Shalom’s trained community leaders to facilitate 31 conflict transformation forums. The objective is to influence decision making on equitable management of Natural Resources through 675 influential community leaders. In Development, over 2,000 pupils set to benefit as 10 Schools receive assistance from Shalom’s support to construction and supply of learning materials etc.
October 2018 is a month that comes with a unique dimension of Shalom’s work; the conflict transformation dialogue forums that will be solely steered by the participants who have been receiving training on Management of Natural Resource based conflicts since the beginning of the year. Shalom’s strategy of engaging the middle level leadership begins with these forums. The direct involvement of our trained participants in this process is an indication of great transformation both at the personal and relational levels since the capacity development workshops have instilled into the participants a sense of personal responsibility to take charge in steering discussion on peaceful ways of living thus fostering greater relationships through coming together in these forums. From this process, the necessary institutions are to ensure long term peace and development emerge.
SCCRR’s Asha Awed (Middle) with National Police Reservists (NPR) team, after a successful meeting at Nauyapong – Lokitonyala, West Pokot County.
Moreover, the year is fast coming to an end and from a programmatic point of view, it is time to assess the progress of our work through monitoring and evaluation so as to draw lessons from the experiences of 2018. To this effect, Shalom’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning department shall from the beginning of this month conduct fieldwork activities in our project areas. This exercise shall culminate in a detailed report of the results of Shalom’s work.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UNFOLDING FROM SHALOM’S PEACE PROCESSES
In our development projects, SCCRR’s focus will be in ten (10) interethnic and interreligious schools within conflict environments in Northern Kenya. These includes; Turkana, Samburu and Marsabit Counties. The schools’ children and communities are set to benefit from various teaching-learning materials and facilities through Shalom’s development work and the contributions of the local communities.
The support that Shalom offers to these schools goes a long way in encouraging enrolment in the target schools thus positively imparting the students’ lives, providing them with a promising future. Our projects will help these schools to build and renovate classrooms, supply them with solar lighting system and their accessories, supply of text books and other teaching and learning materials, sanitary and health facilities as well as supply of seating facilities like desks, tables and chairs.
The schools set to benefit from these projects are:
- In Samburu County; Parkati Primary School, Morijo Mixed Secondary School and Girgir Primary School
- In Turkana County; Loya Primary School, Nayanae Kabaran Primary School, Lorugum Nursery School, Kaputiro Primary School and Kakong Primary School.
- In Marsabit County; El-Buru Magado Primary School and Arapal Primary School.
Pupils and students in these interethnic and interreligious schools will not only experience the enrichment of education but will also have increased possibilities going forward towards a better future for themselves and their families.
Local community members assisting in the construction of school classrooms in Marsabit County
All this is aimed at ensuring that peace prevails in these regions which is the ultimate goal of Shalom-SCCRR. We believe that by supporting education, the communities will be more informed and hence find alternative means of resolving conflicts rather than always using violence as a means of seeking redress. This will also improve their livelihood as well as foster community development since education is that key that can open many doors in life.
Shalom construction of school classrooms in Marsabit County
As always, our gratitude goes to the very skilled Shalom team, supplemented by the continuous participation and guidance of Fr. Oliver Noonan, M.A, Country Director and Fr. Patrick Devine, Ph.D. The unwavering commitment and skillful expertise of the team that are working towards the implementation of Shalom’s Peace and Development program is contributing immensely towards community empowerment, to a degree that cannot be compared. The help of the local community with building sites, labour, water and sand etc., is generous beyond words.
On behalf of the Shalom team, we like to thank all of you who tirelessly support this noble cause by making it possible for the Shalom family worldwide to support the peacebuilding and development efforts in Eastern Africa.
By SCCRR Program Management Team & Peace Development Projects Officer:
Godfrey Okoth Onyango, M.A., Program Manager
Joyce Wamae Kamau, M.A., Assistant Program Manager, Peace Education and Development
Paulson Tadeo Erot, M.A., Assistant Program Manager, Peacebuilding Program
Austin Ngacha Macharia, M.A., Program Officer (Education/Development Projects)
