Eco-village and training Center, Nairobi

[Jacky Foo]

Hi Everyone

The purpose of this message is to start a topic (for discussion) and also to obtain your comments, suggestions and to seek/develop cooperations and/or assistance in sponsorship.

:idea:In the past 7 months I have been developing a project idea on "Children's Village & Training Center" for a site in Nairobi. In March, 2007, I conducted a feasibility study in 5 cities in Kenya to collect information on living conditions of children in 5 probation hostels, 1 remand home and a borstal institution and compared them to 3 NGOs. The scope of study included living conditions and facilities, budget and diet, recreation activities, internal security, vocational training, school education, health care, etc. Common problems identified were
(a) poor access to land or use of available land
(b) lack of variety in foods of children’s diet,
(c) poor capacity to generate income and
(d) inadequate skills training for youth.

To address these problems, I proposed the establishment of a Children's Village and Training Center for children of 16 years and above (until e.g. 25) to the Kenyan Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). In 02 August, the project idea was endorsed by the Office of the Vice President of Kenya and a preparatory committee was set up to interact with me.

The Problem
Kenyan organizations, especially NGOs, can spend 50-75% of their annual budgets on food/fuel and rentals for space and housing in their humanitarian efforts to care and protect OVC (orphans and vulnerable children). A child may get a budget of ONLY about 500 or 1000 KES per month for food (7.50 US$-15.00 US$) and cooking fuel will cost about a similar amount. These demands leave such organizations with little money or budget for vocational training, purchase of materials for recreation or for initiating income generation activities. They are stuck in a state of "consumption" (provide shelter and food) and are unable to become self-reliant and sustainable (often solely depend on external funding). This causes many other limitations e.g. low scale of operation, inadequate health and mental care, and unable to respond to demands to prepare OVC youths for their future and sustainable livelihoods. A majority of them will not continue formal education into secondary school and university levels and so vocational training and trade skills become essential if they are to break the circle of poverty.

The creation of a Children’s Village & Training Center would address many of the primary problems and would provide:
(a) access to land for food and fuel production
(b) access to common facilities for vocational and skills training
(c) access to a a business and conference center for exposure to the real world and where their products can be sold.

A 10-year program is proposed with 3 phases; (i) 2-year Pilot Phase (ii) 4-year Mid-term phase and (iii) 4-year Long-term phase.

The Pilot phase (2008-2009) will be launched upon approval of MOHA and provision of basic facilities (3 unused buildings), access to land. Youths will be reside at a "half-way house" and small projects will be initiated for water capture/storage and aquaculture/irrigation, renewable energy (solar), food and small animal production and activities that will also generate income. The Mid-term phase (2010-2013) will see the construction or improvement of facilities like the business and conference centers, guest houses, development of vocational training courses/program, product-oriented and income generation activities, marketing, and media and networking activities. The long-term phase (2014-2017) will be a phase to ensure sustainability and excellence of its operations and programs.

This will be a site (~365 acres ?) for many opportunities to demonstrate sustainability and environmentally sound technologies. It will welcome partners and volunteers.

More info when I respond to questions.

regards
Jacky Foo
CV-TC project, Lower Kabete, Nairobi

[Jacky Foo]

[quote=Jacky Foo;.....(cut)....
To address these problems, I proposed the establishment of a Children's Village and Training Center for children of 16 years and above (until e.g. 25) ....(cut)... many of the primary problems and would provide:
(a) access to land for food and fuel production
(b) .........(cut).....
This will be a site (~365 acres ?) for many opportunities to demonstrate sustainability and environmentally sound technologies. It will welcome partners and volunteers. [/QUOTE]

<rockon> the image in the earlier message shows 3 sites for activities. "B" is a strip of valley land with a stream that has a permanent flow of water. Half of the valley belongs (stream as the boundary) to MOHA and in this half of about 10 acres (~5 ha) where I would like to grow fuelwood trees, fruit trees and intensive veg raised beds beside fish ponds which will be charged with the stream water. Fish pond water will be used as irrigation water.

Funds/cooperation needed:
(i) start a plant nursery where youths will grow the trees and funds will be used to purchase (@40-80 cts each) tree plantlets that have been transplanted and have survived in the valley for 6 months.
Budget/donation needed:
1000 US$ (for 1000 plantlets + management)
Partner/volunteer:
A grant application could be jointly written and submitted to a sponsor.
Volunteers (e.g. in the USA) instead of paying 2000 US$ as vounteer service fee to agencies can now directly use this money (as a sponsor) for the project and for volunteer's accomodation for a month at the Children's village.

(ii) Fish ponds
Digging fish ponds (2-3 meters deep) with an excavator is expensive. In a project in North-west Cambodia, it costs about 2,000 US$ to dig a pond of 25x30 m. We will need 3-4 such ponds.
Budget:
10,000 US$.

(iii) Vegetable production
This will be a low budget project and needs are
(i) multi-purpose pull-cart for transporting materials e.g. veg to the market
(ii) farm tools
Budget:
1000 US$

I look forward hear from
(i) volunteers and potential partners who may be interested to be in Kenya or
(ii) donors who might deem the ideas above as viable projects to be funded.

Please contact me at jacky at globetree.org or jacky.foo at gmail.com

regards
Jacky Foo
CV-TC project, Lower Kabete, Nairobi

[Jacky Foo]

Project Ideas

[quote=Jacky Foo;............ the image in an earlier message of this thread shows 3 sites for activities. "B" is a strip of valley land with a stream that has a permanent flow of water. Half of the valley belongs (stream as the boundary) to MOHA and in this half of about 10 acres (~5 ha) I would like to grow fuelwood trees, fruit trees and intensive veg raised beds beside fish ponds which will be charged with the stream water. Fish pond water will be used as irrigation water. [/QUOTE]

Projects that needs funds/cooperation :
(i) plant nursery project = 1000 US$
(ii) Fish ponds project = 10,000 US$.
(iii) Vegetable production project = 1000 US$

Other ideas that need expertise:
(iv) Gasifier to produce pyrolysis gas and biochar:
Budget ???? (unknown) :
The Lower Kabete area generates biomass from 3 primary areas:
(a) corn stalks (2 growing season per year) from about 50 acres of land and grown by children's homes, and small backyard plots of the staff members. Some of the stalks are used as fuelwood, and some of the leafy portions used as cattle feed. Corn cobs are used as fuelwood and purchased by outsiders and used in cattle feed.
(b) Eucalyptus leaf fall which is probably insignificant but it exists
and
(c) lastly the fuelwood that is currently used daily as cooking fuel for some 200 children at 4 children's homes.

Project idea ?
I would like to introduce a gasifier at a home using the above and available materials for cooking. The number of children at the homes range from 50-less than 100. So a small size gasifier will need to generate gas for the cooking energy needs of at least 50 children (i.e. minimum of about 3 hours). I dont know the amount of dried biomass available but I would think it would be sufficient for the demo project.

I am not very familiar with the pyrolysis technology and therefore would appreciate inputs/suggestions on the technology and system to the set up. On biochar, pls see e-seminar that I organised with Mel Lander (Nicaragua) at Dark Earth Soils | Google Groups

regards
Jacky Foo
CV-TC project, Lower Kabete, Nairobi

[Jacky Foo]

Originally Posted by Jacky Foo

Project Ideas
>Projects that needs funds/cooperation :
>(i) plant nursery project = 1000 US$
>(ii) Fish ponds project = 10,000 US$.
>(iii) Vegetable production project = 1000 US$
>(iv) Gasifier to produce pyrolysis gas and biochar:

(v) rabbits for meat
Rabbits are easy to keep. The main cost is the construction of the rabbit houses. A target would be to maintain a population of 20 females and 4 males. This would require construction of at least 4 rabbit houses.
Budget: 1500 US$

(vi) Ducks
Ducks can be kept for egg and meat production. This needs to be integrated with the use of kitchen wash water (with food debris) for breeding mosquito fishes that become feeds for the ducks. A flock of 10 ducks can ensure a few eggs daily. A concrete canal is needed for breeding the fishes and a low fenced enclosure.
Budget: 750 US$


regards
Jacky Foo
CV-TC project, Lower Kabete, Nairobi