NYAKASIMBI MAARIFA CENTRE GOES ONLINE

Internet access in a remote village like Nyakasimbi has remained a dream untill very recently when after painstaking efforts, the VSAT on top of the EDEN CENTRE house was re-positioned on Oct.5 2012.

The success of this initiative is expected to bring the following benefits for the people in Nyakasimbi:

improved access to online information resources
people will now NOT NEED to travel over 40 Km for internet access
residents from Nyakasimbi living abroad or far from the area will find it easy to communicate with their relatives
students will now be able to acess learning materials easily
schools will now have the advantage of accessing online materials easily

Nyakasimbi Maarifa Centre launch picture speak : 11th May 2012

 
By Noah Lusaka, Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN)



Communities having a look at the installed Inveno computers led by IT trainees and on right watching videos on biogas, water and local testimonies






Inside the library section participants perused the various publications on development issues. The publications include research reports, newsletters and magazines, books, pamphlets, posters CD ROMs and much more



Mr. Paolo chatting with IT trainees and on the right FADECO committee members watching a video on Biogas and water harvesting technologies



A participant making an inquiry on Biogas installation and on the right participants learning the operations of computers guided by Ms Zawadi



 Mr. Paolo of Renewable World making a short speech on the right the guest of honors Mr. Ndyanabo blessing the occasion with words of wisdom Mr. Sekiku the FADECO Director delivering his speech to an attentive community and on the right part of the launch participants





Mr. Sekiku the FADECO Director delivering his speech to an attentive community and on the right part of the launch participants


A tour of the farming activities and demonstration plots established by students pursuing a certificate course on sustainable Agriculture at FADECO


The launch was crowned by tree planting activities and the participants well entertained by Mikikiti drama Rugu dance troupe

FADECO pioneers Sustainable Agriculture training for Karagwe communities

By Noah Lusaka, Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN)

Introduction                                                         

Karagwe district in Kagera region of Tanzania is endowed with good environmental conditions suitable for large scale production of coffee bananas, beans, maize and fruits like pineapples, livestock production and much more. A recent Agricultural stakeholders meeting held at Karagwe (Feb 2012) identified the many opportunities that enhance agricultural production in the district. This includes availability of stable rains, electricity, information and communication technology facilities, many NGOs involved in Agricultural production, good storage facilities and two airports.  Despite all these favourable conditions, all is not rosy when it comes to production activities by farmers. Some of the impediments inhibiting production by farmers include: lack of knowledge on pest and diseases management for crops and livestock, reliance on rainfall fed production systems, lack of access to credit due to undemarcated land, lack of certified seeds, lack of agricultural training institutions and lack of extension staff (wataalaam), lack of stable markets, a culture not adopting new technologies, climate change, GOT policies that interfere with trading for example prohibiting sale of products to Uganda among many other factors.

Why sustainable Agriculture for Karagwe communities?

The Family Alliance for Development and Cooperation (FADECO) is a local NGO with a mission to promote food production to alleviate poverty at house hold level. Through a partnership programme with Kenya Institute for Organic Farming (KIOF), a training curriculum focusing on sustainable Agriculture has been developed. Targeting school leavers interested in pursuing agriculture, FADECO had a first intake of 11 students (6 women and 5 men) in November 2011 drawn from within Karagwe district and beyond. The residential training takes place at ‘Eden centre for appropriate technology’ situated at Nyakasimbi village about 35 km from Kayanga town towards the Rwanda border.

“As an institution, our main goal is to impart sustainable agriculture skills to the youth so they can pick up farming as a business using modern technologies. Many farmers in Karagwe still practice traditional farming hence the need to adopt new technologies for improved production and incomes” remarked Mr. Joseph Sekiku the Director of FADECO.  He explained further as follows: There is a lot that can be gotten from agricultural production to improve community livelihoods in Karagwe, but there isn’t enough effort by communities coupled with lack of newer farming knowledge and diversification of enterprises. This knowledge gap gave impetus for FADECO to initiate a certificate course lasting 18 months that will enable students gain skills and knowledge on sustainable agricultural techniques hence empowering them to engage with the farming community in Karagwe with new ideas and knowledge.

Mr. Sekiku is a pioneer of many initiatives in Karagwe and recently won the 2011 SEED award given by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in recognition of enabling women access to profitable markets by developing a toolkit for value added post harvest solar fruit drying in Eastern Africa. By helping entrepreneurs to scale-up their activities, the SEED Initiative aims to boost local economies, tackle poverty and improve livelihoods while promoting the sustainable use of resources and ecosystems. This will be awarded in March 2012 at a high level ceremony in South Africa. Among the many other accolades include ASHOKA fellow awarded in 2007, pioneering community radio in Karagwe, post office at Nyakasimbi and much more.

A tour of the Eden Centre for appropriate Technology

The Eden centre for appropriate technology is a dream come true for Karagwe communities. Established in 2007, the centre has a goal of promoting appropriate rural technologies and land rehabilitation through demonstrations, by availing information resources and community empowerment.

Among the many technologies at the centre include a hub for information and communication technologies (ICTs), renewable energy technologies like solar drying, solar energy, wind energy, water harvesting, zero grazing, piggery, bio-fuel trials and innovative farming technologies.

The vibrant Nyakasimbi Maarifa centre

The Nyakasimbi community Maarifa (knowledge) centre is a fully fledged information and communications hub that offers free access to information and knowledge resources on sustainable development. The centre supports communities in documentation of local knowledge and experiences in an effort to facilitate information exchange among communities, experts, research institutions and much more. The Maarifa centre project was invigorated in August 2011 following a tripartite partnership among Renewable World (UK) Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN – headquartered in Kenya) and FADECO (TZ). Equipped with modern information and communication technologies, the centre has a VSAT installed for Internet access, five computers for basic skills training, three computers for information access via Internet, a library equipped with research reports, newsletters and books.

Other multimedia resources at the maarifa include DVDs, digital photography, camcorder for film making and much more. The centre runs on solar and wind energy hybrid as a demonstration of green energy technologies.  Communities including resident agriculture students access various information resources and capacity building on IT skills for poverty reduction.

“We started the IT training in January 2012 and it has become quite competitive. The centre has registered over 108 trainees’ categorized as youth (75%), farmers 10%, business community (10%) and workers (15%) from within Karagwe. Majority of the trainees come from far hence pair up to meet their accommodation costs at Nyakasimbi market. We’ve scheduled the trainees to attend two hour sessions every day. Given that we have five computers allocated for training, during each session we handle 10 trainees of which two share one computer. Since we have four sessions per day, we manage 40 trainees everyday!  Remarked Miss Zawadi Peter the IT trainer at the Maarifa centre.

According to the Field Officer Mrs. Abella Eustace the maarifa centre is gradually gaining popularity among communities. However, a lot needs to be done to reach out to the communities and partners so they can learn the potential of using the maarifa centre facilities and information resources to improve their livelihoods.

The Sustainable Agriculture training unit

The sustainable agriculture training department offers an eighteen month certificate training targeting youth school leavers and farmers. The department has 11 students and two trainers. Among the many facilities and equipment for training students include: Land for demonstration of various farming enterprises and technologies, farming equipment that includes two tractors, a zero grazing unit, water harvesting for food production, solar food drying, agroforestry, woodlots apiary and much more.

Meet Elina a young farmer in Action

Elina Justus a 21 year old girl from Orumushaka village, Karagwe district was enrolled to undertake the certificate course starting from November 2011. “After I did my fourth form at Nyakahanga mixed government school in 2010, I did not get good grades to enable me pursue university education. As a young girl I felt I should support my parents with farming activities. When I heard about the opportunity to learn sustainable agriculture at Eden centre, I informed my parents who agreed to support me. In addition, we do not have an extension staff in our village an idea that my parents acknowledged. I plan to pursue agricultural studies up to degree level to support our country improve in agricultural production.

At the Eden centre, we learn theories and also undertake practical activities in the field. I’ve dug over 10 double dug beds as a start and will plant diverse crops including onions, tomatoes and vegetables. I enjoy the lessons as we do lots of practices. When we close school, I now have new ideas to train my parents and willing neighbours. Thanks to FADECO for this pioneering course.

Its excitement as Nyakasimbi Maarifa is launched

They all came, men and women, old, middle aged and the young including students, professionals, business community and farmers all from within and without! They all gyrated one by one to the throbbing lyrical tunes staged by the energetic and acrobatic Mikiti drama rugu dance troupe exhibiting their hidden social entertainment potential and getting applauded for the different styles.

The atmosphere became frenzy with light Godly showers as everybody celebrated and appreciated the launch of the Nyakasimbi Maarifa centre.  The day that started on a low note because of the early morning rains quickly picked up when invited participants started streaming at the centre one by one.

They were taken through the various  Maarifa centre  sections that included library resources, the IT training unit comprising five computers,Read more...

The oldest ICT trainee

 

80 year old Mr. Mushaijaki is the oldest Computer trainee at Nyakasimbi Maarifa Centre

The power of ICT training in Nyakasimbi

Nyakasimbi Maarifa Centre launched a free ICT training on January 2102.The training attracted diverse community members among them the elderly,youth,working and non-working .Up to now forty six (46 ) community members have benefited from the opportunity.Odiro Maurice is one of the beneficiaries.The 26 year old youth has secured employment as a Kiswahili teacher with Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF ) in Kenya

This video is a captivating story of the youth as he narrates his story.

Kutana na kabati lililotengenezwa kwa Computer

Watu wengi hufikiri kuwa computer ikiharibika inapoteza umuhimu wake. Lakini kundi la vijana kutoka chuo cha Eden Centre kilichopo kijiji cha Nyakasimbi, Tanzania wamegundua matumizi mbadala badala ya kutupa computer mbovu hasa Central Processing Unit (CPU).

Vijana hao wameibalidisha  C.P.U hizo zilizoharibika kuwa kabati ya kuwekea vyombo, vyakula n.k

Issa Ismail mwanafunzi wa chuo hicho anasema “Kabla ya ugunduzi huu tulikuwa tunatumia meza, ambayo ilionekana kutokuwa na usalama kiusafi, tukafikiria kuwa tunaweza kutengeneza kabati za ukutani kwa kutumia CPU mbovu zilizokuwa zimeandaliwa tayari kwenda kutupwa”.

Mwanafunzi huyo Issa (25) wa chuo cha kilimo na mifugo anaongeza kuwa, kwa kuwa CPU hizo zinaweza kubandikwa ukutani hivyo kuweza kutunza vyombo vyao kwa usafi zaidi ya meza waliyokuwa wanatumia  mwanzo.

NYAKASIMBI MAARIFA CENTRE .....CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE

Nyakasimbi Maarifa centre

Nyakasimbi Maarifa centre is an initiative of Family Alliance for Development Cooperation (FADECO) with the support of various partners particularly the ARID LANDS INFORMATION NETWORK (ALIN-EA). Established in 2011, the centre is located in Karagwe district in North Western Tanzania in Kagera region. The centre is hosted and managed by FADECO .

The centre was established with the main goal of responding to community information needs and to catalyze documentation of local knowledge. The Maarifa centre daily operations is the responsibility of an employed Field Officer who offers technical services and enables communities to access information resources. The Field Officer is supported by one or two volunteers’ referred to as community knowledge facilitators (CKF) selected from the community and an advisory committee selected by stakeholders. 

The Nyakasimbi Maarifa centre offers the following services:

Internet access: A VSAT is installed as a pathway to speedy access to websites, e-mailing, development of websites, e-services, distance learning, blogs and use of other Internet based tools. The Internet being a huge information resource offers access to most of the community information needs including news, development practices, Entertainment and much more.

A depository of Development and educational Information resources: These include CD ROMs, publications for schools and development issues, research reports, books, educational DVDs and photographs.

Capacity building on use of ICTs and other development related issues. The centre is equipped with 5 computers dedicated for training communities on various computer packages.

Participatory Video documentaries and shows: The communities are trained on participatory video development so they’re able to tell their own stories on issues concerning them like climate change, livestock issues, farming and indigenous knowledge systems. These are shown locally and also communicated globally through YouTube, blogs and DVDs.

A platform for documenting and sharing local knowledge with other groups: Communities document their experiences and local knowledge aspirations for future use. The centre promotes citizen journalism that involves generation of community news and info that is shared online or prints also involving individuals writing and making comments on issues they feel are left out of mainstream media. Most of the content generated is text / blogs, digital storytelling, images, audio files, podcasting or video.

Platform for exchange visits: Communities plan joint activities at Maarifa centres to travel and learn from others in a more practical way.

Community outreach: The centre offers advisory services and reaches out to build capacities of communities to start various enterprises for livelihood improvement. This involves facilitating communities to adopt sustainable agriculture and natural resources management best practices that will enable them maximize their production in a sustainable manner.

 Enabling Access, Creating Knowledge, Empowering People