Community Engagement Strategies

 

ACCES has grown into a holistic organization, implementing educational programs across a broader spectrum of needs at the community level. The phrase "Fostering social and economic development through education" is not just a sentiment, but rather an actual practice and function of our work. In order to accomplish these critical developments in a sustainable way, the following six key programs are currently in operation in Kenya:

1. Basic Education: In addition to expanded grades 1-8 classes for 1,400 vulnerable and marginalized youth, ACCES Community Learning Centres also provide basic literacy, numeracy, language and life-skills classes for over 250 women, men and seniors, accommodating their work and farming schedules (during evenings & weekends). The curriculum being used has been developed in collaboration with Kenya’s Department of Adult Education.

2. Health and HIV/AIDS Education: Health and HIV/AIDS education is disseminated through classroom presentations, community outreach activities, peer educator groups, teacher training workshops, essay/poster contests, and target-appropriate handouts. A nurse also regularly visits each centre for consultation, referral, and education. In addition, girls and women’s clubs have developed local “community champions” who are working from within the community itself to promote the messages and sensitize the harder to reach members.

3. Gender Sensitization and Women’s Empowerment: Community awareness regarding the rights, and role of women in development, and in particular the value of educating girls is raised through sensitization workshops, inter-generational mentoring groups, training workshops for teachers, staff and committee members, appropriate handouts, and essay contests. This material is also integrated into the school curriculum for both youth and adults.

4. Income Generation: Four-day business start-up workshops (linking to local Micro Finance Institution partners already working with previous clients) for micro-credit loans and ongoing support and business development workshops help generate increased income through group and individual business ventures. Training includes guidance on choosing a business service, product, or group of products, avoiding market saturation and decreasing environmental impact, all of which are criteria for evaluating loan applications.

5. Agriculture/vocation training: This intense and diverse range of training is directly linked to Income Generation, incorporating appropriate seasonal training on sustainable food and cash crop agriculture techniques. By utilizing organic/natural farming and gardening methods, indigenous crops and renewable energy sources for production, local food production, nutrition and incomes will increase. Partnerships with Kew Botanical Garden of the UK through the Nairobi GeneBank, Kenya and the Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (KARI) provides the seed stocks and all training. The establishment of high value alternative and emerging crops such as herbs, medicinal plants, and essential oils such as Camphour Basil and tissue culture banana are being incorporated.

6. Capacity Building, Project Management and Evaluation: Local project staff are trained to ensure effective implementation. Teachers receive ongoing training in adult education teaching methodologies. Members of the Centre Management Committees (CMCs) receive initial and ongoing training for their planning and oversight roles.

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