August 2006
2006 MID YEAR REPORT
Mission: - To inspire indigenous African people to service and responsible living.
Vision: To see indigenous people committed to an increased sense of responsible citizenry.
Strategy:
- Mobilize young professionals to serve
- Educate village communities about responsible living
- Mentor children to Christian value, social responsible and educational excellence.
- Support entrepreneurship – encouraging small business enterprise.
2005-6 – introducing PA in Kenya
Goal - to pilot PA ideas and build relationships in Kenya
Efforts undertaken
- Build a core team of local professionals to champion the vision of PA in Kenya
- Approx. 100 young professionals (YPs) have indicated a strong passion in the vision of PA
- We have a leadership core of 12 and an active core of about 35
- At this point the 12 and the 35 wholeheartedly own the vision of PA
- Identified some from among the 12 to serve as start up board for PA Kenya, with 3 other advisory members.
- Registration of PA in Kenya.
- Still under progress for 3 reasons
- Need to have the local team embrace the vision before registering
- Requirement by government to have established offices before registration >cost effect
- The political scenario and corruption in the NGO council necessitated a reconsideration of what legal personality PA should take.
- Now we have resolved that we register PA as a society and we have two lawyers submitting our constitution for registration.
- We neither compromised the law nor stopped working because we partnered with legitimate organization where we were working.
- Establish a secretariat
- Limited resources could not allow us to sustain an office and personnel.
- Core team offered time to operations.
- Occasionally part time assistance. Charlie’s commitment.
- Office space, vehicle and support personnel a critical need.
- Identify and start relationship building in two villages
- Namawanga,machakha, matisi in western kenya– a conglomerate of villages> where we are building relationships.
- Dairy and poultry projects offering great platforms
- Partnering with local churches in sharing the love of Christ
- Role of short term missions with LOTI and Steadfast church.
- Introduced the solar lighting concept
- Revising our relationship with Rurii community in central Kenya.
- Mbeere community in north eastern kenya> working with a local clinic, women groups, boreholes restored.
- Maiden visit to Ahero community, exploring future relationships
- Start a children educational motivation program
- Overwhelmingly many doors are opening in schools. We are getting letters from many school heads asking us to work with their schools.
- 2 schools in Mbeere, 3 schools in the greater Namawanga area
- YPs do mentorship trips once every school term – in 3 months.
- Now developing a curriculum and starting jnr clubs for easy mentorship
- Explore the business agenda
- Business incubator
- Pa business initiatives
Lessons learned
- That PA can only serve its purpose if it is indigenous in vision and goals.
- That clear accountability must be created.
- Relationships between USA and Africa clearly defined.
- Need to transition from piloting to long-term goals.
- Relationships with village communities should be long-term & educative
- Short term mission trips must have defined long-goals & orientation
Challenges observed
- Limited financial, personnel and office resources.
- Weak financial accountability structure – resource development & reporting
- Little time on my part to invest in vision casting and hands on leadership.
- Overcoming expectations especially from the communities
- Slow and corrupt government processes
- Poor communication with USA partners and board
2007 planning guidelines
- Forming the legal personality & Setting up secretariat – ongoing and to be ready by April 2007
- 5-year strategic planning – on-going and to be ready by January 2007
- Strengthen role of local young professionals
- Expand on current initiatives including launching the business incubator
- Launch PA Kenya by year end.
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