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“hi mama rungu we wish you and your family good time pls tell people in US thanks so much for school fees for children can now go to school parents so many contented and they say God bless them they are so kind pls God take good care of them”
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An e-mail from Marsabit, Kenya
January 2007
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Pictured left to right: John Lomurut, Kathleen Colson, Robert Lechipan and Jose Zaglul, President of EARTH University. |
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| SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS |
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| Examples of Support to Women's Groups includes: |
| Naapuno: A corn-grinding machine that is staffed by volunteers and one employee in Karare. |
Isgargara: located in the very remote village of Goob Nalle past the Kasuit Desert. Starting with an initial grant of 20,000 shillings in November of 2006, the women have doubled their money in a small shop selling items like tea and sugar. |
| Imani: An herb plant nursery and drying hut for medicinal herbs. |
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| Against a background of poor infrastructure and services for residents in Northern Kenya, community organizations have become pro-active voices for change and improved circumstances in rural communities. |
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| BOMA is also committed to working with women's groups by supporting their pursuit of economic independence, a first step toward empowering women to make the decisions that directly affect their lives and wellbeing, as well as the lives of their children. |
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FAMINE RELIEF BEADING PROJECT |
Christmas Ornament Project |
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| Making use of the cow and goat hides that resulted from the drought, BOMA gave small grants to the women’s groups of Log-Logo, Merrile, Karare and Kamboe to purchase beads and decorate cut-outs of cows, goats, warriors and camels that were sold as Christmas ornaments in the U.S. The income generated from this project will go back to the women’s group’s savings programs as well as be reinvested in bead purchases and training. This will be an ongoing project for The Boma Fund and we have now extended the program to additional villages. |
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AGENTS OF CHANGE PROGRAM:
A Partnership with EARTH University in Costa Rica |
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| The BOMA Fund Agents of Change Program recruits ambitious students from Northern Kenya to attend EARTH University in Costa Rica, a four-year intensive program committed to the education of science and engineering professionals with ethical and human values, an environmental and social consciousness, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to serve others. |
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BOMA currently has 2 students from Northern Kenya at EARTH and they will be joined by 2 more Northern Kenyan students in Jan 08. Graduates are expected to return to Kenya as influential and ethical leaders who can improve environmental, economic and social conditions in their communities. |
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| EMERGENCY SCHOOL FEES & ARREARS PROGRAM |
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Families in northern Kenya rely on the sale of livestock to pay their children’s school fees. Because of the drought’s devastating affect on the livestock, many families are no longer able to do so. The emergency funds BOMA distributed in November 2006 allowed over 220 secondary school students to return to school.
Our funds paid only a portion of the total fees and families were required to contribute the balance. Women’s group leaders, elders and Primary School Heads worked together to determine the neediest cases in each village with girls and orphans given first priority. In communities where everyone is poor, the process, though difficult, affirmed the leaders’ compassion and reflected the positive partnership BOMA has established with the villages and schools. |
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| Reinforcing BOMA’s primary mission of income as development, we are actively securing support for a number of students who have finished secondary school but can not receive their secondary school certificates until they pay their arrears. Most jobs require a secondary certificate. By paying arrears for the poorest and most able students, we can increase their opportunities for self-reliance, as well as their ability to pay for sibling’s school fees. |
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| COWS FOR KIDS |
| Cows for Kids is a livestock restocking program for the children of the nomadic communities of Karare Mountain. Founded by Joseph Lekuton, Cows for Kids is a program of The Boma Fund. Funds raised will go to the purchase of female calves, goats and camels for distribution to young children. |
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