be overcome on solar campaign usage is to lobby for subsidies to those who opt to use solar energy and also make prices of some of solar powered equipment cheap enough so that majority of Kenya can be in position to buy them. Kenya is quite lucky as it has solar energy 24-7-365 which if well harnessed will go long way in helping to reduce poverty in Kenya which is one of MDGs campaign. Because solar power machines can be used to irrigate arid lands and food and fruits could be growth there helping the communities have means to improved livelihood as surplus of food and fruits can be sold to generate income for the household
Solar energy can also help to light up homes during night times which will help school going kids do their homework thus reducing illiteracy levels in our society which is one of MDGs goals Also can help power TVs and Radio for families to watch news, listen to music, girls watch soap operas while boys watch football
Solar energy can help if well harnessed to power health centres in rural areas thus helping to bring health services near to communities. The medical personnel in remote areas can use solar energy to power their communication equipments such as laptops and mobile phones to be in touch with other medical personnel and even for further medical consultations whenever they encounter a challenging during medical situation from a patient.
Also using solar power energy it will save lives of many people during calamities as presence of blood storage /cold rooms could be brought closer to communities like such health centres where in case a patient urgently need blood transfusion is helped immediately rather than waiting to get blood from far distance areas to treat people during times of emergence. Another advantage these rural health centres will be able to operate on 24-7-365 as they will be light most of time during day times and also night times which will give an opportunity for communities to visit these health centres any time without waiting until next day in case one falls sick during night times
Another beneficiary of solar energy will be youth can use engage in meaningful economic activities like setting up business like greenhouses for horticultural farming ,even establishing ICT training centres ,expanding their trade and generate enough income to improve on their living standards. Jointly authored by Gibson Amenya-Engineer, Irene Mutheu-Graduate Nurse, Esther Kagendo-Graduate Nurse -From Kenya)
VIPAWA
PURE III CONCEPT
Unemployment among the youth is and has been an emerging challenge in the country and is part of a larger struggle to create employment opportunities for the youth. Despite their many assets young people are finding themselves without jobs and/ or livelihoods.
This has resulted into erosion if confidence among the youth, and also fueled feelings of alienation as well, it has also been a great contributory factor to a range of social ills in the community, among them being drug and alcohol abuse, Crime, Idleness, Gang Delinquency, child abuse and exploitation among others, this has also made the youth have low self esteem, lack of confidence in themselves, lack of skills, impoverishment that has made them susceptible to manipulation and easy to incite to commit crime. A situation that has seen the rise of insecurity in the region.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In view of the problem statement FOCUS as a follow up of the successful VIPAWA PURE II PEACE CONCERT that was held last year and reached over 10,000 youth during the week long activities has thus introduced the VIPAWA PURE III KAZI KWA VIJANA CONCERT a campaign that is aimed at sensitizing the youth on how to use their talent to generate income and also sensitize and create a change in the community through having the youth act as advocates for the children and protectors of the children’s rights, this is to be done through the community outreaches, with the theme Art – For Sustainable Development The campaign is will have a 4 Cs concept in which our interactive theatre and discussions are to be focused these are to be the main pillars of the concept . The organization aims to have pre-concert performances during the youth week. That will culminate into the main concert to take place on the 16th of August 2009 at the Ruiru Catholic Church Hall. The 4 Cs are
v Change :- To help the young people deal with day to day challenges and acquire skills and confidence to be fully productive and good community members
v Confidence :- To help young people develop a sense of Self Worth based on their belief in their ability, by making choices and starting initiatives that can make a change in their lives and the community as well
v Character: - To help young people acquire a sense of responsibility and accountability regarding their actions.
v Connection: - To help young people develop a sense of belonging in a positive way. Being connected to the community and the members and develop a positive mutually beneficial relationship.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
To achieve our objective we have lined a series of activities and these include:-
v Pre- concert performances ( community drama outreaches)
v Sports tournament and exhibition
v Visit to the Ruiru prison
v Environmental awareness and tree planting
v Concert
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Performance at Ruiru ................................Youth talent concert.................................. Performance at Masaku...............................Awards presentation
Website www.focusyik.com Email: focusyik@yahoo.com / info@focusyik.com
COMMENT ON PAST NAYD ISSUES
Who is responsible for world crisis?
Community life in Africa witnessed, harmonious living, and protection of the environment was a responsibility for every member of the community reason being that, once there was a problem in the environment, every member of that community would be affected. The people would mind less on what was happening in the far places. However as we speak now globalisation has trimmed the once huge world into a small village meaning that what affects one person on the other corner, immediately affects everybody, thus answering the question who is responsible for the world crisis, everybody is responsible but the only difference is the level and magnitude of the responsibility.
The biggest challenge is to define the degree of responsibility and the meaning of the world crisis in that, the efforts to avert this situation will be directed properly for example if one cuts the forests, the impacts will not be limited to him or her but will affect the all global or if some ignites war in one country, the impact will move further to affect people in other countries. Thus everybody of us is responsible but the degree varies and because ignorance is peace it might take some one much time to realise that she or he is responsible for the current world crisis.
Kasanvu Geoffrey, Dip. Educ. (ITEK), B.A Educ. (MUK), MSc.HRM (Cand. MUK), CEO Consult Info Services, Director Mission for Youth Rights & Self-Management Uganda, Tel:+256 774 285 167, +256 712 535 678, kasanvu@yahoo.com