Review
It's Friday evening. I'm thinking of what I need to pack when I go to Fantsuam, and thinking about information too, and anything else I need to learn about before I go. That got me thinking about what I have been learning in the last week or so.
Akvo water and sanitation
Today I was learning about the Akvo water and sanitation programme with Mark Charmer and Joe Simpson of Akvo (here's another Akvo link). I am hoping that Dadamac can help Fantsuam Foundation to become a field partner. Potential field partners have to show they can send back good information about their project work.
Photo feedback
Regarding information: I hope the Fantsuam team will enjoy helping the Children's Computer Club to contribute information to the People and Place project . It could be a first step towards providing information to projects like Akvo. I've experimented with Peopel and Places and know how to upload phots there now. I know it looks foolproof - but I managed to fail the first times I tried.
Need-to-know
I hate doing things from written instructions and I am a very reluctant user of any techie stuff. Usually I only learn what I really, really have to use. I hope that the longer I wait to use a bit of new technology the more user friendly it will get. Even if it hasn't got user friendly, if "every one else gets it first" at least there should be someone to show me how the thing works.
Minciu Sodas Pyramid of Peace feedback
Back to Mark and Joe - I also told them about the Pyramid of Peace (PoP) and the brilliant way that Minciu Sodas got feedback during the post election turmoil in Kenya (see this background information on PoP taken from a call for funds prepared during the turmoil) - or go straight here for the video of the acrobats' peace demonstration.
Transition Towns
Yesterday I was collecting my visa, and on the way home went to the Islington Hub to buy a copy of "The Transition Handbook", published in association with www.transitionculture.org. Transition Towns had come up in conversation at the PRADSA workshop the previous week, which is how I knew where to get the book. There is a wiki about Transition Towns They started in the West Country and the place I used to live (Lostwithiel) is listed as a transition town, but I don't know anyone else round here who is interested yet. I want to learn more about them, and perhaps get involved.
Drupal
I have spent several hours exploring some features of Drupal. I did it along with Nikki. We both find it easier to learn in company - even if neither of us really knows anything much to begin wit). Thanks to a link Alan put in for us, we can now set up forums, and we are beginning to understand how pages link together. I also experimented with the list of html commands and discovered how to make the text bold and italic - all very basic, but more than I knew before.
The whole Drupal thing looks slightly less stange and threatening to me now - so next time I get a chance to learn from someone who knows Drupal I shall be better prepared to benefit from their knowledge. I long to pull all our Internet stuff together in one place and have a welcoming Dadamac virtual reception area where people can came and e-meet us, and join in whatever interests them.
Open tractors
At the weekend I was learning about open tractors and such like from the Factor E Farm weblog and through a skype chat with Marcin Jakubowski, supplemented by discussion on Global Villages . I think there is a lot that he is doing which could be relevant to the sustainable community project that John Dada is planning at Fantsuam. I'll be able to discuss this more with John soon.
Photography
Also at the weekend I was learning to operate my new camera. My camera operating skills are about as rudimentary as my Drupal. When I have owned a camera it has usually ended up being used by other people, so I don't learn anything much. This time I felt I had to try harder. I am always asking my Fanatsuam friends to send photos of "ordinary everyday sights" - and it was recently pointed out to me that they would like to see some "ordinary everyday sights" from where I live, so I decided I had better try to oblige. I took the camera with me when I went shopping - and looked at the High Street with new eyes. Hmm - quite a lot to notice that I would never see at Fantsuam. After sixteen photos I ran out to memory. I've put them on my computer, but haven't tried to send them yet.
Connectivism and Connective Knowledge
This week has also been the first week of an online course on conectivism and connective knowledge I enrolled for the free version (no supervision etc), but I'm not doing as well as I hoped. I've read most of the basic information, but haven't got into the interesting disucssions, or gone to any unfamiliar applications to find out more about how they are being used. I really want to be part of this, because I will see how proper professionals run online courses, and how it feels to be a learner there. However this is not really a good time for me to be taking a course. I have a faint, rather unrealistic, hope of managing to catch up a bit over the weekend.
End of the week
So, that is what I have been learning about this week. I am so glad to be able to be part of the online learning community.
Friday, 12 September 2008
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
One month catch up
It is just over a month since I wrote my "five months catch-up" so this a quick review of current learning, before too much time goes by.
Last week I was at the final PRADSA workshop, in Leeds. PRADSA is "Practical Design for Social Action" and is part of a "Designing for the 21st Century" programme. This was my third PRADSA workshop, so I know there is a lot of expertise there - lots of opportunities to learn.
Already, as a result of PRADSA networking, there is a People and Place project that will help children in Teeside and children in rural Nigeria to learn from each other by exchanging photos.
This time the workshop theme was Power and Participation. Participation (inclusion) is dear to my heart. One of my big challenges is how I can help my community activist and teacher friends in Africa to be included in online groups, and other Internet benefits, given their lack of bandwidth.
I am frustrated by the way I am an information bottleneck. I am so information rich. I pay a fixed regular monthly subscription which gives me access to the Internet from home for as many hours as I want - every waking hour of my free time if I so choose. By contrast most of my friends in Africa have to pay by the minute, the connections they use are painfully slow, and are typically at cybercafes some distance from their homes.
How can I help my friends? How can I use my information riches to benefit them? How can I use the fact that I am bandwidth rich to overcome the fact that they are bandwidth poor? How can I be their "information runner" - doing some of their information-finding chores for them while they are off-line? How can I help them to connect up with the people they need to connect up with? How can I get the Internet to do more of this automatically for me, instead of doing so much of it "by hand" through emails and yahoo chats? How can I find other people who would be interested in helping? At present there are only really three of us, Lorraine, Nikki and me - and we are seriously lacking in the additional online skills that we need.
Obviously I need the help of some techies - but where do I find them, and how do I explain what we need? In the past we have used emails, lists, instant messaging, and miscellaneous other communication tools, plus some wikis and Moodle, and couple of free websites that sadly vanished into the ether without warning. I understand that if we had an implementation of Drupal then that would serve to pull everything together, and a friend has kindly made Drupal available to me and my friends - so we have a Dadamac Drupal, once we know how to use it.
We are at the start of our Drupal learning curve. Fortunately there at PRADSA I discovered Alan and Paula, who know about Drupal, looked at the Dadamac Drupal and gave advice on how to go forward. As a result there was much behind the scenes "learning by doing" today when Nikki and I were together with a few hours and visited Dadamac Drupal.
Over the weekend I have also been learning about open source tractors and other things that could be relevant to my friends in Nigeria (and elsewhere). I hope that when our Dadamac Drupal is running effectively I will be able to drop into it all these odd bundles of potentially useful information - things like the open tractor discussions. I need to do it in a way that makes the information very easy to find, but putting it there must not be not too time consuming.
Nigeria, especially Fantsuam, is at the front of my mind at present. I go there again soon, and I am supposed to be helping the Dadamac team at Fantsuam to set up the online Knowledge Resource Centre (KRC). We need to tackle various cultural issues related to learning as well as the provision of resources. I want to be as well prepared as possible before I leave. I see Dadamac Drupal as an important part of the long term KRC provision so I would like to be a more effective Drupal administrator by the time I travel.
So - plenty of learning to be done - and thanks to PRADSA we are taking some useful steps forward.
Last week I was at the final PRADSA workshop, in Leeds. PRADSA is "Practical Design for Social Action" and is part of a "Designing for the 21st Century" programme. This was my third PRADSA workshop, so I know there is a lot of expertise there - lots of opportunities to learn.
Already, as a result of PRADSA networking, there is a People and Place project that will help children in Teeside and children in rural Nigeria to learn from each other by exchanging photos.
This time the workshop theme was Power and Participation. Participation (inclusion) is dear to my heart. One of my big challenges is how I can help my community activist and teacher friends in Africa to be included in online groups, and other Internet benefits, given their lack of bandwidth.
I am frustrated by the way I am an information bottleneck. I am so information rich. I pay a fixed regular monthly subscription which gives me access to the Internet from home for as many hours as I want - every waking hour of my free time if I so choose. By contrast most of my friends in Africa have to pay by the minute, the connections they use are painfully slow, and are typically at cybercafes some distance from their homes.
How can I help my friends? How can I use my information riches to benefit them? How can I use the fact that I am bandwidth rich to overcome the fact that they are bandwidth poor? How can I be their "information runner" - doing some of their information-finding chores for them while they are off-line? How can I help them to connect up with the people they need to connect up with? How can I get the Internet to do more of this automatically for me, instead of doing so much of it "by hand" through emails and yahoo chats? How can I find other people who would be interested in helping? At present there are only really three of us, Lorraine, Nikki and me - and we are seriously lacking in the additional online skills that we need.
Obviously I need the help of some techies - but where do I find them, and how do I explain what we need? In the past we have used emails, lists, instant messaging, and miscellaneous other communication tools, plus some wikis and Moodle, and couple of free websites that sadly vanished into the ether without warning. I understand that if we had an implementation of Drupal then that would serve to pull everything together, and a friend has kindly made Drupal available to me and my friends - so we have a Dadamac Drupal, once we know how to use it.
We are at the start of our Drupal learning curve. Fortunately there at PRADSA I discovered Alan and Paula, who know about Drupal, looked at the Dadamac Drupal and gave advice on how to go forward. As a result there was much behind the scenes "learning by doing" today when Nikki and I were together with a few hours and visited Dadamac Drupal.
Over the weekend I have also been learning about open source tractors and other things that could be relevant to my friends in Nigeria (and elsewhere). I hope that when our Dadamac Drupal is running effectively I will be able to drop into it all these odd bundles of potentially useful information - things like the open tractor discussions. I need to do it in a way that makes the information very easy to find, but putting it there must not be not too time consuming.
Nigeria, especially Fantsuam, is at the front of my mind at present. I go there again soon, and I am supposed to be helping the Dadamac team at Fantsuam to set up the online Knowledge Resource Centre (KRC). We need to tackle various cultural issues related to learning as well as the provision of resources. I want to be as well prepared as possible before I leave. I see Dadamac Drupal as an important part of the long term KRC provision so I would like to be a more effective Drupal administrator by the time I travel.
So - plenty of learning to be done - and thanks to PRADSA we are taking some useful steps forward.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Describing Dadamac
I've written a fuller explanation about Dadamac (it's a google doc so there's a bit of signing in involved before reading it).
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dvkjgqm_371x75z6cf7
My current plan is to explore Drupal and then gradually use it to create a tidy web presence, and to give the Dadamac online community a virtual home - meanwhile I will continue to scatter information around using what I already know.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dvkjgqm_371x75z6cf7
My current plan is to explore Drupal and then gradually use it to create a tidy web presence, and to give the Dadamac online community a virtual home - meanwhile I will continue to scatter information around using what I already know.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Five months catch up
This is a catch-up of what I've been learning-by-doing over the past five months - since the entry about Pyramid of Peace. It probably won't cover everything - just whatever springs to mind while I'm at the keyboard (There won't be any live links included yet, but perhaps later).
Today the Learning From Each Other (LFEO) group had its regular "First Thursday of the Month" meeting in the worknets chatroom and we used it to discuss the ideas in the Mohammed Yunus book "Creating a World Without Poverty". We now have sixteen copies of the book circulating in East Africa - mostly in Kenya, and we have an informal WWP (World Without Poverty) study group. It was a small meeting today. There were four of us - each in a different location and each interested in the ideas and how to apply them appropriately in practice, in "our own communities".
The WWP group is a new kind of collaborative learning experience for us. The books are circulating. Odd bits of e-mail chat make reference to who has got a copy and what someone is thinking, and now and again some of us have a more formal exchange of ideas through the LFEO list or in the chat room.
In Kenya the WWP group has its roots in the Pyramid of Peace. The post election turmoil died down, and the young unemployed youths were persuaded to stop attacking each other. Now some of the peace activists are trying to help the youths to turn on their real enemies - which are poverty and ignorance. The ideas in WWP are a focus for this - but how do these ideas get turned into practical local action? That is the challenge. That is what we will try to LearnByDoing.
Unusually for me I have been involved in three face-to-face gatherings since March. They were all in the UK: a PRADSA workshop about funding bids, 2gether08, and PCF5. They were all very different, and each time I felt an "outsider" - but each time in a different way. I was suffering quite an identity crisis by the time I had been to all of them.
I was at PCF5 because I had submitted a paper about Teachers Talking. I was happy about the quality of the project and so, originally, I felt confident in my role at PCF5. After all, PCF5 was a joint COL (Commonwealth of Learning) and University of London event, and the version of TT which David Mutua had organised in Kenya had been supported by COL, and TT "is my baby". I thought that I would feel that I did belong.
At PCF5 I was placed in the "Children and Young People" group, because TT is about Teacher Training - but I am nothing to do with any formal Teacher Training Institution. After a day of meeting people who all had strong job titles in big organisations I was feeling very much an odd one out again. Fortunately, on the second day I heard Professor Brenda Gourney talk about the kind of informal communities of learning where I do belong ("places" on the Internet - like the groups I belong to in Minciu Sodas) so I felt more included again.
I like the phrase Community of Learning (CoL). I belong in various online CoLs and I believe they are an important part of the way forward for education in the 21st century. However online CoLs tend to be rather organic, and freely structured, compared to traditional institutions of learning so there is quite a cultural divide between the two. In the last couple of days (through one of my CoLs) I have been pointed towards some useful articles theorising about informal online learning. I have learned a new description "rhizomic learning" which does seem to describe how we learn in CoLs. Rhizomic learning was described in a very academic way. This makes teh article a good "connecting point" between between those of us in the "CoLs" and the established academic institutions. I am hopeful that better communication channels may be opening up.
I have also been involved in developing better communication channels between UK and Nigeria. It is something I have been struggling with since 1999, when I used to help a friend's Nigerian husband to keep in contact with people back home. Now, as part of the Dadamac team I am in regular UK-Nigeria contact, including a weekly online team meeting. The Dadamac team has made interesting progess. We are on our second project and we are getting increasingly confident of our ability to deliver what our clients ask.
We are still trying to classify all the things we do in the Dadamac team and how they relate to each other. This is how things seem to be shaping up at present. There is a network of people which I used to describe as Cawdnet, but has now developed, and changed its focus and becoem something I am calling the Dadamac Community of Learning. That is online, so its boundaries are very porous, and it overlaps other Communities of Learning, especially Minciu Sodas. (To me Minciu Sodas is the best and "richest" Community of Learning that I know. It is the online community where my own learning is nurtured: though the encouragement, example, and enabling of the Director Andrius Kulikauskus; and through the discussions with other group leaders and members.)
Various educational initiatives have already developed though this network, usually linking with Fantsuam Foundation. In connection with Dadamac CoL there will be Dadamac Local Communities of Learning. The first one is developing at the Knowledge Resource Centre (KRC) at Fantsuam. We are experimenting to find out what people want to learn and how their learning can be enabled through the KRC. We are building on education/training work we have done together previously in UK/Nigeria collaborations. Dadamac links in various ways with Fantsuam Foundation, including the Children's Computer Club, but I won't attempt to clarify the details here. We are very happy to see benefits starting to come to Fantsuam as a result of Dadamac initiatives.
Once we know how the Dadmac CoL works at Fantsuam we will invite other people/organsiations that we know to collaborate with us as local Dadamac Communities of Learning as well.
At present the online Dadamac CoL is a collaborative network with no formal structure or registration. It is concerned with the exchange of information and the growth of learning - very "21st century".
However, some things do need to be firmly and formally rooted, and have to function in the money economy. To this end there is also Dadamac Limited (a related registered company) which enables us to share out networks and knowledge in return for fees, just as any other knowledge brokers would do.
I haven't managed a full catch up, but the main points are here. I hope to write more often in future.
Today the Learning From Each Other (LFEO) group had its regular "First Thursday of the Month" meeting in the worknets chatroom and we used it to discuss the ideas in the Mohammed Yunus book "Creating a World Without Poverty". We now have sixteen copies of the book circulating in East Africa - mostly in Kenya, and we have an informal WWP (World Without Poverty) study group. It was a small meeting today. There were four of us - each in a different location and each interested in the ideas and how to apply them appropriately in practice, in "our own communities".
The WWP group is a new kind of collaborative learning experience for us. The books are circulating. Odd bits of e-mail chat make reference to who has got a copy and what someone is thinking, and now and again some of us have a more formal exchange of ideas through the LFEO list or in the chat room.
In Kenya the WWP group has its roots in the Pyramid of Peace. The post election turmoil died down, and the young unemployed youths were persuaded to stop attacking each other. Now some of the peace activists are trying to help the youths to turn on their real enemies - which are poverty and ignorance. The ideas in WWP are a focus for this - but how do these ideas get turned into practical local action? That is the challenge. That is what we will try to LearnByDoing.
Unusually for me I have been involved in three face-to-face gatherings since March. They were all in the UK: a PRADSA workshop about funding bids, 2gether08, and PCF5. They were all very different, and each time I felt an "outsider" - but each time in a different way. I was suffering quite an identity crisis by the time I had been to all of them.
I was at PCF5 because I had submitted a paper about Teachers Talking. I was happy about the quality of the project and so, originally, I felt confident in my role at PCF5. After all, PCF5 was a joint COL (Commonwealth of Learning) and University of London event, and the version of TT which David Mutua had organised in Kenya had been supported by COL, and TT "is my baby". I thought that I would feel that I did belong.
At PCF5 I was placed in the "Children and Young People" group, because TT is about Teacher Training - but I am nothing to do with any formal Teacher Training Institution. After a day of meeting people who all had strong job titles in big organisations I was feeling very much an odd one out again. Fortunately, on the second day I heard Professor Brenda Gourney talk about the kind of informal communities of learning where I do belong ("places" on the Internet - like the groups I belong to in Minciu Sodas) so I felt more included again.
I like the phrase Community of Learning (CoL). I belong in various online CoLs and I believe they are an important part of the way forward for education in the 21st century. However online CoLs tend to be rather organic, and freely structured, compared to traditional institutions of learning so there is quite a cultural divide between the two. In the last couple of days (through one of my CoLs) I have been pointed towards some useful articles theorising about informal online learning. I have learned a new description "rhizomic learning" which does seem to describe how we learn in CoLs. Rhizomic learning was described in a very academic way. This makes teh article a good "connecting point" between between those of us in the "CoLs" and the established academic institutions. I am hopeful that better communication channels may be opening up.
I have also been involved in developing better communication channels between UK and Nigeria. It is something I have been struggling with since 1999, when I used to help a friend's Nigerian husband to keep in contact with people back home. Now, as part of the Dadamac team I am in regular UK-Nigeria contact, including a weekly online team meeting. The Dadamac team has made interesting progess. We are on our second project and we are getting increasingly confident of our ability to deliver what our clients ask.
We are still trying to classify all the things we do in the Dadamac team and how they relate to each other. This is how things seem to be shaping up at present. There is a network of people which I used to describe as Cawdnet, but has now developed, and changed its focus and becoem something I am calling the Dadamac Community of Learning. That is online, so its boundaries are very porous, and it overlaps other Communities of Learning, especially Minciu Sodas. (To me Minciu Sodas is the best and "richest" Community of Learning that I know. It is the online community where my own learning is nurtured: though the encouragement, example, and enabling of the Director Andrius Kulikauskus; and through the discussions with other group leaders and members.)
Various educational initiatives have already developed though this network, usually linking with Fantsuam Foundation. In connection with Dadamac CoL there will be Dadamac Local Communities of Learning. The first one is developing at the Knowledge Resource Centre (KRC) at Fantsuam. We are experimenting to find out what people want to learn and how their learning can be enabled through the KRC. We are building on education/training work we have done together previously in UK/Nigeria collaborations. Dadamac links in various ways with Fantsuam Foundation, including the Children's Computer Club, but I won't attempt to clarify the details here. We are very happy to see benefits starting to come to Fantsuam as a result of Dadamac initiatives.
Once we know how the Dadmac CoL works at Fantsuam we will invite other people/organsiations that we know to collaborate with us as local Dadamac Communities of Learning as well.
At present the online Dadamac CoL is a collaborative network with no formal structure or registration. It is concerned with the exchange of information and the growth of learning - very "21st century".
However, some things do need to be firmly and formally rooted, and have to function in the money economy. To this end there is also Dadamac Limited (a related registered company) which enables us to share out networks and knowledge in return for fees, just as any other knowledge brokers would do.
I haven't managed a full catch up, but the main points are here. I hope to write more often in future.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Kenya: POP member notes on the ground/ proposals
These emails show an online community (Minciu Sodas) in action, focusing support on Kenyans within the group. They give a snapshot of the Minciu Sodas Pyramid of Peace (PoP) project on Thursday March 2008. The emails give precise details of what is happening on the ground as PoP people work to promote long-term peace and prevent reprisal violence. The writers are Andrius (director of Minciu Sodas and the strategic thinker behind PoP) and Rachel (the present leader of PoP in Kenya -a role which is filled by different people in turn). The emails were sent on Thursday March 2008 to holistichelping@yahoogroups.com and other Minciu Sodas groups.
From: Andrius Kulikauskas
I can send you 400 USD and perhaps a bit more, I have to calculate the money I received and how much we have spent so far. Also, it is very good that you have found funds for our Nakuru meeting by linking that with the Volunteer Youth Philanthropists one day training. Are any more funds required for that meeting? We should make a list of our projects and the budget required. Also, please we need phone numbers for some of the people below, who might provide them? Thank you! Andrius Kulikauskas, ms@ms.lt, +370 699 30003
(To support PoP see current news of phone4peace )
-------------------------
From: Rachel Wambui Kungu
Dear Janet, Andrius and all,
Thanks for your support and being part of peace building in Kenya,
though miles away very close in efforts of building a peaceful
coexistence in Kenya. I look at all in the network and especially
those away from us as our mentors, we volunteer and walk the talk
together.
This morning I spoke to Achami, Rono, Kilel, Edwin, Muturi, Wilson,
Tonny, Beatrice, Kirathe, Chelimo, Wesley and Kihara all from
different areas of the country called Kenya and from different
culture, communities, tribe etc
The general response and feeling is that there is peace in most parts
of our country and that those who had moved from various area and
regions are going back to where they call home. This to me is a sign
of peace in whatever perspective we look at it.
ACHAMI-Kuresoi +254720613379
Reported to me that on Wednesday there were killings in a place near
Molo (total) and several people have been admitted in hospital. On
Sunday Rono and Achami traveled to total to speak with elders in that
area of which the Kalenjin and Kikuyu live in the area. Achami says
"we had a dialogue meeting and we were able to negotiate on how to
stop the violence in order for him to be able to continue opening up
Molo to all the communities and for the negotiation to be successful,
it is a must for both community to maintain peace." He says that Rono
has played a major role in calming the situation and as we speak now
one of the worriors who was very much involed in the conflict has now
changed position and he is flexible and open for dialogue. Thanks Rono
and Achami, you compliment each other. Achami is still engaging the
community in Molo. Though he is in Kuresoi, he reported an attempted
attack at Baringo B but police intervened.
RONO Richard +254723732617
As I spoke to him this morning he was heading to a burial of a person
killed in the area and he said that he has a good platform to discuss
the peace talks going on at the community level and why the youth
should turn away from the violence thus, it was a mobilized group
despite the death, they can speak peace, Rono proposed that he would
like to go to Kitale to speak to the kalenjin, but after our
discussion we agreed that Kuresoi is still a hot spot and violence is
still continuing, thus he should work on building peace in ones
community before going to the next community. We agreed and then he
says he would like 50USD for his travel reimbursement and
communication for the talks he has had near total, which has changed
position of a worrior. For sometime Rono will be concentrating on
engaging Kalenjin in peace talks within Kuresoi to stop violence.
Kihara-Eldoret
He is organizing meetings and dialogue in secondary and University in
the area, taking advantage of his well connected network to work for
peace. Kihara says he would like to organize an open day forum with a
start of a road show stating the objective of the forum and the venue
to round Eldoret for effective mobilization and a start off forum for
all the communities for relationship building. I requested him to come
up with a budget for that, but I also mentioned to him that the
caravan is a road show and is being prepared to cme in May but he says
that's too far and the road show is a form of advertising for the
forum for mobilization purposes. Thus am waiting for the budget and
then I will discuss further with him to realize his dream. I call upon
Cheliomo Wesley and Joseph to be part of the noble cause.
Wesley –Eldoret +254722992107
He was one of the person I met in Eldoret on 18th of January 2008 ,
when I started taking risks to go and carry out fact finding and build
friends around me advocating for active non violence among the youth,
when I called him and I had him laugh on the other end, I knew it is
the dawn of the new beginning. He told me that there is peace
inEldoret and that they are looking forward to International women's
day and asked if I will be joining them. I was happy to heart to hear
the good news, however he requested for some credit if available and
that was all.
Chelimo +254722809690
Welcomed me to Eldoret and he said there is peace and people are going
back to there so called homes. He asked me whether I will be
participating in the women's day event in Eldoret as Andrius had
promised to send one of us but told him , I have no idea but I will
think about it. I joked that he will send me away but he said a big
NO, there is peace and war is over, as a peace builder, those were
veery encouraging words to me especially that early morning. I have a
reason to sleep a little longer and a smile if not laughter. Ken also
requested for airtime. That was all.
Charles Kilel +254 727 281 419
I always smile but too bad he cannot see it through the cell phone,
reason being, when we met for the first time, after knowing him for a
while over the phone, I requested him to describe the Rachel he had in
mind, sorry I will not describe because of those who haven't seen me
yet I live them to think about it. He was happy to hear from me after
sometime and I told him not to be breaking the silence, as
communication is power and we learn from each other. He didn't have
something in mind then as he said the victims are now coming back home
and he is thinking of how to hold a dialogue meeting with the victims
and perpetrators to build relationship again. He says he has noted
some fear from both communities and he would like them to address the
fears to avoid negative outcomes. However, he says he will wait for
sometime for more people to come back. We also discussed my then
proposal of building a group of 10s from several homestead nearing
each other and encourage them to be each others keeper. I was happy
too that he has started identifying the representatives. Mr. Kile, am
definitely coming to Kericho to see you and the team, I have postponed
it for long but with a reason and to address urgent matters, I felt
you could handle Kericho from the discussion we had and with the
introduction of the young man Henry. Kindly ask him to give me a
shout. I will get back to Kilel for further discussion on my visit
which should be soon. I proposed to him a training/dialogue in Kericho
with participants from Sotik which he says its near and Kisii. This is
to try and connect Edwin who has interest in Sotik so that they can
work togther.
Edwin Nyandisi +254-722587836
Having worked with him for several years, it was not hard to get what
I wanted from Edwin, He has already written and proposed for the
follow up meeting in Sotik. Kindly outline how many people will
participate in the meeting. I would also like to know if the team you
met have a formal group or not and if not during your next meeting we
would like to here what they have to say about registering a group for
easy follow up and networking in Sotik. I personally have a special
interest in Sotik Kisii and Kericho, I would also like to know if you
have managed to get intouch with some of the youth we met last year
during the caravan. Still think of proposing a security team as you
reported that you met the administration (areas chief) and a councilor
could you build on that in order to have flow of communication on the
ground. I would like to join you, if possible we leave on Friday
morning and find out on Saturday what the women will be doing. Just a
thought Kindly quote your budget again and we can discuss.
Beatrice Nzovu
She called me this morning requesting for the reports we have
submitted at WIKI on views and happenings on the ground and
recommendation. This is in line with the Curriculum she is trying to
produce for POP peacebuilding healing and reconciliation. Also she
confirmed her facilitation of the 15-16 training in nakuru, despite
her tight schedule she has time for POP. Also she would like to get
the reports in order to have an idea of our expectation as POP
leaders. All in all Beatrice has worked with women *elite* as I may
call them but she is now concentrating with the young woman at the
grassroot level and in that case, she is organising young women for
the march on Saturday and requested me to join her but it is
unfortunate I am living for either Eldoret or Sotik to organize some
forum. I would like to request for 250USD for Beatrice to organize and
facilitate young women meeting after the March and gather some ideas
on the motherly constitution. Beatrice kindly elaborate on how you
plan to go about the above and the number of young women you intend to
mobilize and possible outcome. I always look at forming groups on the
ground and if this can be a starting point I am ready to follow up the
group. Together we can make it.
Tonny
He is looking forward to meeting the Luo elder soon a trip he is
joining Ken for fact finding and empowerment of youth in Kisumu to be
able to participate fully in POP and also identify the champions down
there or is it up there Ken O and Tonny?
Ken Owino +254723568251
He was occupied trying to keep his house in order for his preparation
for a trip soon. He has several events and he will be at the National
Theatre tomorrow afternoon, actually today (Thursday) and He has
invited me at the cultural center where they are performing on
Sarturday. All the best young man, you have the potential you will
make it. Come back with a smile as always. I haven't heard from you
the budget for your trip kindly forward it as well.
Dennis Kimambo +254722388275
He was facilitating so we didn't talk. Dennis, I hope we can talk soon
need your advice on some few things about the Nakuru training on 15th
and 16th.
Kirathe & Wilson -Naivasha
After the unblocking of the roads, and my personal visit and a follow
up meeting with the Naivasha youth and forming a Naivasha Youth Peace
Initiative, Kirate says we are forgetting them. He was the first
together with Thuo to report that the Luo's who had been evicted from
Naivasha are now coming back and taking over there jobs after a long
forced leave. He told me that Naivasha people are welcoming them and
life is going on well. No tension or incidences and since the TWO
agreed to work together they are ready to restore the lost
relationship. He was asking if I will be visiting them soon but I
didn't have answer since I am abit held up in other areas. However,
Naivasha being very near Nairobi, I promised I can have technical
appearance every now and then as we fundraise for a training in the
area. I miss you friend in Naivasha, I will see you soon.
Robert Muturi Nairobi +254 722 555 302 and Wilson Naivasha
They are young men with positive thinking about the future of the
country. Through them I was able to get connections in Naivasha. I am
happy to have you around and the information you share with me is and
has always been helpful. They were both collegues in High School and
as I learn now they are tied up organising themselves either to join
University or College for further education. Robert is also helping
me with VYP theatre group. He has interacted with most of you in the
chat. Young me when you join another institution move on with the
peace handle and build circle of friends for a positive thinking. You
can change the world.
Rachel
Nakuru Training
This will be a joint effort of Pyramid of Peace and Voluntary Youth
Philanthropists who have secured some little funding to facilitate one
day training and POP can facilitate one day. This saves on travel cost
and maximizing of the resources for a greater impact. VYP will also be
having student teachers leadership training either in Nakuru or
Eldoret, we are yet to confirm.
I have also invited Kinyanjui who will give a motivational talk on
Youth leadership in peace building. Find out more about him when you meet.
I will be sending credit to those organizing an activity or event for
communication purpose.
Emmanuel Were +254721938340, Tom Ochuka +254 712 929 029 and others I hope we can chat in the morning. It
is 3am, I wish to go and sleep for now.
A youth steward council or what… for the countries future (watchdogs)
thanks Janet and Andrius and Gachara for you contributions.
Great to know you all.
Rachel
www.peace-caravan.org
http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?HolisticHelping
Please note our rule: Each letter sent to the Holistic Helping group enters the PUBLIC DOMAIN unless it explicitly states otherwise. Thank you! http://www.ethicalpublicdomain.org
From: Andrius Kulikauskas
I can send you 400 USD and perhaps a bit more, I have to calculate the money I received and how much we have spent so far. Also, it is very good that you have found funds for our Nakuru meeting by linking that with the Volunteer Youth Philanthropists one day training. Are any more funds required for that meeting? We should make a list of our projects and the budget required. Also, please we need phone numbers for some of the people below, who might provide them? Thank you! Andrius Kulikauskas, ms@ms.lt, +370 699 30003
(To support PoP see current news of phone4peace )
-------------------------
From: Rachel Wambui Kungu
Dear Janet, Andrius and all,
Thanks for your support and being part of peace building in Kenya,
though miles away very close in efforts of building a peaceful
coexistence in Kenya. I look at all in the network and especially
those away from us as our mentors, we volunteer and walk the talk
together.
This morning I spoke to Achami, Rono, Kilel, Edwin, Muturi, Wilson,
Tonny, Beatrice, Kirathe, Chelimo, Wesley and Kihara all from
different areas of the country called Kenya and from different
culture, communities, tribe etc
The general response and feeling is that there is peace in most parts
of our country and that those who had moved from various area and
regions are going back to where they call home. This to me is a sign
of peace in whatever perspective we look at it.
ACHAMI-Kuresoi +254720613379
Reported to me that on Wednesday there were killings in a place near
Molo (total) and several people have been admitted in hospital. On
Sunday Rono and Achami traveled to total to speak with elders in that
area of which the Kalenjin and Kikuyu live in the area. Achami says
"we had a dialogue meeting and we were able to negotiate on how to
stop the violence in order for him to be able to continue opening up
Molo to all the communities and for the negotiation to be successful,
it is a must for both community to maintain peace." He says that Rono
has played a major role in calming the situation and as we speak now
one of the worriors who was very much involed in the conflict has now
changed position and he is flexible and open for dialogue. Thanks Rono
and Achami, you compliment each other. Achami is still engaging the
community in Molo. Though he is in Kuresoi, he reported an attempted
attack at Baringo B but police intervened.
RONO Richard +254723732617
As I spoke to him this morning he was heading to a burial of a person
killed in the area and he said that he has a good platform to discuss
the peace talks going on at the community level and why the youth
should turn away from the violence thus, it was a mobilized group
despite the death, they can speak peace, Rono proposed that he would
like to go to Kitale to speak to the kalenjin, but after our
discussion we agreed that Kuresoi is still a hot spot and violence is
still continuing, thus he should work on building peace in ones
community before going to the next community. We agreed and then he
says he would like 50USD for his travel reimbursement and
communication for the talks he has had near total, which has changed
position of a worrior. For sometime Rono will be concentrating on
engaging Kalenjin in peace talks within Kuresoi to stop violence.
Kihara-Eldoret
He is organizing meetings and dialogue in secondary and University in
the area, taking advantage of his well connected network to work for
peace. Kihara says he would like to organize an open day forum with a
start of a road show stating the objective of the forum and the venue
to round Eldoret for effective mobilization and a start off forum for
all the communities for relationship building. I requested him to come
up with a budget for that, but I also mentioned to him that the
caravan is a road show and is being prepared to cme in May but he says
that's too far and the road show is a form of advertising for the
forum for mobilization purposes. Thus am waiting for the budget and
then I will discuss further with him to realize his dream. I call upon
Cheliomo Wesley and Joseph to be part of the noble cause.
Wesley –Eldoret +254722992107
He was one of the person I met in Eldoret on 18th of January 2008 ,
when I started taking risks to go and carry out fact finding and build
friends around me advocating for active non violence among the youth,
when I called him and I had him laugh on the other end, I knew it is
the dawn of the new beginning. He told me that there is peace
inEldoret and that they are looking forward to International women's
day and asked if I will be joining them. I was happy to heart to hear
the good news, however he requested for some credit if available and
that was all.
Chelimo +254722809690
Welcomed me to Eldoret and he said there is peace and people are going
back to there so called homes. He asked me whether I will be
participating in the women's day event in Eldoret as Andrius had
promised to send one of us but told him , I have no idea but I will
think about it. I joked that he will send me away but he said a big
NO, there is peace and war is over, as a peace builder, those were
veery encouraging words to me especially that early morning. I have a
reason to sleep a little longer and a smile if not laughter. Ken also
requested for airtime. That was all.
Charles Kilel +254 727 281 419
I always smile but too bad he cannot see it through the cell phone,
reason being, when we met for the first time, after knowing him for a
while over the phone, I requested him to describe the Rachel he had in
mind, sorry I will not describe because of those who haven't seen me
yet I live them to think about it. He was happy to hear from me after
sometime and I told him not to be breaking the silence, as
communication is power and we learn from each other. He didn't have
something in mind then as he said the victims are now coming back home
and he is thinking of how to hold a dialogue meeting with the victims
and perpetrators to build relationship again. He says he has noted
some fear from both communities and he would like them to address the
fears to avoid negative outcomes. However, he says he will wait for
sometime for more people to come back. We also discussed my then
proposal of building a group of 10s from several homestead nearing
each other and encourage them to be each others keeper. I was happy
too that he has started identifying the representatives. Mr. Kile, am
definitely coming to Kericho to see you and the team, I have postponed
it for long but with a reason and to address urgent matters, I felt
you could handle Kericho from the discussion we had and with the
introduction of the young man Henry. Kindly ask him to give me a
shout. I will get back to Kilel for further discussion on my visit
which should be soon. I proposed to him a training/dialogue in Kericho
with participants from Sotik which he says its near and Kisii. This is
to try and connect Edwin who has interest in Sotik so that they can
work togther.
Edwin Nyandisi +254-722587836
Having worked with him for several years, it was not hard to get what
I wanted from Edwin, He has already written and proposed for the
follow up meeting in Sotik. Kindly outline how many people will
participate in the meeting. I would also like to know if the team you
met have a formal group or not and if not during your next meeting we
would like to here what they have to say about registering a group for
easy follow up and networking in Sotik. I personally have a special
interest in Sotik Kisii and Kericho, I would also like to know if you
have managed to get intouch with some of the youth we met last year
during the caravan. Still think of proposing a security team as you
reported that you met the administration (areas chief) and a councilor
could you build on that in order to have flow of communication on the
ground. I would like to join you, if possible we leave on Friday
morning and find out on Saturday what the women will be doing. Just a
thought Kindly quote your budget again and we can discuss.
Beatrice Nzovu
She called me this morning requesting for the reports we have
submitted at WIKI on views and happenings on the ground and
recommendation. This is in line with the Curriculum she is trying to
produce for POP peacebuilding healing and reconciliation. Also she
confirmed her facilitation of the 15-16 training in nakuru, despite
her tight schedule she has time for POP. Also she would like to get
the reports in order to have an idea of our expectation as POP
leaders. All in all Beatrice has worked with women *elite* as I may
call them but she is now concentrating with the young woman at the
grassroot level and in that case, she is organising young women for
the march on Saturday and requested me to join her but it is
unfortunate I am living for either Eldoret or Sotik to organize some
forum. I would like to request for 250USD for Beatrice to organize and
facilitate young women meeting after the March and gather some ideas
on the motherly constitution. Beatrice kindly elaborate on how you
plan to go about the above and the number of young women you intend to
mobilize and possible outcome. I always look at forming groups on the
ground and if this can be a starting point I am ready to follow up the
group. Together we can make it.
Tonny
He is looking forward to meeting the Luo elder soon a trip he is
joining Ken for fact finding and empowerment of youth in Kisumu to be
able to participate fully in POP and also identify the champions down
there or is it up there Ken O and Tonny?
Ken Owino +254723568251
He was occupied trying to keep his house in order for his preparation
for a trip soon. He has several events and he will be at the National
Theatre tomorrow afternoon, actually today (Thursday) and He has
invited me at the cultural center where they are performing on
Sarturday. All the best young man, you have the potential you will
make it. Come back with a smile as always. I haven't heard from you
the budget for your trip kindly forward it as well.
Dennis Kimambo +254722388275
He was facilitating so we didn't talk. Dennis, I hope we can talk soon
need your advice on some few things about the Nakuru training on 15th
and 16th.
Kirathe & Wilson -Naivasha
After the unblocking of the roads, and my personal visit and a follow
up meeting with the Naivasha youth and forming a Naivasha Youth Peace
Initiative, Kirate says we are forgetting them. He was the first
together with Thuo to report that the Luo's who had been evicted from
Naivasha are now coming back and taking over there jobs after a long
forced leave. He told me that Naivasha people are welcoming them and
life is going on well. No tension or incidences and since the TWO
agreed to work together they are ready to restore the lost
relationship. He was asking if I will be visiting them soon but I
didn't have answer since I am abit held up in other areas. However,
Naivasha being very near Nairobi, I promised I can have technical
appearance every now and then as we fundraise for a training in the
area. I miss you friend in Naivasha, I will see you soon.
Robert Muturi Nairobi +254 722 555 302 and Wilson Naivasha
They are young men with positive thinking about the future of the
country. Through them I was able to get connections in Naivasha. I am
happy to have you around and the information you share with me is and
has always been helpful. They were both collegues in High School and
as I learn now they are tied up organising themselves either to join
University or College for further education. Robert is also helping
me with VYP theatre group. He has interacted with most of you in the
chat. Young me when you join another institution move on with the
peace handle and build circle of friends for a positive thinking. You
can change the world.
Rachel
Nakuru Training
This will be a joint effort of Pyramid of Peace and Voluntary Youth
Philanthropists who have secured some little funding to facilitate one
day training and POP can facilitate one day. This saves on travel cost
and maximizing of the resources for a greater impact. VYP will also be
having student teachers leadership training either in Nakuru or
Eldoret, we are yet to confirm.
I have also invited Kinyanjui who will give a motivational talk on
Youth leadership in peace building. Find out more about him when you meet.
I will be sending credit to those organizing an activity or event for
communication purpose.
Emmanuel Were +254721938340, Tom Ochuka +254 712 929 029 and others I hope we can chat in the morning. It
is 3am, I wish to go and sleep for now.
A youth steward council or what… for the countries future (watchdogs)
thanks Janet and Andrius and Gachara for you contributions.
Great to know you all.
Rachel
www.peace-caravan.org
http://www.worknets.org/wiki
Please note our rule: Each letter sent to the Holistic Helping group enters the PUBLIC DOMAIN unless it explicitly states otherwise. Thank you! http://www.ethicalpublicdomain
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Another First Thursday
If I'm not travelling I try to be in the chat room from 13.00 GMT on the first Thursday of the month. Last month our thoughts and energies in Minciu Sodas were focused on Kenya and the post election turmoil. We were on an amazing learning curve discovering how we (an online group including Kenyans) could work together effectively with few resources to alleviate the suffering and danger facing our friends and their communities. Anyone with an interest in researching topics such as conflict resolution; African politics; tribal conflict; ICT (phones and Internet); online communities; Internet and social action; grassroots activism; and various other topics would find a mine of information in the Minciu Sodas yahoo groups archives.
Now attention is shifting. Today we were looking forward, and also taking stock. The power sharing agreement has been made, so now there is a president and a prime minister, and parliament is meeting again - but the problems have not gone away, they are just different, as our current email exchanges demonstrate. I feel I should be
Now attention is shifting. Today we were looking forward, and also taking stock. The power sharing agreement has been made, so now there is a president and a prime minister, and parliament is meeting again - but the problems have not gone away, they are just different, as our current email exchanges demonstrate. I feel I should be
- Analysing what we have learned
- Sharing that information in appropriate forms
- Joining in the work for the next stage
- Helping to raise the necessary finance to support our Kenyan friends as they continue to work with displaced people; unemployed and angry youths; all kinds of people who are recent or long terms victims of poverty and/or violence.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Alternatives to Violence in Kenya
Following the post-election turmoil in Kenya, Minciu Sodas has been exploring alternatives to violence. We have developed an initiative called Pyramid of Peace (pop). I am part of Minciu Sodas and I am also a trustee of CAWD (a registered UK charity). To learn more about pop and how CAWD is supporting it please see http://phone4peace.blogspot.com/
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