2014 Summer Internship Foundation for Sustainable Development
in Kenya and Kima Integrated Community Initiative Program Launching
4K Programs in Rural Primary Schools Yolanda Qin Summer 2014
Slide 2
I helped develop a brochure for KICIP.
Slide 3
I helped launch 4K programs in two primary schools. This will
serve as my SI promising opportunity.
Slide 4
Beginning Stage Observations I spent much of the first few
weeks of my internship immersing myself in my host organization
KICIP and nearby community. I spent much time in the field and
office, interviewed many staff and community members, and conducted
needs assessments and asset mappings. Key Challenges: limited
education and skill; employment, income generation, and food
production; food security, access to health care and education
Significance of Agriculture: Community members from different
occupational backgrounds agreed that agriculture was the backbone
of Kenya. Almost every household invested in some degree of
agriculture, with many owning quite large gardens. Many struggled
with agricultural productivity and income generation due to
environmental conditions or lack of capital or resources. A common
lament was that agriculture was no longer a big part of education
even though the country depended so much on it.
Slide 5
Lack of education and skills Lack of employment Inability to
Generate Income Inability to pay school fees Food production issues
Accessibility to health care Inability to pay school fees Inability
to Generate Income Lack of employment Causes Effects Core Problem
Ultimate Vicious Cycle of Cause and Effect Issues
Slide 6
Specific Problem, Opportunity, and Everything in Between
Background: It is often difficult for families to pay their
childrens school fees beyond primary school so children are not
always able to receive sufficient education and skills. Core
Problem: The lack of education and skills limit individuals from
employment and income generation opportunities. Consequences: This
causes a host of other issues in food production, food security,
health and nutrition, accessibility to health care, and ability to
pay for education which starts the vicious cycle over again. Core
Opportunity: While children are in school, lets teach them
vocational/practical skills so if they cannot continue education or
find employment in the future, at least they will have valuable
skills and knowledge in agriculture and business in which they can
be self-employed and generate income. Moreover, both agriculture
and business play big roles in Kenya.
Slide 7
Finding the Best Solution Potential (but challenging)
solutions: 1)KICIP can offer skills and knowledge training to
community members e.g. through computer classes, organic
agriculture methods, sewing/embroidery lessons, etc. 1)Challenges:
Funding, Acquiring Trainers, Transportation for Community Members
2)Active KICIP community member volunteers can train community
members without skills and knowledge. 1)Challenges: Acquiring
Volunteers, Adequate Monitoring
Slide 8
Best Solution KICIP creates a skills/knowledge development
program for primary school pupils. (Considers previous challenges
and presents strengths. 1)Funding is more feasible for a specific,
smaller-scale objective 2)Non-profit staff have the skills and
expertise to lead the program i.e. do not need to invest in hiring
trainers 3)Transportation for participants is not an issue 1)Only
non-profit staff travel, one set location, staff go to the
participants 4)Monitoring is built into the program 5)It is most
effective to teach those who are already in school to learn. 6)Most
feasible with my internship considering work plan, seed grant, time
allowance, and language and cultural awareness
Slide 9
4K Agricultural Clubs Non-profit staff will help lead primary
school club Teach significance of agriculture and practical and
vocational skills Gain and share with others relevant skills and
knowledge Increased Employment and Income Generation Opportunities
Pupils, Families, Community Members KICIP Non-Profit Adequate staff
and pupil members Effective leadership and active membership Pupils
will use and share what they learn; adequate seed capital and
resources If Then Theory of Change
Slide 10
Assessment of Outcomes Regular monitoring and evaluation, by
non-profit staff and seed grant funder/project partner Foundation
for Sustainable Development Regular reporting by primary schools
Prime factors for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting Attendance
for membership Level and value of student participation Quality and
Yield of Demonstration Garden Amount of Income Generated Feedback
from Pupils, Families, and Community Members
Slide 11
How can you compellingly represent your innovation in text,
images, or other artifacts? Photos and Blog Post in next slides.
Separate documents attached on Sakai (either dropbox, or regular)
Contracts: I helped in the contract development process of this
project by meeting with stakeholders and helping to write the
contracts. Seed Grant Budget: I also used my Foundation for
Sustainable Development seed grant to help fund the starting
materials (vegetable seeds and notebooks) for the two schools.
Slide 12
Blog Post: One of the most fulfilling parts of my internship
was helping to start 4K programs in two schools. 4K stands for
'Kuungana Kufanya Kusaidia Kenya' - Coming Together and Working to
Help Develop Kenya. Because agriculture is the backbone of Kenya,
4K clubs strive to teach children to appreciate agriculture and to
utilize and share their knowledge and skills with others. It was
really exciting to participate in the development process and watch
the project blossom from the contract development stages into a
fully fledged club with registered members and sound regulations!
At KICIP we received much guidance from FSD throughout the
development process and we were also able to help provide the
starting project materials for both schools through FSDs intern
seed grant. One of my favorite memories was participating in the
first 4K club implementation activity at both schools seed
planting. I had a great time with the pupils, and I will never
forget how inspired I was by their commitment to the project and
their desire to learn and work hard. I sincerely hope that the
project will continue to grow at both schools and even expand to
other schools.
