COUNTRY PROFILE:

The Kenyan population stands at 30 million persons after the 1999 National Census with an annual growth rate of 1.89%.
With and approximate land cover of 525 square ft.
Kenya is bordered by 5 countries Tanzania on the south, Uganda on the west, Sudan in the northwest, Ethiopia on the north and Somalia on the northeast.
Kenya boasts of mountains; Mount. Kenya and Mount. Elgon
Kenya shares the largest water lakes with its neighbors Uganda and Tanzania.
Tourism currently is the leading Kenyan foreign exchange earner after overtaking Agriculture, which used to be the economic main stay of Kenya sometimes back.
Scrambling for scarce natural resources is the order of the day in Kenya as reports about communities fighting for water and grazing land is a common scenario.
Human activities have destroyed forests with impunity leading the ugly incidents such as forceful eviction by government leading to further loss of lives, properties and food.{The issue sometimes becomes controversial as leading human right activists put the government in to task over the eviction procedures.
Its evident that the levels of water in some of permanent rivers have fallen drastically leading to soil erosion as farmers create artificial tributaries along the river banks.
Kakamega forest used to cover 32,000 square kilometers but with human activities currently it is reduced to 23,000 square kilometers.
It is the only remaining rain forest in Kenya
HIV/AIDS was declared a national disaster, which has become a serious public health challenge on development with increasingly severe negative social-economical impact.
Three year ago an estimated 700 people were losing their lives daily to HIV/AIDS related cases. Since 1984 I million Kenyans have succumbed to this pandemic leaving behind approximately I million orphans. In 1998 alone, nearly 200,000 new HIV infections occurred in the country.
At the end of 1999, 14% of the adult population in Kenya was estimated to be living with the virus (200,000) youth adults aged 15 to 45 years died)
The total number of people infected is higher in rural areas where 50% of the population lives. 200,000 adult/youths aged between 15-45 died. Fact- 80% of the Kenya population lives on potential agricultural land, although prevalence is higher in urban areas i.e. 17% urban 13% rural.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 730,000 children have lost either one or both parents to this pandemic at the age of 14 years or younger. This devastation on households results in 49-78% loss in income.
HIV/AIDS pandemic has not only continued to claim human life in thousand but has also constrained government efforts of providing services such as social amenities. The effects HIV/AIDS burden has been highly manifested at the household level especially among the majority of Kenyans earning less than a dollar a day. Most of these people would therefore seek medical treatment from government hospitals due to subsidized cost compared to private hospitals.
In the last 20 years since the first case was reported in Kenya, mojor hospitals have witness an upsurge of disease prevalence to current 1.1 million infected adult pushing the {Kenyatta National Hospital to abdicate it’s original role as a referral and teaching hospital due to increased number of patients that now contributes to 300% bed occupancy compared to 15% 20 years ago.
A case in point, realizing the increased socio-economic burden associated with HIV/AIDS such as stigmation, suicides and increased number of AIDS orphans spurred the idea of setting up patient care center at KNH.In the year 2002 Kenyatta National Hospital in collaboration and with the support from developmental partners such as Center for Disease Control {CDC}, USAID, the Kenya government among others established a Comprehensive Care Center {CCC}. The center was to provide a fall back for referral patients who are HIV positive by providing social and medical support. Other set out objectives were: -providing quality-counseling services for the infected patients and others seeking VCT services.-Creating network with organization intending or providing HIV/AIDS care and tests for exchange of ideas and facilities.-Participate in health education,sensitazation and awareness programs for prevention and care of mentally health patients.
CCC is among the many successful endeavors that are in place to encourage HIV positive patients live positive and enable many Kenyans with meager resources access ART services.
The center has provided an opportunity for comprehensive care for HIV/AIDS to be offered “under one roof”. That means patients who are diagnosed HIV positive and did not require admission would be treated for other opportunistic infections and follow-up clinic services. The environment has also provided means where HIV positive patients would meet and encourage each other on how to cope with the challenges associated with HIV infection.

With the completion of the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS. In 1999 Kenya hopes to reduce its prevalence rate from 20% to 30% by the year 2005.
2005, significant change is already in record. Currently with the introduction of antiretroviral drugs and the awareness campaigns, the number of deaths has almost been halved (i.e. from 700 to 300 deaths daily). Still much has to done in order to change people’s attitude.

PROJECT LOCATION

Kakamega Environmental Educational Program {K.E.E.P} is situated a long Shinyalu router on a rough road terrain approximately 4 km from Shinyalu Trading center. The locality of the project is strategically in the highlands of western region with an annual rainfall of over 2000mm,thanks to the only remaining rain forest in Kenya. Specifically K.E.E.P is located in the forest after a ride of bicycle normally referred to us BODA BODA transport from Shinyalu town. It is approximately 7 hours journey from Nairobi city to Kakamega town
by public transport {bus}-after alighting at Kakamega one boards a matatu-small bus and drives through a rough road for 20 minutes to Shinyalu market centre.

BRIEF HISTORY

K.E.E.P was formed in 1995 after initiative from Forest guards who had the knowledge of botanical establishment of plant species within the forest. The forest guards explained the plant species to tourists who visited Kakamega forest. Inspired by the unique knowledge possessed by the guards a group of tourists supported the initiative by donating small funds to start the group.

Kakamega forest is the only remain rain forest in Kenya and it is the eastern-most remnant of the great GUINEO-Congolian forest {famous for gorilla trekking} which stretches across central Africa. Due to its isolation from similar forest types the Kakamega forest is the home to many unique and rare animal and plants species. Some of these are rare and threatened while others, this is the only place in Kenya where there are found.

However due to the high human population negative pressures on the forest are numerous. These include illegal logging, chacoal -burning, cattle grazing, harvest of medicinal plants and general clearing of the forest for agriculture. Seeing the importance of Kakamega forest and its rapid destruction K.E.E.P was established.


LANGUAGE IN THE PROJECT/ RELIGION

Luhya is the second largest tribe in Kenya and is composed of several sub-tribes to form the larger ethnic tribe. Kenya is made up of 42 recognised tribes. The sub-tribe of Luhya found in this area is the ISUKA sub-tribe even. Majority of the community members speak their local language. The project staffs communicate well in English. The language is KILUHYA with general greeting, as MUREMBE MUNO will be greatly appreciated by the community members. This will help in integration.


PRESENT STATUS OF PROJECT {ACTIVITIES}

K.E.E.P has various activities, which will ever keep the volunteers busy through out their stay. The activities are very interesting as they range from public domain to manual activities

Programmes

Children’s Environmental Lessons-Each Saturday children who live around the forest join the resource center for educational activities which include
· Lessons on forest ecology
· Nature walk in the forest
· Viewing educational videos
· Giving lessons at schools.

ADULT EDUCATION {PUBLIC GALLARY}

Locals are taught sustainable methods of income generation and utilizing the forest so that unsustainable income generation practices that harm the forest will be replaced.

Such activities consists of:
Butterfly Farming
Ecotourism
Energy Efficient Technology {EEF}
Honey production.
Ocimun Propagation
Zero grazing
Snake Farming.

NURSERY

A botanical nursery specialized on indigenous trees of Kakamega forest is maintained. Seedling are sold to the community members or used by K.E.E.P in reforestation projects. Effective conservation must be a local, national and worldwide endeavor.

ADOPT A TREE

As part of nursery activity a commemorative arboretum is maintained where individuals may purchase a tree and plant it in the arboretum. A sign will be constructed with your name or a dedication. The tree will be maintained by the K.E.E.P volunteers and with update progress information on its growth/development.

HEALTH AWARENESS
The community members and K.E.E.P volunteers are educated on HIV/AIDS.HIV/AIDS threaten to tear the social fabric of our society where update information has to be maintain in order to keep a health and active environmental conservatives.K.E.E.P has fifteen youth clubs which meets on monthly basis for group discussions.

TOURIST LODGES CONSTRUCTION
As part of Income Generating activity K.E.E.P is on the process of constructing cheap African huts to accommodate tourist who visits the Kakamega forest. The fee charged is reasonable and will be used to sustain K.E.E.P activities. Many tourist both local and International visit the forest annual and often miss accommodation within the site where they have to go back to Kakamega town for accommodation. Such potential has to be explored and this is the reason for TOURIST LODGE CONSTRUCTION project funded by UNDP small grants programme.

HISTORY OF THE BUTTERFLY FARM.

The butterfly farm was constructed in April 2001 with the kind donation from the American Embassy {Ambassador’s self-help Fund} and UNDP- small Grants programme through Nature Kenya.

Before the construction five member of K.E.E.P had received specialized training in butterfly breeding and management at Kipepeo Farm coast and attached to Africa Butterfly Research Institute, Nairobi.

Soon after construction the zealous members embarked on the trial breeding with a lot of success. At this moment, the farm acts as a demonstration tool for K.E.E.P members. From such a humble beginning, the farm has developed onto a beehive of activities with local farmers and other visitors eager to grasp something at the farm. Seven community based groups received full training and three have embarked on trial breeding trial too.K.E.E.P is optimistic that the farm will transform into an income generating project for the local communities thereby creating employment.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE FARM.

Visitors and volunteers are free to join in any activities carried out in the farm with the supervision of the butterfly team. The activities include:
Field trapping of adult butterflyies using sweeps and trap nets.
Collection of eggs within the flying house.
Feeding young caterpillars in the breeding house
Routine clean-ups in both the flying and breeding houses and the surrounding compound.
Care for pupae and pupating larvae
Pinning
……..and many more exciting activities that crop up on daily basis.

MISSION STATEMENT
“We aspire to educate about Kkamega’s fragile forest ecosystem, so that people are interested in and concerned with its preservation. Thus, ensuring that our forest will be cherished as a healthy, unique and diverse ecosystem for and by future generations.
The community involvement is critical to conservation efforts. Therefore is actively encouraged such participation through demonstration and educational lectures in surrounding villages.”

AREA OF CONCERN (SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE)
Volunteers with skills/knowledge or experience in Environmental circles are required to inject new ideas or/help develop and nurture project initiative towards conserving and protecting the forest from any detrimental facts.

The project need volunteers interested in biodiversity and knowledge /skill on environmental issues, to work alongside K.E.E.P volunteers on various activities. The project is all about “Give and Take scenario” where volunteers can also benefit from the various activities offered by K.E.E.P.

PROJECT COVERS
Family stay with volunteers hosted in private room within the parameters of the project.
Food
Transport to and from the project
No electricity
Tap water natural water from the forest.

PROJECT DOES NOT COVER

Insurance cover
Pocket money
Recreation

WHAT TO BRING

Mosquito net
Sleeping Bag
Learning materials, like reading text, pens, pencils
Toys and pictures for the children
Photo album
Any kind of assistance to support the women group
A big smile! A happy and positive attitude
Heavy cloths as the place is very cold and almost rain daily because of the forest.
Any materials, videotapes, script about environmental conservation activities. This will help in educational purposes.

DO’S AND DON’TS OF VOLUNTEERING

Do and try learning some basic Luhya. Even greeting will be high appreciated.
Do show an active interest in learning about community life, and be open-minded so that you don’t fall into guilty trap of cultural shock. {Cultural difference}
Do and try to be yourself despite the difference you may have with the community members e.g. going to church etc.
Do keep promises e.g. visiting someone’s home o family they will be waiting for you and may get disappointed if you fail them.
Do not make it difficult for future volunteers by giving out a lot of gifts or money. This is not the role of volunteers and we don’t want the community to rely or depend and perceive volunteers in this negative way. Always be selective and give to close friends.
Do not indulge in any illegal activity {drug addition etc} that is against the laws of Kenya.
Do uphold the principles of volunteerism as stipulated by KVDA and guidelines from community members.
Do live in accordance with the Laws of Kenya and the rules and regulations of KVDA.
Do work alongside the local community members/project staffs /institution in the spirit of complementation and co-operation.

Other important facts.

Internet services are available in Kakamega town 20-25 minutes drive from Shinyalu market center.
From K.E.E.P transport is BODA BODA bicycle to Shinyalu market.
Within the project there is a health facility for minor ailment.
Incase of complicated medical cases the nearest largest hospital in Kakamega town, which also hosts numerous private clinics.
There other hospitals are in Kisumu city, which is 45 minutes drive from Kakamega.
Shopping possibilities/varieties are in Kakamega town.
The Kakamega forest receives a hand full of tourist and sometimes chances are community members to mistaken volunteers with tourist -be on the watch out!!
Community members are very friendly and it is noticeable through friendly gestures from smiles, greetings etc.
The project is using solar system to run its computer operation.
Cultural difference plays are very important role during integration process. Expect community members to be asking for money. This is because of the negative perception about west. Please be open -minded as it will be a challenge because of the site is all about volunteer’s viz tourist scenario.

K.E.E.P is a Community Based Organization that is entirely run by volunteers and is only possible with the generous support of interested individuals/groups.

“KVDA welcomes you to come and witness the circumstances that dictate the current global systems and in a little way help foster real change in the lives of fellow human beings with humility, compassion and utter determination to enhance social justice.”

Please send us you comments and enquires.

Email:      [email protected]
P.O. Box: 48902-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
Fax:        +254 20 225379
Address:   Kampus towers, 1^st Floor, University Way.
Phone:     +254 020 225379.