Mutomo Maarifa centre was established in August 2007 to serve the local communities with various services including local content generation and dissemination, free Internet access, computer skills training, access to development publications and other outreach activities to ensure communities get appropriate information resources. During a focal group meeting held on 22nd February 2011, the members noted the following milestones:
- August 2007, Mutomo Maarifa Centre was established by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) in collaboration with
Mutomo Mission Hospital - In the year 2008, an Information empowerment and networking workshop was held involving 47 participants drawn from youth peer educator group, CBOs, NGOs, teachers, local administration and government officers.
- An Open day and Launch of the Maarifa centre was held and a notice-board erected at the bus stage as a public information dissemination point.
- The Centre has hosted many visitors key among them Oxfam Novib representatives, the local Member of Parliament, Hon.Isaac Muoki, Government representatives and the community.
- Mutomo Maarifa Centre hosted a film making workshop in 2009 organised by ALIN in collaboration with Community Based Conservation Films (CBCF) and Leicester University (UK) that resulted in FOUR documentaries focusing on Climate Change and food resources.
- The Centre published 1st edition of a local Newsletter -The Farmer featuring local news and Agricultural innovations by Mutomo communities.
- In 2009, the centre facilitated village awareness meetings on climate change in the project Knowledge sharing for climate change adaptation supported by DANIDA. The project also supported installation of the containerized centre and additional equipments like Ipods.
- Members participated in 2 gender workshops at Kima and Nakuru
- Mutomo Maarifa Centre’s Focal Group Chairlady, Flora Nzambuli participated in an International Agknowledge ShareFair in
Addis Ababa ,Ethiopia and also at a Bishop’s workshop inUganda - The centre participated in civic education in 2007(Voices of the Arid Lands -Mobile reporting) which was captured by Media focus in
Africa and can be viewed at http://mfoa.africanews.com/site/page/mobile_report - Documentaries on termite control, tree soap, water harvesting were generated in 2010.
- In 2008, a VSAT was installed by Michigan University (USA) enhancing speedy Internet access.
- An MPESA (mobile phone money transfer service )is in place and operational. This was started as a sustainability concept.
- 3 Community Information Volunteers and 2 Community Knowledge Facilitators were hosted at the Maarifa Centre. These were Catherine Mutune, Andrew Muendo, Jeremiah Binyenya, Robert Munyau and John Mwanthi.
- Many articles have been generated and published through ALIN channels which include; Baobab, Joto Afrika, and ALIN website (www.alin.net) and OKN portal.
- Mutomo Maarifa Centre’s blog is in operation http://mutomomaarifa.blogspot.com/
- The centre organized for a Mutomo town clean up exercise which was held on 24/11/ 2009 and over 800 community members participated.
- Canadian Baptism Ministries visited Flora Nzambuli’s farm to tour earth dams in relation to climate change adaptation strategy in 2010.
- Mutomo Maarifa Centre organized a Tree planting Day at
Kandae Primary school
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