PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BEACON HUMANITARIAN INTERNATIONAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MAKUENI
Report of the Activities Undertaken by Beacon during their Visit to Makueni from July 26th – July 2nd 2014
by the Government of Makueni County
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Beacon Humanitarian International (BHI) organization based in Salt Lake City in Utah visited Makueni County with an aim of establishing partnership and collaboration with the County Government. The organization was represented by a team of 14 people (4 adults and 10 teenagers) who expressed commitment and passion to engage in various development initiatives geared towards meaningful and sustainable development of Makueni County citizens.
For many years, Beacon Humanitarian has consistently helped people in Kenya with food, clean water, education and medicine. The organization in collaboration with Care4Kenya continues to mobilize resources to support developing countries.
The Beacon Care4Kenya is a youth project formed by teenagers whose main goal is to help children in impoverished countries like Kenya. Their goal is to create meaningful experience and develop their self-worth while making a great impact on other children’s lives.
2.1 ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING THE VISIT
The following activities were undertaken by Beacon Humanitarian International during their visit to Makueni County.
2.1.1 Visit to schools and surrounding communities
During their one week stay in Makueni County, the team visited several schools and communities identifying the felt or pressing needs and priorities that need special intervention and support. For instance, some of the key priorities and areas of focus as presented by parents and school management of Yikisemei primary school include; construction of a borehole, furnishing the school with lockers and chairs, construction of a computer lab, provision of sporting facilities, learning/teaching facilities (books & learning aids), transformation of the school to a boarding school, fencing and establishment of a school feeding programme.
Additionally, the team donated items such as foot balls, musical instruments, sanitary towels, underwears, writing materials and clothes to schools and communities.
2.1.2 Support for schools
- Yikisemei primary
Beacon Humanitarian promised to construct a borehole and offered three sponsorships for (two girls and one boy) in the school. They promised to establish a school feeding programme which will benefit the children for a period of 6 months or more depending on availability of funds. Besides this, the President of the organization requested a list of all the orphaned children in the school and hopefully they will support their education and other expenses.
- Kalongo primary
Grading of the school playground and construction of a borehole are some of the needs that were identified for support. The office of the Governor was requested to prepare and submit a budget for grading of the playground.
- Goodshepherd secondary school
During the visit to the school, one of the students had a chance to display her art work and this caught the attention of one of the team members who promised to provide the school with art supplies.
Other areas of support presented by the school management include: equipping of the computer laboratory and construction of a school library among others.
- Teresia Academy & Formation Centre
The team promised to support St. Teresia Academy & Formation centre with the following;
- Establishment of a music club
- Support for musical instruments
- Soccer uniforms and shoes
More so, the team also identified various boys and girls and promised to support their education.
- Visit to Kasue Girls secondary school
The team attended a prize giving ceremony in the school and a fundraising in aid of construction of a second girls’ dormitory.
2.2 Visit to the Governor’s office
The team held a meeting with the Deputy Governor and ECM Water in the Governor’s boardroom on July 31st. Some of the issues discussed during the meeting were launch of the well, various county development projects with key focus on the ministry of water and the Makueni County First Lady’s Sanitary towels project. The Deputy Governor also explained to them the structure of the county government and the various functions of the two levels of government.
2.3 Launch of a Well
The well which was donated by Beacon Humanitarian International and Care4Kenya USA youth was officially launched and presented to the residents of Matinga village, Kibwezi West Sub-county in Kikumbulyu South on 1st August 2014.The Deputy Governor H.E. Hon. Adelina Mwau officially launched the water project.
The launch was also attended by the area MCA Hon. Kiswii, ECM Water Jacobus Kiilu, Director for Tourism Diana Muli, Sub county Administration, representatives from Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) and community members.
2.4 Visit to communities
During their visits and interaction with community members, some families were given cash tokens to cater for their immediate needs. Other beneficiaries include two young girls from Matinga village whose education expenses will be catered for by the organization.
2.5 Visit to Chulu hills
The team visited various tourists’ attraction sites in the County including Chulu hills. They promised to share their experiences with the team planning to visit the County next year.
2.6 WAY FORWARD/ ACTION PLAN
During a fare well party held at the Deputy Governor’s residence, the President of Beacon Mr. Nickson Kasue stated that priority will be given to the following areas:
- Makueni sanitary towels initiative– The organization will help in resource mobilization to ensure that school going girls in Makueni County have access to sanitary towels.
- Construction of Boreholes & sand dams– Beacon will work with the County Government in addressing the water challenge which has been identified as a major obstacle in eradication of poverty and attainment of sustainable development in the county.
- Building linkages & Networks with Investors– Establish strong linkages and networks with investors and the Government of Makueni to ensure growth in all sectors.
- Honor promises given to various schools visited
2.6 CONCLUSION
The partnership by Beacon Humanitarian International and the County Government of Makueni is believed to give birth to many other projects to be implemented in the County.
The organization’s has employed a great initiative of engaging teenagers in project design, planning and implementation and this strategy can be replicated in the county whereby young people in schools are engaged at an early age in community development initiatives.
As a matter of fact, young people if actively involved in development initiatives have the power to transform societies because they can influence their parents, their peers and the entire community for social change and transformation.
I believe that this is just a beginning of many other projects to come and look forward for further collaboration and cooperation between Beacon Humanitarian International and the Peoples’ Government of Makueni County.