THE FUTURE OF FAMILY FARMING IN NGURUMAN

Mr Saruni Duya’s eight-acre farm, near the village of Nguruman, in southern Kenya, produces mangoes, bananas, cucumbers,and also many different “Asian vegetables”, most of which are meant for the market. He farms the same land that his father farmed for many years,and his grandfather before him, but the few innovations which Mr Duya has introduced have brought about big changes. read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Beware the buffalo of Kenya’s Loita Hills

Zebras are not Kenya’s scariest animals. Smaller than the average horse, these docile beasts do little except munch grass and look stripy. But when four of them hurtle towards you Read More>>>>>>>>

NEW LOOK!

Nguruman Maarifa Centre has taken up a new look with the introduction of three laptops and modern office furniture that suits the needs of the users. The furniture brings an aesthetic appeal and above all is easy and friendly to the users. The introduction of the three laptops has seen the centre increasing the number of computers to five this has enabled the users to get maximum use of the computers and sharpen their ICT skills.
Inside the centre, one is welcomed with a modern book shelve which has a capacity of more than 5000 books. The centre is rich in resourceful books and weekly newspaper newspapers despite the poor communication access between Nguruman and Nairobi. The seating space is adequate, nice plastic chairs and a study table make the reading area complete.
The community members could not hide their joy and they had this to say:-

David Ntumuna “…Wow the centre looks so perfect I now feel proud to be associated with the Maarifa centre I admire the brown wooden shelves they look nice”

Naomi Tongei “I can now see a great improvement at the centre am happy that even my fellow girls are now streaming at the centre to get familiar with what goes on here”

Leonard Ndungu” …The laptops are very effective because they are not consuming a lot of power and that means I can use them from morning till evening, the books are quite resourceful kudos ALIN”

Neema John “I am happy that the centre looks like a cyber café in Nairobi, neat chairs and a lot of laptops this is excellent"

Julius Kasifu”….Let’s now lay down strategies that will see our community benefit from the centre, it now looks appealing and I am happy that the young users have started flocking the centre to learn more on ICT”

James Mathu...” We have achieved a great step, and its not time to relax lets roll our sleeve and finish the final lap by ensuring that the younger generation in Nguruman village becomes computer literate this will help in future"

Francis Mburu “The centre looks wonderful, I feel like spending the whole day here there is a learning atmosphere”

World Cup season in Nguruman.

If you ever thought you enjoyed world cup....then think again as for Nguruman Community, June, 2010 was a no ordinary month with the introduction of a 21 inch television donated by Arid Lands Information Network. World cup games came live and direct and the community had something to smile about.

AGRICULTURE FIELD DAY

Nguruman Maarifa Centre took centre stage during the 2010 Annual Agriculture Field day held at Entasopia Village in Nguruman, Magadi Division. The day which attracted various stake holders from within the District was embraced by the local community members who came in large numbers so as to acquire as much knowledge as they could.

The maarifa centre stand was filled with the latest ICT equipment that farmers and community members do use to access online information. Information and Communication Technology was greatly sensitized by Mr. Wandimi the area Division Officer who urged the community to embrace ICT since the world was changing and it’s only those who would accept this change that would lead a good and successful life.

More Technology for a local chief!

Mr. Elijah Sereu an area chief in Entasopia, a village that is among the top ten tech remotes village has dedicated all his efforts in a bid to become ICT enlightened, with the help of a Community Knowledge Centre, based in his village he has been able to grasp a lot in terms of ICTs. He first purchased a mini-laptop which according to him did not meet his technical needs appropriately. He has gone an extra mile of buying a high tech laptop worth 900$ US dollars which he calls “all under one roof” meaning he can do all that he has been dreaming to do from taking photographs, videos, editing them and sending to friends to watching live TV news bulletin on his laptop. He can also download movies, music and store in his laptop, the laptop also assist him take down notes during administrative meetings.Mr. Elijah does conduct trainings to other chiefs on climate change using the notes and presentation that he has stored in his laptop.

Above all Mr. Elijah says he is a no more bored and dull man since he started playing computer games, many are the times he absconds his duties so as to play this games which he fears he might become an addict. Nguruman Community Knowledge Centre is fully supporting the area chief in a bid to transform his life positively…….

A TV set pulls more users to a community centre

Nguruman Community members have something to smile about this coming season, when all people elsewhere will be glued to their TV screen watching the World cup it will be the same here. The top ten remotest tech village with access to internet has now added one more innovation that will ensure the village catches up with the latest news and happenings.

With the presence of a Community Knowledge Centre supported by Arid Lands Information Network the centre has equipped itself with a digital television set where users can catch a glimpse of the daily happenings and especially the world cup.

The community centre has been receiving enormous number of people since the TV set was installed, the most common users at the centre are school going children who after school cant wait to rush at the centre to watch cartoon programmes.