2009

David W Mbatia- President

SWYAA Kenya

SWYAA Kenya Country Report

From the President’s Desk

The change in leadership in SWYAA Kenya in 2008 marked a year of many changes for SWYAA Kenya. In large part, the activities that were carried out in 2009 focussed on increasing the capacity for members to network internally; as well as building institutional relationships, specifically with the Ministry of Youth Affairs in Kenya and the Embassy of Japan through the Japan Information and Culture Centre. This strategy has been undertaken to also increase the level of member participation and include even Kenyan alumni who may now be living abroad. Many Kenyan alumni are involved in development work through Non Governmental Organizations where they work. This strategy looks to include their capacities and learning curve as SWYAA Kenya seeks to become more relevant to the Kenyan society.

Anthony Oluoch who had been the President of our association stepped down and appointed a committee with representation across our participating batches to oversee a transition as we looked towards legal registration of the AA. This happened midway through 2008. The registration process has been tedious but is nonetheless on track and with a positive outlook that the process can be completed by 2011.

Kenya was granted participation in the 22nd program of the Ship for World Youth (we last participated in the 18th program in 2006). However, because SWYAA Kenya is not involved in the selection our role in preparing the participants to facilitating in the orientation is limited. The selection and orientation were delayed which meant that the members were unable to fully participate in the orientation schedule as it was not planned well in advance. SWYAA Kenya was able to facilitate in securing a trainer for the National Presentation and three members (David –SWY 10, Christine-SWY 14, and Patrick Njuguna – SWY 18) were able to meet with the delegates during their first orientation meeting as well as during their training camp and send-off ceremony at the Ministry of Youth Headquarters in Nairobi. SWY 22 made history as the first delegation from Kenya that secured corporate sponsorship and also received significantly improved allowances from the Kenya Government.

At this time, SWYAA Kenya is exploring the possibility for partnerships and engagement with other alumni and organizations towards our overall strategy of networking. Although SWYAA Kenya has yet to come up with its own website, the development of online social networking sites and tools has been explored as a means by which we can create an online presence and enhance member-to-member interactions. We have been able to create online libraries of photographs as well as an exclusive Facebook Page for the Kenyan alumni which has so far yielded positive response from the members.

The committee appointed in June 2008 is also attempting to engage members through the development of long-term projects and empower the members by facilitating the sharing of ideas. In 2009, SWYAA Kenya also introduced a periodic newsletter that is sent regularly to update members on current affairs within the association and the wide network of Alumni Associations.

ACTIVITIES IN 2009

Jan ‘09: Preparation and submission of registration documents to the Registrar of Societies in

Kenya. The process of registration is still ongoing. The documents are currently with the Ministry of Youth Affairs since May 2009 but shall hopefully be released in March 2010.

Jan/Mar ‘09: Developed SWY orientation CD kit which was used in the preparation of SWY 22

delegation from Kenya. The kit includes a series of presentations detailing Kenya’s participation in the SWY program as well as the SWY official video. It includes video, audio and MS PowerPoint Presentations that are designed to enable selected participants gain a better understanding of the SWY program, SWYAA and post-program activities.

May ‘09: Organized a courtesy call to the Director of the Japan Information and Culture Centre, a

department of the Japanese Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Jul ‘09: Hosted Anja (SWY 12) and her partner Erwin in Nairobi during their brief stop-over during

their safari to East Africa. We were also fortunate to meet, for the first time as SWYAA Kenya, Yuki Morimoto (SWY 17) who is working at the Japanese Embassy.

Aug ‘09: Organized for the final activity of the Support Kenya Project. The activity involved purchasing and distributing relief supplies to communities of people who were victims of Kenya’s post-election violence in 2008. The activity was a carry-over activity from the activities that were undertaken in May and June 2008. The final activity also involved hosting friends from the SWYAA network from Japan, namely Yuko Mishiro (SWY 13) and her partner Gentaro Takahashi.

Aug ‘09: Organized a volunteer visit to Nyumbani Orphanage in Nairobi with visiting Ex-PY’s. While at the orphanage, we undertook volunteer activities through one of the Kenyan alumna who is an employee of the home.

Oct ’09/ Feb ‘10: Made introduction of the proposed Furoshiki Project to four community-based organizations based in Nairobi’s slums of Kawangware, Majengo, Kibera and Kabete. The project is currently in proposal with a positive outlook for implementation in 2010.

Nov/Dec ‘09 Facilitation in the orientation of SWY 22 delegates and liaised with Ministry of Youth to

develop corporate sponsorship package.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

1. Introduction of SWYAA Kenya Newsletter: This is an online publication sent via email to members informing them of current affairs within the global community of SWYAA as well as communications from the association’s leaderships. Members from the SWYAA Kenya network are able to receive updates communicated by the President and working committee with regard to projects and the status of on-going activities. Members are also encouraged to participate through feedback and to also engage the leadership by informing them of activities or events which they are taking part in that are of relevance to the AA. The mailing list currently covers membership across all Kenyan batches from SWY 4 to SWY 18 and reaches approximately fifty of the ninety-eight members of our alumni with a registered email address.

2. Introduction of SWYAA Kenya Members Facebook Page: This social media tool is specifically desired to

enhance member-to-member interaction and to keep those already using facebook well updated on the progress of the alumni.

PROJECTS IN 2010: YOUTH & THE ENVIRONMENT In 2010, SWYAA is adopting a theme of Youth and the Environment. In line with this, SWYAA Kenya will be seeking support for joint activities and self-sustainable projects that empower youth through economic activities which promote the theme of environmental conservation. The greatest challenges facing youth in Kenya revolve around unemployment and the lack of opportunities to engage in economically productive activities. Kenya, as a country, is also facing major environmental challenges that have resulted from environmental degradation. This theme is appropriate. Among the projects that we seek to support include:

1. Dung-Paper Project: A project which provides employment to street youth through the production of bio-degradable shopping bags made from recycled paper and elephant dung. This innovative project reduces the use of plastic bags; employs street youth; and conserves the environment by reducing the use of trees in production of new paper pulp. The paper bags are produced using natural materials and are bio-degradable which in turn reduces the carbon footprint of the organizations and companies that use them

2. Recycled Handicrafts Project: This project creates youth employment opportunities for HIV positive youth through the production and sale of handicrafts (figurines, busts and sculptures). The uniqueness of the handicrafts in question is that they are produced out of discarded waste materials including metal and fibreglass shavings collected from scrap metal dealers, polyurethane resins that are a by-product of recycled plastic; and waste from the production of prosthetics. The youth sell these products at the handicrafts market but have excess capacity and are looking for external markets.

ACTIVITIES IN 2010 January 2010: Participated in the farewell ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs for SWY 22

delegates. Met and introduced SWYAA Kenya to incoming country director of the Japan Information and Culture Centre, a section of the Japanese Embassy that deals with cultural affairs.

February 2010: SWYAA Kenya attended the Japanese Language Speech Contest held at the Strathmore University

Auditorium. The contest is an annual event that brings together a cross-section of Kenyan institutions; particularly institutions of higher learning. Amazingly, there are also children in elementary schools in Kenya who are also learning Japanese and they were invited to provide entertainment performances. This was the second year of the contest and it is organized by the Japanese Language Teachers Association of Kenya (JALTAK) in collaboration with the Japan Information and Culture Centre (JICC). The winners are awarded prizes sponsored by Japanese companies operating in Kenya.

March 2010: SWYAA Kenya and MEXT (Japanese government scholarship recipients) Alumni, in collaboration

with the Japanese Embassy (through the Japan Information and Culture Centre) made a presentation lecture about experience of living in Japan to Kenyan high school students living in Nairobi, Kenya. JICC also organized for presentations of Japanese Calligraphy and Origami.

April 2010: General meeting of SWYAA Kenya with the Embassy of Japan is scheduled for April 1st 2010.

OUTLOOK FOR 2010 The prospects for 2010 are outlined below:

1. SWYAA Kenya looks to welcome a new group of alumni members upon completion of the SWY 22 program. In collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, SWYAA Kenya has planned a debriefing meeting with the Japan Information and Culture Centre as means by which to ease the new alumni into a smooth transition into the AA.

2. SWYAA Kenya has developed proposals for the implementation of an empowerment project that looks to empower women and orphaned children living/affected by HIV/AIDS through the conversion of waste fabric into viable, hand-made products. We are also seeking support for self-sustaining projects that promote environmental conservation while empowering youth economically

3. SWYAA Kenya leadership is looking to consolidate relationships with the Embassy of Japan in Nairobi and to extend its collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs in Kenya. Hopefully, we should also be able to develop more relationships with organizations that can work towards promoting international student programs in Kenya.

4. One of our members, Allan Tollo (SWY 8) is looking to develop and host our first website. CONCLUSION At an individual level, members continue to engage in activities that promote international cooperation and mutual understanding. In 2009, four of our members participated in the Japan Information and Culture Centre’s open day. Joseph Owiti (SWY 17), Flora Kyondo (SWY 10), Patrick Njuguna and Paul Nyamueya (SWY 18) attended the open day and participated in the food and culture demonstrations. Raphael Odhiambo (SWY 14) has championed the cause of SWYAA Kenya in Mombasa; participating in the organization of medical camps that are targeted at highly disadvantaged communities in Kenya’s southern-most province. Many of our members are involved in community work through their various employments and are able to attribute their involvement in this type of work to their involvement in the SWY program.

A NOTE FROM THE NATIONAL LEADER- SWY22 KENYA: CAROLYNE ATIENO OKELLO

‘Going is seeing , seeing is knowing and knowing is learning’- This summarizes our collective experience as individuals and as a country after participating in the 22nd Ship for World Youth Programme. The programme broke some stereotypes and exposed youth to various backgrounds with a view to testing their critical thinking and tolerance capacity. It is indeed a challenging experience putting together young people from very different backgrounds (over 277 PYs), with the ultimate aim of building a new cultural understanding, identity and relationships from new perspectives. Much thanks to the Japanese Government for the invitation and all other participating nations for accepting to be in the programme hence providing opportunity for us to have a chance of seeing the world in other lenses other than ours. I acknowledge the good work done by the administration and the International Youth Exchange Organization (IYEO) headed by the chief administrator of the 22nd Ship for World Youth Programme, Mr. Aichiro Tanaka. Managing and facilitating a youth programme of this magnitude is not easy, it needs lots of motivation, courage and good personal will, sacrifice and drive- Arigato Gozaimas- Asante Sana. The team did a superb job. The Kenyan participants were selected from different provinces in Kenya. This therefore gave an opportunity for young people from different orientation and cultures, though in the same country, space to share about their contribution to national development and reflect how to dialogue and share internationally. Participating youth (PYs) selection was done by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through their local branches. Emphasis was placed on placing youth who belong to youth organizations and are actively involved in their communities into the program. This is an invaluable programme to the youth for they form the majority in most countries. Exposure to different cultures helps them learn and build tolerance that allows for collaboration- a major advancement in leadership development. As a leader, the experience highlighted;

Need to respect time and ensure that all people appreciate and respect this. That young leaders must learn how to negotiate with and demand for inclusion in decisions,

actions and consequences. That happiness is not having what you want; but it’s loving what you have.

More than ever, we must now resolve to treat the environment well for it was not given to us by our parents, but has been loaned to us by our children. Special thanks to all; Governments of The united Arab Emirates and India and Kenya, The staff of the Japan Information and Culture Centre in Kenya, all participating youth of the 22nd Ship for World Youth Program, Administration staff, National Leaders, Fuji Maru crew and SWYAA Kenya for allowing us to be part of the SWY family.

Kenyan Delegation to the 22nd Ship for World Youth Program

Participants in national costume

Departure briefing at Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with Director of Japan Information and Culture Centre