Hakijamii.org

Site Guide: Home->Kenya->Exchange Visit

LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT AS GARISSA AND TANA RIVER COMMUNITY GROUPS FORM AN ADVOCACY NETWORK

In its continued commitment to work with and support emerging popular democratic grassroot organizations throughout the country, Hakijamii supported seven representatives from Muungano wa Wanavijiji, Kutoka Network, Nairobi Peoples Settlement Network, Soweto Peoples’ Settlement Forum, Kazi ya Chini and Miss. Koch (all based in Nairobi) for an exchange visit to Garissa. Garissa is one of the new areas where Hakijamii has identified as requiring urgent attention because of the historical marginalization that people from that area have been subjected to not only by successive governments but even civil society organizations. Because of its close geographic proximity to the Coast Province it was felt that it would make sense to bring together groups from both Garissa and Tana River. Following an initial training session it was revolved that an urgent exchange visit be organized to allow Nairobi groups to share experiences with their counterparts in Garissa. The exchange visit took place on the 17th July 2010. The main objectives were:

To bring together community groups from Garissa, Tana River and Nairobi to share experiences and information regarding successes and challenges in their daily struggles.
To provide community groups from Garissa, Tana and Nairobi to discuss and share aspects of group governance with each other
Provide a plat form for community groups from Garissa and Tana River to find ways of forming a network.
To identify common areas for future joint advocacy actions and campaigns.

At the end of the meeting that was attended by representatives of groups from Garissa and Tana River a network was formed an interim office was also inaugurated with Abdi Ali Abdi being elected the interim Chairman. The meeting was held at Madogo .The network identified the following as its key objectives:

To provide for platform for solidarity among different community groups
To foster unity and networking among community groups and other non governmental agencies
To coordinating development activities related within their communities.
To mobilize resources so as to advance the group’s objectives
To represent group members and community at large in local government and national government processes.
To provide emergency responses to disasters, catastrophe or any humanitarian crisis
To raise the level of human rights awareness and engage in lobbying and advocacy