Donation Update: First Graduating Class

Last week I celebrated my 31st birthday, and one of the best gift I got (ever) was witnessing the tremendous progress Kianda Vision Computer Center has made.  Since opening in mid-May, we now have 38 students enrolled in the 2 months program, and the first cohort has officially passed their exams and have received certificate from the center.

It's hard to believe how fast this project has progressed.  It is definitely beyond my wildest imagination that something like this could happen on a continent that is infamous for its inefficiency. Last August, money was raised for my birthday, by winter we picked a concept, in May we have a center built, and now we are impacting the lives of youths in the community on a daily basis!  We also have ambition to expand our space to accommodate more students by this winter.

Today we held an official graduation celebration for them.  Each one of them made a speech, thanking those who made this center possible.  These youths grow up in a very tough environment, without this project, they wouldn't have the ability to learn how to use a computer, and then use that skill to find jobs.  I wanted to share the speech from one of the students, Mercy Ogembo (apologies for the background noise and poor videotaping skill)

This absolutely wouldn't have happened without everyone who contributed money last year.  This is indeed a birthday gift that keeps on giving :)  On behalf of myself and all the students benefitted from the computer center, from the deepest part of our hearts, ASANTE SANA! (Swahili: Thank you very much!)

To support the expansion of the computer center, click on the link below:

Donation Update: Kianda Vision Computer Center is Now Open!

SO, IT FINALLY HAPPENED! With  much anticipation, Freddy & Wilfred officially opened the Kianda Vision Computer Center in Kibera in mid-May.  A HUGE THANKS to everyone who made donation to the project!  I actually never thought that this would happen so quickly (given how slow everything else is around Africa).  I can only say that my friend Freddy & Wilfred worked magic, and without his help, this would not have happened.

The location of the computer center is on the main street going into the community, hugely convenient and attention getting!  There are 7 computers, 2 teachers and 18 students, and am looking forward to getting more students!

We charge a small fee for the material and lessons to the students (far more affordable than their other options), in exchange, they get to take classes that enables them to learn data entry skills, understand how to use MS Office, and have a chance to get certified, which opens up many many job opportunities down the road along with a better future for themselves and their families.

Our goal is to cover the on-going costs (electricity, internet...etc.) with the small class fees so it can be a self-sustainable project.  However, we will actively look for big donations so we can use it to expand on the hardware (i.e expanding the classroom space, get more computers...etc.) and impact more lives.

To me, it's really quite amazing what $1400 can do in this part of the world.  For the price of a plane ticket from USA to Kenya (or one third of a Birkin bag), we were able to buy a place, remodel it, build furniture, get connected to the electricity/internet, and jumpstart the future of many youths in this community.  WHAT A GREAT DEAL!

The other amazing thing to me is the power of a community-based initiative.  Imagine donating $1400 to an aid organization, before it actually reaches the ground, 100's of dollars will be wasted on overhead...being used to pay people whose job is to figure out how to best spend the $1400, then spend more on contractors who will actually execute the project...so when it get down the project level, there's probably maybe only $700 left?  While it's better than nothing, but the ROI is peanuts!

 

 photos courtesy of my awesome friends Lin and Joop

I'm super excited about the future of this center, and hope to continue to get funds to expand it.  We are looking for donations on more computers, mouse, and printers (and of course, $ donation to help us expand the center).  Please contact me if you have any unwanted ones so I can carry them back with me after my US trip!


For those interested to learn more about Kibera, contact Freddy who also runs a slum tour.  See more info on their website 

Donation Update: Introducing...Kianda Vision Computer Center

This is a much delayed update, but back in February, my friend Freddy and I have registered the computer center project under the name "Kianda Vision Computer Center".  Now we've purchased a 10 x 10 space in Kibera slum and am currently remodeling the place into a neighborhood computer center that will offer computer class to youths so they can gain the skills that will be helpful for them to get jobs.

I can't really take much credit for this project at all because with all my crazy travel, Freddy has been taking care of most of the logistics.  However, I'm excited to report that with the business model we've put together, this center likely can be self-sustaining with the donation everyone has made covering the upfront fixed cost.  We're still a bit short on a few things, so if anyone is interested in providing more assistance, please let me know!

Here are a list of things we need:

• Old laptop, mouse, printers...etc. (I can collect these and bring back this summer)
• Software: MS office, anti-virus...etc.
• ...or you can click on the link to the right and donate some good old $$$, which can help contribute for our expansion and other necessary construction materials

Donation update: potential projects

So I've been searching for some good option for the money many of you donated over my 30th birthday!

Here are some options, please let me know what you think!  

Option 1: Building a computer center for one of the communities in Kibera: 

Many Kenyans lack the most basic computer skills, and having simple word processing training and getting a computer certificate could potentially give them job opportunities not previously available.  My friend in the slum has already identified people who are willing to donate computer and someone who is willing to provide computer training on a voluntary basis, but they do not have a location to host the computers and provide training.  The money we have now will be enough to purchase 3 rooms, and we need to source building materials to put the rooms together.  Thinking is that people can come and use the computers for a small fee (like a cyber cafe, which is not that prevalent in Kibera), and we will also provide training to help people access jobs.

Option 2: Providing working capital for Africa Institute for Health and Development's Trash2Treasure Program.
This is consortium of community-based self-help woman's groups in the Dandora slum (where all the trash goes to) who have partnered to clean the environment and turn reused trash in the form of plastic bags, newspapers and magazines into creative sell-able products. AIHD train low-income and hard-working individuals on skills that turn trash into usable goods including: plastic bags crocheted into waste baskets, school pencil pouches, clutch bags, floor mats, shopping bags and table top baskets and laundry bags. Magazines used for making beads as jewelry and for decorating the plastic products. Newspapers: used to make pencils..etc. They currently do not have any retail outlet or do any sort of marketing, so helping them find a sustainable route-to-market will be important to continue generating income for these women

Dandora Dumpsite

crocheted bags from recycled plastic bags

Option 3: Donating d.light Solar Lights and school supplies to Ex-Street Children in Eldoret.

Many of you probably read my post about the glue-kids in Eldoret.  A portion of your donation has already been donated to them.  This would be the easiest/fastest option, and would make a big impact.

The Glue Kids of Eldoret

For those who have made donations at my 30th birthday party, here's a first update of how I've spent a portion of that money, with Ex-Street Children Org. (ECCO):