A meeting was held by a group of the Humanist Movement Kenya Chapter – to be at the Sports Road Apartment in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya.

Those present included:

The meeting commenced at 2.45pm.

The issues that were discussed included:

1. Projects that are to be undertaken by the Humanist Movement, Nairobi.
2. Internet Presence and a way of communicating with the world on developments and the activities of the Humanist Movement in Kenya.
3. Registration of the Humanist Movement in Kenya.

1. Projects:

It was observed that in order to get off the ground and get the H.M started we need to organize ourselves into groups and start on projects that would benefit the community as well as restore the face of Humanity in the Society.

It was required that before we can start projects we need to have some things in place:

(i) It is required that we have the place / location that we shall implement the project.

This could be an Estate or a village depending on the area of residence for the H.M member in question.

(ii) Gather information on what the project is about i.e. what shall be done in the context of the project.

Gather information on what implements/ equipment that is required for the start and commencement of the project thereby decided.

3. Distribute information to people in the community.

   Let the people know what it is all about and let them get involved in it.

   Organize briefing sessions through meetings. This most appropriately weekly meetings.

   Weekly meeting are to be held in the neighborhoods or families.

4. Explain to people about participation in the projects in the weekly meetings.

   The people should be asked and encouraged to become members and pay the membership fees.

   This is the only way that the Humanist Movement shall be able to get commitment and through the funding be able to fund its activities while maintaining objectivity of purpose in its activities.

   Group works is to be encouraged among the members and the community as well.

   This is to enable Maximum Corporation and mutual benefit for all members of the society.

5. Prepare activities and gather information on areas of need on a weekly basis.

However this would be done as frequent as the meetings.

It was observed later that the meetings would be taken bi-monthly ( twice every month) due to other commitments that would hinder the presence of the members.

Information to be obtained would include:

• Name of the place or location.
• Approximate number of people living in the area.
• Approximate number of families that live in the area in question.
• Description of the place (demographics-family structures, tribes, and History of the place).
• Geographic location of the place i.e. on the map.
• Situation of amenities in the area. This would include schools, hospitals, play grounds, etc.
• The number of children in each of the families that live in the area.

Get the breakdowns by age: Nursery going, school going, working, etc.

• 0-6 years
• 7-14 years
• 15-18 years

Give the percentage of those attending school as compared to the total number that has reached school going age.

• Give the approximate number of street children in the area if any present.
• Indicate the number of orphans if any existing in the area.

Some of the projects that were suggested for the communities in Nairobi for a start included:

1. Offering free courses:

• This would call for good and proper knowledge of the area.

• Find the teachers that would undertake the training.

• Develop the methodology that would be used to get the process on. This would include where the training center would be located, what courses would be offered and when the courses would be offered.

• Determine the material required to get the training process started. This would include exercise books, textbooks and course work materials.

• Contact the parents and inform them on the process.

Get the number of children who will be available for the program.

• Get and / or create a schedule or a weekly timetable for the training sessions.
• Register for attendance.

1. Distant Adoption program:

Start sponsoring for primary school going children:

• How much they are required to pay yearly.
• The needs for the parents (books and uniforms)
• Get a connection to send the funds directly from Europe to the schools.
• E.g. open a bank account with a local bank that has a good connection worldwide.

Registration: Register the Humanist Movement as an organization with the registrar of companies.

Determine a way of sending and/ or exchanging information

E.g. through photo exchange either by post or via the Internet.

Determine the number of children that need to be adopted:

• The photo of the child and that of the family
• Get the names of the child, the family and relatives.
• Get the birth dates of the child.
• Get the parents names and occupations.
• Get information on the family background, the number of children and living conditions.

This would be developed with time to enable communication on the situation that we face here in Nairobi.

We would also use the Internet to provide information to the sponsors about our needs.

For example we would upload information of the children that need help for the foster parents to access.

This would assist us to help the local people find projects that they would contribute to and get some returns.

This would in the end improve the living standards of the people and encourage co-operation among the people.

Through these project it would also be possible to get some firms especially from Europe to help develop the initiative.

This would entice them to later get investment opportunities in Kenya and in the neighborhood.

These are project that would assist the youth especially to develop skills that they would use later in life to earn a living.

These would include carpentry, sculpture, and basketry e.g.

• Get someone to train the youth on the profession.
• Get the number of interested people.
• Get a location and venue for the training.
• Determine the requirements for the training process i.e. the tools required.

These include weaving and carving of product from reeds, and stones as well as wood respectively.

We would encourage and involve the community in practicing good and sound health practices.

These would include:

Informing on preventive measures to help prevent such diseases as typhoid, HIV/Aids, Malaria, etc.

This would be achieved through seminars, courses and vaccination in association with other bodies.

 This document records proceedings of the meeting and suggested solutions to problems that are at hand.

It was prepared by Lawrence Waithaka Of the humanist movement, Nairobi, Kenya.