DESECE - development education services for community empowerment - works since 1993 in Western Kenya in the areas of peace building, human rights, civic education, gender, health, organic agriculture and environment and ecology. We want to thank you for visiting us "on the air" and would like to take you with us on a journey through our last year in pictures:
DESECE had a great honour to Welcome Mr. Benno Steffen, Mrs. Stellamaris Mulaeh & Mr. Kimani Kinyanjui who are our partners in Agro-ecology programme. The programme targets solidarity groups and it is to enable the solidarity groups and community acquire food security, healthier diets and peace among members in the target areas.
Agro-ecology group receive materials
Agro-ecology partners visit groups
Agro-ecolgy partners meet working groups in the field
DESECE had the pleasure to welcome Mr. Vitalis Akora and Madam Florence Anyango evaluators send by Horizont3000 to carry out an external evaluation on Policy Dialogue at DESECE Organization.
Madam Florence Anyango evaluating DESECE staff
Group photo of Mr. Akora evaluator with DESECE beneficiaries at Matunda Chief's office
DESECE Organization had the pleasure to receive partners all the way from Salzburg Diocese -Austria.
Our visitors Mag. Franz Hainzl, Mr. Heindl Wolfgang & Board members
Our visitors being explained on compost making
Our visitors meet our beneficiaries in the field.
DESECE had the pleasure to welcome Mrs. Caroline Karimi Lintari – Consultant of BrentWellis & Associates send by Horizont3000 Kampala to carry out an external evaluation - in DESECE Organization, Mukuyuni for 2 weeks. During her two weeks she visited beneficiaries from different communities who have benefited from DESECE activities. Furthermore, she held a 2 day workshop in the Conference hall of DESECE to develop a proposal for fundraising of the next two years. We would like to pass our gratitude to Madam Carol for having evaluated our work both at DESECE centre and in the field with our beneficiaries.
Madam Carol in Chebukaka with the Kichwe CBO members.
Maliki group rearing poultry from their homes.
Value addition of soya beans from one of the group members in Ndengelwa group.
Banana plantation project for Ngwelo group members.
Madam Carol with DESECE beneficiaries from Sikhendu location, some of the members being government leaders such as the Chiefs and the sub-chiefs.
Group members of Mt Elgon community at DESECE for the Evaluation with Madam Carol
DESECE held its annual Peace Tournament in Mitua Primary- Tongaren Sub-county. We would like to thank DESECE Director Madam Sophie Kibuywa for organizing the event, also our sincere gratitudes goes to our Chief Mr.John Juma Okring for hosting the event in his sub-county and all the participants in the various events: dancing competition, volleyball, sack-race, hundred-meter race and football. Lastly, we want to thank our Donors and all the visitors for all their support to make the peace tournament a success.
100 meter-race for the men
Sack-race for the ladies
Children and the elderly dancing
DESECE director madam Sophie awarding a trophy to the winning team.
Tag of war for the ladies
Barbara Messner awarding the coach a trophy
We are very grateful that more and more institutions, organisations and companies are visiting us and support us in our aim to become self-sufficient from international donors in future.
In the middle of February DESECE had the honour of welcoming Mrs. Ulrike Bey from Horizont3000, a developing agency based in Austria. Horizont3000 is a donor of DESECE and has been working closely together with DESECE in the last 10 years in which a lot of goals in different social fields could be achieved. In the beginning Mrs. Bey was taken around at the DESECE centre and had the opportunity to share with DESECE staff on current project interventions. Ulrike Bey, on her side, presented the future project guidelines and focus of Horizont3000 for the upcoming 2 years of co-operation. Mrs Bey got also the chance to meet the board of DESECE while her staying in Kenya and share information and discuss with the board members future projects and guidelines. Finally Mrs. Bey was taken to a group visitation to Kuywa where she got the opportunity to talk to farmer groups, who are one of the beneficiaries of DESECE. Accompanied by a field officer of DESECE Mrs. Bey got an impression of farmers and their family daily work, achievements and also challenges in different areas of life.
Mrs. Ulrike Bey shown around the model farm
Mrs. Ulrike Bey sharing information with DESECE staff
Picture with DESECE Board and Staff members
Field Visit at Kuywa in Bungoma Central
On invitation of the Lions Club Kitale District Governor Ann Chubi visited Kitale and in the afternoon she was taken to the DESECE offices. The Govenor Ann Chubi was warmly welcomed by a local Londo women group, showing a procession dance to the dining hall, also children choir were performing some songs and poems before Governor Ann Chubi was introduced in all the activities of the multi-purpose center. After lunch the event took place in the conference hall of DESECE, where the local community was welcomed by the president of the Lions Club Kitale Madame Eunice Bosibori and could listen to speeches of the Governor, representatives of the parents and also the librarians Mr. Kituyi and Mr. Godfrey. In conclusion the Lions Club Kitale donated books for the library based at the DESECE compound and Governor Ann Chubi planted the tree in the garden of DESECE.
Lions Club International District Governor welcomed by local dancing group
Children performing poems & songs to Lion members of Kitale
Beneficiaries of Lions Library welcomed the Governor with performing songs
Book donation to library children by Lions Club Kitale handed over by the District Governor
Governor signing visitors book at DESECE office
District Governor planting a tree at DESECE compound
Andersen farm, growing and exporting thousands of roses to Europe, is located at the bottom of Mount Elgon. Beside this core business, they have integrated activities in different social areas to higher the living standard of their employees but also other people living in the surroundings: Andersen offers housing for their workers at reasonable prices, guarantee school service and professional education for the children of their workforce but also installed a modern medical care centre. This has been a big social benefit for employees of Andersen Farm but also for people living in the close by area.
The centre is managed in a very professional way in terms of utilization of resources and DESECE staff learned that for steadily development a good plan behind and realistic and achievable goals are the main requirements. Not to forget about ingredients like good relationship with neighbours, workers and managers.
Mr. Bob explains to staff how fertilizer irrigation mixer machine works
Beautiful flowers from Andersen farm Mount Elgon
Dear Hannes, we express our gratitude for time well spent together as a family. We appreciate your contribution to bring this organization to where it is. Your invaluable contribution will remain our land mark forever. We wished to stay with you longer but the demand for your service to humanity is overwhelming. What we are only left with is to say fare well to you and God bless you in your future endeavors.
A band of musicians was playing for Hannes
The cook Benedict made a special cake for Hannes
Gifts are handed over to Hannes Eder
The community library situated at DESECE serves community children in the area of Mukuyuni. At this special day the Lions Club members of Kitale were visiting the library and donated books for reading and snacks for children. At the end a group picture together with the happy children was taken.
Children of the community are happy about the visit of Lions Club Kitale
Emmanuel Kizito, the Program Officer of DESECE and Catherine Nyongesa, the Assistant of the Human Rights Officer went to Kampala in Uganda to attend a training and sharing event in capacity development and policy dialogue. The three days in Uganda were very intensive but gave the DESECE members a sound background in the mentioned subjects above, beside this there was enough time to share experience with and learn from others participants.
Participants of the consortia Policy Dialogue in Kampala, Uganda
Two DESECE staff members Mr. Isaac Wambulwa and Elizabeth Wafula visited St. Joseph's Kitgum Hospital in Uganda to learn more about the use of ecosan toilets. They were introduced to all the facilities for the hospital’s solid waste disposal, waste water treatment plant and included the bio-hazard medical wastes maintenance units (incinerator, placenta pit and the medical pit). Thereafter they were able to train the entire staff of DESECE on human waste management.
Composting toilets with superficial chamber and wheelbarrows
Mr. Isaac Wambulwa and Mrs. Elizabeth Wafula posing for a picture in the hospital compound
Team inspects the manhole that connects toilet to sewer lines
Aktion Regen - an Austrian Organisation which developed a new approach for sexual and reproductive health visited us in March again for a training for rainworkers. Margaret Bachlechner, a Kenyan/Austrian citizen was the main trainer assisted By Joan Khamala & Francis Mukoya. The programme is to inform girls, boys, women and men about their body, menstruation cycle, fertility awareness, family planning, safe motherhood, contraceptives and HIV/Aids prevention to enable them take their lives in their own hands and assure a healthy family.
T-Shirt of rainworkers
The "rainworkers" pose for a picture after a consultative meeting with their trainers
Dear Christine Baur and Matthias Danninger - and at home in Austria - dear Ursula Scheiber, Fritz Staudigl, Wolfgang Heindl and Franz Hainzl!
After enjoying your company for the last days it is time for us to say thank you: Your assistance - from the Tyrolean Government, Brother & Sister in Need and the Aktion "SEI SO FREI" from Austria - enables DESECE to build a guesthouse with 18 rooms and 36 beds. Since 3 years we are dreaming of this building to become self-sustainable, and your confidence, efforts and generosity made it possible. This was the step which we couldn't await and we cannot tell you how happy you made us. Travel safely for the next weeks and kindly come back soon - that you can enjoy what you have created.
God bless you!
The Holy Mass in the morning
Madam Sophie & Christine at the foundation stone laying ceremony
Matthias & Christine planting a Moringa tree
Welcome Dr. Christine Baur, Minister for Children, Youth, Women and Refugees of the Provincial Government of Tyrol!
Construction of the foundation
Laying of foundation stone in the centre of the guesthouse
Steel works for the foundation
Traditional dancers from Western Kenya
Group picture from the study group - with Christine and Matthias
Thank you Sebastian Müller for the beautiful pictures!