Hatua travels to Malindi to co-hold a Medical Camp

On the weekend 13 - 14 October, Hatua Likoni in partnership with the Pamoja Africa Initiative traveled to Mjanaheri village just North of Malindi to hold a free Medical Camp for the local community.

Doctors and nurses from St. Peter‘s Hospital, Malindi and other medical personnel from the Ministry of Health in the region volunteered their time and services over the weekend. APHIA PLUS were also present, hosting VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing). The camp was hosted by friends from Italian Supermarket Malindi, and White Sands Hotel and Spa provided mineral water for the whole team for the weekend.

The Medical Camp ran from 9am until the afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday, and over the weekend the team treated over 400 patients seeking treatment for a range of ailments including respiratory infections, skin diseases and dental complaints. Other services included cancer screening, deworming, family planning, jigger treatment, pharmacy prescriptions, nutritional screening and laboratory testing.

Despite heavy rainfall on Saturday, a number of families still managed to travel to attend the camp. Come Sunday, the rain had subsided and many more people came for the free medical care.

On Sunday, we also visited a nearby orphanage, Pumwani Childrens Home, with one of the doctors to carry out medical check-ups on the children.

The weekend ran smoothly, and was a great opportunity for us at Hatua to make new friends. It was also a great learning experience as we assisted the medical team in washing the children's feet as treatment for jiggers.

"This was the first medical event Hatua has been involved in. It has been an eye opener for us and we're now looking forward to hosting our own medical camp in Likoni," Kwame says. "For us to provide scholarships we need healthy kids, so it makes sense for us to provide this service to the community."

Many thanks to all those who volunteered their time and resources; to our hosts, doctors, nurses, and the organizers for their commitment and hard work to make the camp such a success!

Visit Hatua's Facebook page to view more photos from the weekend.

Students get expressive at Community Poetry Workshops

Over September and October, Community Poet Tony Hillier from the UK has been conducting poetry workshops for Hatua’s students at the Likoni Youth Empowerment Center.

During the first two workshops in September, Tony introduced the students to Community Poetry, an art form that enhances formal and informal education through the power of poetry. By encouraging self expression, community issues are raised in a safe environment and achievements are celebrated.

Students discuss the art of poetry in its different forms, and are encouraged to compose their own poems with Tony’s support.

The students are really enjoying the freedom of these sessions, and are producing some great poetry. Check out some of their work below about Hatua Likoni, Likoni, education and Kenya.

Thank you Tony!

Here is a small selection...

[untitled]

Hatua is like a river flowing in a desert
cherishing our African roots
building our personalities
making us important persons
in the society filled by illiteracy
a dream come true but not a fantasy

Hatua is like a mother breastfeeding
feeding us with knowledge
knowledge to a great college
WOW! opening doors to the world
unveiling our inner potential

Hatua is like an oxygen cylinder
without it no life
a patient dies in silent death
Thanks to Hatua
poverty has no room

Sheila Kioko Abigael

Likoni

Likoni is like a shade of tree
where people don't stay permanent
because it is engulfed with a lot of slums
It is the land of the poor
where rich people are rare
Many come here just for a tour
but they have their homes there

There are a lot of investors
and a lot of sponsors
to support the poor peasants
and those who are learners
Surely most of the residents
are not the pure settlers
but only passers by

Sulleiman Musa 

Kenyan Changes

My country is rich
with a lot of beauty
Something destroys it.
Corruption is the game
our leaders play

Something I will change
is the tiresome education system
Something else I will change
is tribalism and racism
We in Kenya have a lot of work to do

Peace and harmony
is what we want
All are welcome in our peaceful country
making Kenya the place to be

Athman Mohammed

Education, key to success

We children have a right to be educated
but due to high levels of poverty
our dreams are vanishing to nowhere

Thanks to Hatua Likoni, slowly by slowly
We are going to be what we dreamt of
Through education we will be what we want

We are the people who are going to change Likoni
as fortune knocks once at every man's door
Let's use the opportunity of scholarship
and be someone important to Likoni

For everyone is wishing to be useful
and important in their community
education really is the key to success.

am thinking I have to iron my school uniform and have a lot to do today

Fridah Makokha

My Country Kenya

My country Kenya, I love it.
It is like a shining star in the sea
full of wealth and blessings
I love my country

A country full of honey flowing,
beautiful scenery and natural resources
Truly, I love my country

Kenya is like a highway passing
across the sea of success.
Appearing from each corner of the horizon
here come different tribes full of thoughts,
habits and characters to achieve their destiny
Surely, I love my country

Samuel Kimwele

Ben Levey receives award for the LCFL

Founder and Director of the Likoni Community Football League (LCFL) Ben Levey was recently presented with an award in recognition of his work with the LCFL at the 2nd Kenya Diaspora meeting held in Arlington, Virginia Washington D.C.

Hatua Likoni works very closely with the LCFL, which has grown hugely since the first organized match was played in May 2011; now 26 teams from around Likoni play in the league, which has just finished its fourth season, and a girls league is being created - just last month the LCFL sent a girls team to take part in the Mathare Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) Girls Soccer Tournament in Nairobi for the first time.

The story of Ben's award featured in Jamhuri Magazine.

Ben says, "The most important thing that this article does not discuss is how all the coaches in Likoni are working together to make this happen. PAMOJA... Kevin Odhiambo Wambura and Yusuf Mwabundu and all the coaches in Likoni should be receiving this award!"

"Receiving this award is awesome," Kevin says, "recognition for our work really gives us and the coaches motivation to continue doing what we are doing and bringing about change."

Congratulations to our friends at the LCFL for this great award of recognition!

Check out the LCFL's great work at their website.

Final Days for Job Application Submission

August 15 is the last day to submit applications for our open positions!

Current open positions include:
-Mentoring and Career Guidance Coordinator
-Communications Coordinator
-Resource Center Coordinator
-Volunteer Coordinator

For more information about each position, read scroll down or click here.


Be sure to get your applications in on time!

Hatua Hosts Likoni Civic Education Network Workshop

Hatua Likoni is happy to announce that the Likoni Civic Education Network is alive and well! Two weeks ago, Hatua hosted a week-long workshop for 20 organizations participating in the network. The goal of the workshop was to teach those representatives present about educating the community on the new Constitutive process, Fundamentals of Devolution, and Citizen participation.

With the upcoming presidential elections on March 4, 2013, reaching out to the Likoni community and helping them become informed citizens is the ultimate goal of this initiative. All of us with the Network are working hard towards reaching that goal, and this workshop was just one stepping stone in that process. From here, the organizations involved are equipped to go out into the community and do what they do best – inform their communities.

                               Nagib Shamsan of Kenya Land Alliance talks about 
                         Chapter 6 of the new Constitution, Land and Environment.

The workshop was lead by four facilitators: James Nga’Nga' of MCI, Muhammad Ali Chamzuzu of SUDEP, Suleiman Sultan of Peacenet Kenya, and James Gashie of Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance. Nagib Shamsan of Kenya Land Alliance also participated as a guest facilitator.

Participating organizations include:

Hatua Likoni

KMYA

MCI

SUDEP

MUHURI

L.C.F.L.

LIKUSA

LICODEP

Active Youth

TRACE

Sauti ya Likoni

LONSCOM

Likoni N.Y.R.

Sauti ya Kinamama 

Emani Kenya

Be sure to check out more photos and information about the workshop on our Facebook page! 

Likoni Youth Agenda Throws Awareness Raising Talent Show

This past Saturday, July 14, 2012, the students from the Likoni Youth Agenda put on a talent show at Likoni’s YWCA.

The goal of the talent show was to teach Likoni’s youth about why it’s important for them to vote and how the voting process works. So, the talent show was meant to spread their message in a fun and involved way.  Those who chose to perform could choose from three categories – poetry, music or dance, all with the theme of civic education.

The majority of people who attended were 18 and over, and in possession of ID’s, however only 3 of those students claimed they had voted. This pinpointed the exact issue that the Likoni Youth Agenda wanted to get across to their fellow youths – that everyone needs to be an active and informed citizen, especially younger generations.

The students who make up the Likoni Youth Agenda originally came together after the Civic Education Forum took place in May, and this was their first big event. While other groups like the Likoni Civic Education Network are focusing on educating Likoni’s community, the Likoni Youth Agenda focuses on Likoni’s youth, and teaching them about the importance of voting and voting literacy.

The entire event was managed and organized by the students themselves, and they even fundraised more than half of the budget. They advertised in their schools and throughout the LIkoni community and they got more than 600 youths to attend!

Hatua Likoni is very proud of their achievement and cannot wait to see what strides they make in the future.

Be sure to check out more photos of the event on our facebook page the Likoni Youth Agenda’s facebook page! (http://www.facebook.com/LikoniYouthAgenda?ref=ts) 

Job Opening at Hatua Likoni

Hatua Likoni would like to announce the following job openings.
TO APPLY: Bring your CV, qualification documents, and a letter explaining your interest in this position to the Youth Empowerment Center & Library at Flats, Likoni, open from 9am to 8pm Monday through Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Please leave your application and contact details with the librarian on duty. Applications submitted by Aug 15^th will be considered.

Mentoring and Career Guidance Coordinator

Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Number of Positions: 1 full-time, paid position

Start Date: Oct 1^st, 2012

Minimum Requirement: Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and 2 years of work experience

Overview: Hatua Likoni is a community led NGO helping Likoni’s top students gain the skills and credentials needed to contribute to & benefit from Kenya's growing economy. We do so by providing scholarships, mentoring and career guidance to secondary, college and university students in Likoni.

Hatua Likoni is currently accepting applications for the position of Mentoring and Career Guidance Coordinator. This is a full-time, paid position starting Oct 1^st, 2012, responsible for design and management of Hatua Likoni's mentoring program for secondary and university students, focused on building networks with local professionals to server as mentors to students. Qualified applicants are passionate about helping Likoni youth complete school and enter the work force, fully able to take a leadership role within Hatua Likoni, very hard working and self motivated. Preference will be given to Likoni residents.

Responsibilities:

·         Creating a weekly mentoring calendar focused on positive personal decision making, communication skills, civic education and career guidance for Hatua Likoni’s secondary school scholarship students.

·         Coordinating weekly mentoring sessions for secondary school scholarship students on Sunday afternoons, and mentoring activities and tuition during school holidays.

·         Identifying and coordinating local professionals to serve as mentors to university scholarship students.

·         Helping to coordinate attachments for university scholarship students with local companies.

·         Leading training sessions at Likoni’s Youth Empowerment Center for scholarship students and the larger community on:

o       Higher education options

o       College Financing, including HELB

o       Career choice

o       CV writing

o       Interviewing skills

o       Networking

·         Creating and maintaining a list of job openings available within companies located in Mombasa.

·         Planning Hatua Likoni’s annual scholarship student trip or party.

Requirements:

      ·         Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and minimum of 2 years work experience

·         Human resource management experience preferred

·         Ability to lead program development

·         Strong work ethic, excellent organizational skills and able to work with minimal supervision

·         Excellent communication and writing skills

·         Computer proficiency and knowledge of Microsoft programs

Communications Coordinator

Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Number of Positions: 1 full-time, paid position

Start Date: Oct 1^st, 2012

Minimum Requirement: Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and 2 years of work experience

Overview: Hatua Likoni is a community led NGO helping Likoni’s top students gain the skills and credentials needed to contribute to & benefit from Kenya's growing economy. We do so by providing scholarships, mentoring and career guidance to secondary, college and university students in Likoni.

Hatua Likoni is currently accepting applications for the position of Communications Coordinator. This is a full-time, paid position starting Oct 1^st, 2012, responsible for creating and implementing a communications strategy targeting foundations, corporations and individuals that will builds support for Hatua Likoni and enable the organization to grow its programs. Qualified applicants are passionate about improving quality of life in Likoni through education for youth, they also possess excellent writing skills, are fully able to take a leadership role within Hatua Likoni, are very hard working and self motivated. Preference will be given to Likoni residents.

Responsibilities:

·          Writing grant proposals and follow up reports to foundations in Kenya and abroad  

·         Creating communications materials to build relationships between Hatua and corporations in Mombasa

            ·         Writing and updating organization communications materials, including:

o       Hatua’s website

o       Blog

o       Facebook

o       Quarterly newsletters

o       Quarterly and annual reports

            ·          Sorting and sharing Hatua’s visual media

Requirements:

       ·          Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and minimum of 2 years work experience

·         Prior work experience in communications or grant writing preferred

·         Excellent writing skills

·         Strong computer skills

·         Strong work ethic and able to work with minimal supervision

Resource Center Coordinator

Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Number of Positions: 1 full-time, paid position

Start Date: Oct 1^st, 2012

Minimum Requirement: Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and 2 years of work experience

Overview: Hatua Likoni is a community led NGO helping Likoni’s top students gain the skills and credentials needed to contribute to & benefit from Kenya's growing economy. We do so by providing scholarships, mentoring and career guidance to secondary, college and university students in Likoni.

Hatua Likoni is currently accepting applications for the position of Resource Center Coordinator. This is a full-time, paid position starting Oct 1^st, 2012, responsible for managing the programs, services, staff and budget of the Likoni Youth Empowerment Center & Library.  Qualified applicants are passionate about providing high quality library services, computer classes and workshops for Likoni youth, are fully able to take a leadership role within Hatua Likoni, are able to manage staff and a budget, and are hard working and self motivated. Preference will be given to Likoni residents.

Responsibilities:

·         Managing the staff, budget and services provide at the Likoni Youth Empowerment Center & Library while constantly improving these services.

·         Implement and advertise new programs, i.e. children’s reading hour and CV writing workshops

·         Maintain a calendar of events and hall rentals

·         Source for donors for Resource Center activities

·         Manage the Computer lab to be a profitable enterprise that generates income to pay the Library’s running costs

Requirements:

       ·         Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and 2 years of work experience

·         Project or Business management experience preferred

·         Ability to lead program development and supervise staff

·         Strong work ethic and excellent organizational skills

·         Excellent communication and writing skills

·         Computer proficiency

·         Librarians encouraged to apply

Volunteer Coordinator

Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Number of Positions: 1 part-time position with commission based compensation

Start Date: Oct 1^st, 2012

Minimum Requirement: Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and 2 years of work experience

Overview: Hatua Likoni is a community led NGO helping Likoni’s top students gain the skills and credentials needed to contribute to & benefit from Kenya's growing economy. We do so by providing scholarships, mentoring and career guidance to secondary, college and university students in Likoni.

Hatua Likoni is currently accepting applications for the position of Volunteer Coordinator. This is a part-time, commission based position starting Oct 1^st, 2012, responsible for recruiting and hosting international volunteers, including building partnerships with organizations where volunteers will work and managing Hatua's volunteer house. Qualified applicants are passionate about creating a volunteer program that serves local organizations and helps volunteers feel at home in Likoni. They also possess excellent interpersonal skills and writing skills, are able to take a leadership role within Hatua Likoni, are hard working and self motivated. Preference will be given to Likoni residents.

Responsibilities:

·          Recruiting volunteers through online job and volunteer advertisement sites  

·         Manage the volunteer house, including housekeeping and meals for volunteers
·         Coordinate a week long orientation, including home stays for each volunteer
·         Create and maintain partnerships with volunteer hosting organizations, i.e. orphanages and schools in Likoni

·         Support volunteers through their stay to ensure they are happy, healthy and productive
·         Help volunteers to organize recreational activities
·         Collect feedback from volunteers after their stay and make improvements to the program based on their suggestions

Requirements:

      ·         Degree in a relevant field or Diploma and 2 years of work experience

·         Hospitality or volunteer coordination experience preferred

·         Ability to lead program development

·         Strong work ethic and excellent organizational skills

·         Excellent writing and computer skills

·         Great social skills

·         Strong networking abilities to build partnerships with local organizations