Willing Hearts International Society – Canada

· Opening of Lugari Community Resource Centre

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Hello to all our supporters, I trust everyone is well and that you are enjoying your summer. At the WHISCA project here in Kenya, we are proud to share with you what has been happening at the centre.

On Friday August 6th, WHISCA celebrated the Lugari Community Resource Centre's grand opening. It was a huge success with over 450 people from the community attending. The nine members of the elected Community Management Committee (CMC) for the centre worked tirelessly in preparation: latrines were built, the interior painted, the kitchen serving countertop constructed and the sign for WHISCA at the roadside was erected on the morning of the event.

The muddy dirt laneway leading to the centre was groomed by a caterpillar. The demonstration farm was dug and planted. All throughout the week, the CMC kept their commitment and provided great assistance which included mobilizing the community to donate necessary vegetables, beans, fruits, meat and flour, as well as chairs and tables, and ensured the community was comfortable, warmly welcomed and well fed on the event day.

The grand opening incorporated educational booths where innovative agricultural and livestock farming methods were presented. The LIDAS Women's Group of Musembe also proudly displayed their crafts, such as calabashes gourds, , table mats, jewellery, and woven bark and fibre baskets. The Jatropha plant was introduced and the community learned how this plant can be grown as an alternative fuel source. The Moringa tree was also presented for its nutritional value.

Speeches were given by the District Commissioner, The Assistant District Commissioner, the Chief of Lugari District, the President of the Rotary Club of Bungoma South, and the President of WHISCA, Khayanga Jenipher Wasike. Also present were members of WHISCA, Denise Beaupre from Vancouver, Canada, and Franny Varty from West Vancouver Secondary School, Canada. Congratulatory praises for the centre, the importance of community development and the need for community members to take action to deal with issues of poverty were all messages that were delivered with passion. Those attending left inspired and also with full bellies- it was a wonderful day, a day of celebration for the community, a day whereby WHISCA officially opened the doors to sustainable community development in Kenya.

The following week, August 12th-15th, a youth leadership training was held. Seventy three girls from various districts in Kenya attended. They were selected through the Ministry of Education, focusing on well-rounded girls ages thirteen to seventeen. The goal of the training was to equip the girls with the necessary tools to be successful young leaders for their communities. Topics covered by selected professionals included the history of female leadership in Kenya, the power of influence, sustainable community development processes, and good leadership, communication, and motivational techniques. The topic for sexual activity and its impact on their lives in terms of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and self-worth (both emotionally and spiritually) were presented by a nurse practitioner and a physician. The girls appreciated the opportunity to discuss the issue of sexual activity. The presentation left them feeling empowered and valued with new found respect for themselves and their bodies.

During the leadership training, girls developed a project for their community which they are now responsible for carrying out. Using the community development process presented at the training, all seventy three girls specified their project goals and how they were going to mobilize resources, gather stakeholders and create and implement a project plan. Their project outlines were submitted on Sunday morning after a great deal of thought. It was a wonderful moment to receive their project outlines and to hear of their commitments. Many projects involved agriculture, poultry, or basket-weaving, and all involved improving the lives of the poor, elderly, or ill. Mailed progress reports will be submitted six times throughout the following two years by the participants. Dates for submission and contact details were given. During the final closing ceremony, the girls were assured of support and consultation throughout the development and implementation of their projects.

Along with a vigorous presentation schedule, the girls had an opportunity to socialize and bond. This was an important aspect of the training. A talent show on Saturday night demonstrated how these future leaders are very entertaining performers. They sang danced and recited poetry. It was in their performances that their courage and capabilities were revealed. It was a fun evening enjoyed by all.

Throughout the training , the girls submitted comments in the suggestion box provided. Not only did they love the food, they also wanted the training to be extended: many of the submitted suggestions requested for the extension of the training period for at least one more week.

During the feedback session on the last day of the training the girls verbally reported how they had learned about leadership, how to motivate and communicate with their communities and how necessary it was to recognize and value their own skills as young community leaders.

The young leaders of tomorrow left the workshop committed, and as we watched them walk up the dirt road leading away from the centre with their bags, we had confidence in their determination. The training was indeed a victory for these young women in Kenya. And if you were wondering, the total cost for the training of the 73 girls for four days was $3,200 Canadian Dollars. Money well spent. WHISCA wishes to acknowledge Dr. Sean Crickmer and Mr. Peter Kenny of the Kenny foundation for their kind contributions which were instrumental in the success of the training.

Lastly, the Lugari community Resource Centre is becoming famous! The leadership training was announced on eight Kenyan radio stations on Monday August 16th and televised the day after on four television stations. In addition, an article was published in the "Community Eye", a local newspaper.

In closing, our first month of opening has been exceptionally rewarding. The centre is looking forward to providing agricultural courses to the local farmers starting September 13th 2010, which will be followed by tailoring projects. Willing Hearts International Society of Canada will be working in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock in Lugari District to develop and facilitate these courses. The three WHISCA scholarship recipients are entering their third semester of the year 2010. They are all focused on their studies and doing well.

Wishing everyone all the best

Khayanga Jenipher Wasike.

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Dear Willing Hearts,

Happy New Year! I hope you have been enjoying the Holiday Season and are looking forward to 2010 with high expectations. I know that I can't wait for even greater things that lie ahead for us, even on the heels of WHISCA'S best year ever.

The Official opening of Lugari Community Resource Centre in Lugari Kenya is just around the corner, and we can't wait to see community members, WHISCA members and friends present for the formal opening of the centre and launching of the programs. Please read some important updates below.

Lugari Community Resource Centre (LCRC) was founded in 2008 in Lugari District of western Kenya and merged with WHISCA in 2009 to provide the local community with access to information and to develop a range of programs for alleviating poverty within the region.

WHISCA will facilitate resource mobilization in promoting and strengthening both groups and individuals in sharing and exchanging information on appropriate technologies focusing on agriculture, literacy economic skills training and supporting income generating activities to alleviate poverty.

The new year proves to be very exciting for our members. On our fact-finding mission of three incredibly hectic weeks, I mapped out a plan to present to our board members during the first week of January upon our return to Vancouver. We have been enormously impressed with the Community Management Committee on the ground in Musembe. They have seen the near-completion of the centre, now with window panes as protection against the unseasonable torrential rainstorms of December. Room dividers assure privacy for the committee member administrators as well as the program developer and coordinator, all in time for the anticipated grand opening of July. The farmers are ecstatic over the promise of programs that will help them to develop new crops, new farm products, and to re-establish the forest. Proximity to the highway also ensures a good market outlet, this under the direction of a retired marketing expert.

More good news is that we have just discovered that the centre is within the allowance area for rural electrification--and that an official of the electric company has retired in our area. The electricity connection will be necessary when solar energy is not available during the dark days of the rainy season.

The Community Management Committee meeting with us

For the present, individual donors have not waited for the grand opening celebration to begin their work but have already donated moringa seeds in time for planting in March with distribution to three of the poorest village families; we have received funds for three sewing machines so that local women can start learning to use them; another donor allowed us to network with the local health clinic for a family-planning training program that will reach ten villages; donors also gave us the thrill of awarding a university scholarship to one bright young man, Nichodemus Masinde Moss, and high school scholarships to two of the highest ranking orphan girls of the village: Joan Khandasi Wanyonyi and Grenda Olukuti.

Nichodemus Masinde Moss, Glenda Olukuti (in pink) and Joan Khandasi Wanyonyi (in green) receive scholarships.

It was indeed a very happy new year for them and us. We thank you with all our hearts!

Khayanga Jenipher Wasike

President