The fourth Study Visit of the Bocoto project took place from 16 to 26 December in Kenya, in Kisumu county.
The young participants and representatives of partner associations from Italy, India and Turkey were hosted by RHD (Resource Hub for Development), which is a national non-profit organization working with and for poor marginalized rural and peri-urban communities in Kenya. RHD acts as a center for resources, tools and competencies for sustainable community development, advocacy and capacity building, humanitarian services, cultural values and peace building.
RHD has 3 key pillars of interventions: Education, Healthcare and Nutrition and Sustainable community development initiatives.
During the Study Visit, the participants had the opportunity to visit and interact with local communities and their projects in the context of youth and women empowerment, community-based tourism in rural areas, sustainable technologies, poverty reduction.
The project team visited:
- Armstrong Women Empowerment Center, whose mission is to facilitates, capacity build and encourage women through sustainable development where everyone enjoys her rights (handcrafts, solar technologies, local food)
- Wise Kenya, located in the tourism center in Dunga Beach (Lake Victoria), where the organization work with women of underprivileged backgrounds in the rural and per-urban areas through locally driven and environment friendly enterprises hence sustainable families and communities (youth education and empowerment, eco-tourism activities)
- Impact Poultry Kenya, an organization that deals with farmers and end consumers of chicken to improve the health conditions of products related to the chicken market and to create a local market network
- Kisumu Slumsoccer kids in Manyatta Slums in Kondele, focused on talent naturing through soccer, Education, and Healthy Education (Lifeskill discussion) with the main objective of using soccer as a tool for education and general community development and empowerment. Their main target is young children and youths between age 8 to 17.
- Winam Green Venture, an organization located near Dunga beach that empowers women to implement socio-economic projects, such as organic farming and improved energy saving cook stoves.
- Kit Mikayi, a rock formation around 120 m high, tourist and religious place in the county of Kisumu, where the community preserves the sacredness of the place
During the Study Visit the team was also received by the Ag. County Chief Officer of Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Sports of County Government of Kisumu. During the meeting, the team were engaged in various discussions on how community based tourism can be employed as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, youth employment, social inclusion, well-being and poverty reduction.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.