IntroductionThe Kenyan Host Family Project, based on Rusinga Island, on Lake Victoria, was started in 1995 but became more active from 2000 onwards with the emergence of the internet on the region.The project initiators are Michael (60), a former high school principal and a UNEP Global 500 Laureate (1990), while Jane (50), is a former teacher and a social worker trained in Canada. Both are now fully involved in promoting sustainable development programs in their own community.
Goals and Objectives
To promote global partnership, friendship and co-operation for the purposes of skills and innovative technologies transfers involving professionals of various kinds worldwide.
Project Description
The family undertakes the following programs / activiuties
- The family manages a Preschool / Nursery school and lower primary school.
- Feeding program for orphans and vulnerable children at the school.
- Lobby and Advocacy on the Rights of the Child, counselling and spiritual nourishment including psychological support to the children.
- School supplies and equipment and classrooms construction
- Adult continuing Education
- Resource (Library)
- Organizes seminars, workshops on a variety of themes related to sustainable development based – Agenda 21 Initiatives (Rio Earth summit 1992)
- Subsequent Rio + 20 initiatives – REDD plus initiatives to reduce deforestration and carbon dioxide emissions through dialogues and practical activities and experiences, to include environmental conservation education and public awareness creation.
- Hosts voluntourists / volunteers through family based accommodation to enhance social intergration and inter-cultural immersions, to be treated to typical African hospitality in the villages.
- Out door activities to include: hiking, fishing, boating, canoeing, mountaineering etc. organizes visits to places and sites of historical and geographical importance, namely; nearby Ruma National Park, hot springs, bird islands on Lake Victoria, Tom Mboya Mausoleum and Museum and many others and study tours for interested parties.
SOCIAL
SERVICES
- Providing support to orphans and vulnerable children, the sick, the elderly and the handicap.
- Providing consulting services i.e proposal writing, registration procedures to community based organizations.
- Manages an Education Sponsorship schemes for bright orphans to pay school fees in High Schools to enable them to continue with their education. Girl child education in African societies have been compromised by sex, stereotypes , prejudices, , discriminatory attitudes and customs against Girls but in favour of boys. The family also lobbies and advocates for girls to go to school to achieve social, economic and political empowerment and also provides sanitary towels to the High school girls in the locality
RICEELL NEW
PROGRAMS ENVISIONED
Services and
education
Ø
Tools/software/ICT
Ø
Mentorship / leadership training
Environment /
Technological innovation
Ø
Clean Tech/Alternative energy sources i.e solar,
wind etc.
Ø
Green building.
Ø
Green jobs / job creation.
Ø
Eco-village on a Rusinga mountain side.
The family is open to explore new avenues and ideas thoughts
for cooperation on supporting Autogestion and community building.
Rusinga Island is a 45 km2 on Lake Victoria, on the western Kenya, at about 70 km from the Equator. It is around 500 km from Nairobi and the main way to get there is by buses (matatus) through Homa- Bay and Mbita (the nearest town). Otherwise one can travel by air up to Kisumu and from there to Homa-Bay then Mbita by buses.
Weather
Since we are near to the Equator, it is generally hot during the day (25 – 35C) and fresh by the night (12 – 20C).
What to bring?
Comfortable light and decent clothing for the day and a warm sweater or jacket. Mosquito repellent, malaria tablets (consult your doctor before departure), personal medicine, sunscreen, hat, comfortable shoes and slippers, any other items you think would be necessary for you.
Accommodation
Accommodation is at the family’s guesthouse, where they will be provided with beds and adequate beddings. And are encouraged to eat local African dishes which most of them find quite appetizing. Electrical energy is still arriving in the island, and our home just got a solar system installed, to provide lighting at night and energy for cell phones. No internet is available within a 5 km radius.
Resource Unit
A Resource Unit (library) is also put in place at the guest house, full of books, magazines, etc…
What to do during the stay?
Arrangements will be made for you to do quite a variety of duties and services, working in community projects which will provide a totally new experience in life and we do hope you will find them quite exciting.
Examples of working places:
- Milimani Academy, founded by Odula Family, where most of the toddlers are orphans and vulnerable children from the local community whose ages range from 3 to 8 years.
- A local primary school and a high school within the same locality.
- At a local herbalist clinic working with traditional medical practitioner.
- Organic and permaculture farm.
- Agro-forestry and tree nursery establishment.
The anticipated work pattern is organized that you will find free time to do something else, ie: study local languages, read books, visit friends and interact with local people, go fishing, trekking and hiking, etc.
Duration
From 1 week to 3 months, or more.
Bureaucratic Conditions
As soon as you land on the Nairobi International Airport Jomo Kenyatta you will be given a tourist visa valid for 90 days (3 months) at the cost of 50U$$. If asked you should say you are a tourist, not that you are coming to work because for this activity the authorities normally required other and more complicated procedures, which for you is unnecessary.
Charges
US$ Dollars 10 per day/ per person
Euro 8 per per day / per person
The charges cover food and accommodation only.
For further details and information contact:
Michael and Jane Odula Host Family
P.O. Box 132
Homa-Bay 40300
KENYA
Phone: +254 702416420
Email: manodula@yahoo.co.uk
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