My thought is the Kanyawegi people need to think outside the box and accept new ideas and ways

KANYAWEGI SUPPORT FOR ORPHANS AND WIDOWS PROJECT
“A Community Based Organization in Kisumu-Kenya”
P.O. Box 1860-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
Tel. 254 733 826654
Email: swetatoby@yahoo.com.

“Committed to Orphans education, Community Health and Widows food security”

“Taking the Next Step” Forum

The people of Kanyawegi are good examples of the words “God helps those who help themselves”. They have managed to fight, scrap and live on very little during some very hard times. However they are now at the point where they must “Take the Next Step” to become more Self Sustaining.
It seems however that in many cases that they are unaware of what is required or is committed to take that step. In order to help them better understand what is required to become Self Sustaining without outside assistance an open forum/meeting is required. This could be help on a Wed afternoon in conjunction with the Community Bank members. This Forum would provide information for anyone in the community wishing to participate or listen to discussion on ideas on:

1. Explain what is meant by being self sustaining. Some members of the community who the people could be speakers at the forum.

2. Really explained to them in cold harsh words for them to understand that they can not depend on sponsorship to help them all the time.

3. People need to understand the concepts of setting aside part of their earnings when it is given to them. They need to understand that money set aside today will help them when money is required. They also need to educate on the concept of pre-payment or using payment plans, etc when purchasing something, etc. They also must be accepting to trust their closest friends or family members when money is involved. They must learn to keep records.

4. Assist to get them to overcome their idea that KASOW, NGO’s and volunteers are in the community to provide free handouts, etc. In the future that anything that is provided comes with a price. This would be in the way of repayment in full or over a period but being assured that it is not free. Also that KASOW volunteers will be for guidance and new ideas. The people in the community must be up to the task of managing themselves.

5. People need to work together to complete a task as they have to overcome the time old idea of working on their own. They can work on one farmer’s field to weed it and then weed the other farmers in order to quickly complete a big task. They have to understand that each of them is in the same position and sometimes by pooling together they can overcome difficult times.

6. People need to trade ideas on farm work, ways to earn money, etc. They have to be a little more flexible in their life styles.

7. People really need to more open to new ideas and concepts. They have to take a chance that new ideas presented to them may work. They are not given out to take have them lose their money, etc.

8. People need to be open and accepting of people from outside the community as they usually have the community’s best interest at heart. Outsiders must be embraced as people who are friendly and helpful.

9. Families need to be more supportive of their children and their goals. They have to tend to their health and education of all their children not just a couple. This support can be monetary or care within their ability to help. They need to understand that their children are the future of the community and Kenya. The parent’s goals should be to ensure that their children do better in life than them.

These are just a few ideas that could be addressed and others may have ideas of their own. If this Forum draws interest and support than maybe it could be held regularly.