ASSETS

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 07 2009 | By: assets

All protocol observed; the lady in this photo is Cecilia Mwarandu; a graduate of the ASSETS eco-bursay scheme. Cecilia completed her secondary school in 2008 at Ngala Girls Secondary school and is searching for opportunities to join college. Cecilia is joining John to help welcome visitors to Gede monument and issue tickets to those wanting to use the facility. This is one of the measures we are putting in place to maximise the very promising tourist projections later in the year.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 02 2009 | By: assets

Since the formation of Muvera wa ASSETS, an association of the ASSETS beneficiaries, the community has been asking about the benefits of the Arabuko Tree Platform. This facility which was built by A Rocha Kenya to generate income for secondary school scholarships has not been used since 2005. Even after lengthy discussions with Kenya Wildlife Services and Kenya Forest Service regarding the ownership of the facility permission to charge for the use of the Tree platform was not granted.
A month ago, the ASSETS beneficiaries formed a task force to steer the process of repossesing the facility and put it into use to supplement the income already being earned at Mida Creek by the community. Today the task force met to plan on the way-forward. This meeting took place at the site; Arabuko swamp, after a long chat about the baboons that raid their farms. Very enthusiastic about the whole process, the task force planned a meeting with the warden, Kenya Wild life Service to explain why they should be allowed to charge tourists for the use of the facility. The big meeting is scheduled for Thursday the 9th. Fingers crossed, we hope it will be a peaceful meeting and that the best decision will be made.

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Category: ASSETS | Date: Jul 01 2009 | By: assets

At last we can meet and plan for the renovations. For the last six months we have been waiting for this moment. The Safaricom Foundation has very generously given us a grant of Ksh. 750,000 (USD 9,600) for a complete overhaul of the Mida Creek walkway and Bird hide which has in the last four years contributed over 100 bursaries to the local secondary school children.

This facility has been closed for the last one month awaiting funds as promised by the foundation.
Todays meeting was to select five casual employees from the community to work on the facility. Rojan Taylor, a local engineer has offered to help us with designing and implementing the renovations.
My day started very well this morning. While getting ready to go to work, I was listening to the radio basically for the weather focast to know whether I need a rain-coat or not but in the process heard more pleasant news. Tourism projections for the rest of the year according to the Citizen Radio news bulletin this morning look very encouraging. With over 80% bed-night bookings for hotels along the coast, there is at last light at the end of the tunnel. The renovations are therefore very timely as they will be completed just before the tourism season peaks.

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