By Felistar Mpanei
The Arid
Lands Information Network (ALIN) on February 12th and 13th, 2015 trained four (4) members of Yiaku Laikipiak Trust (YLT) on blogging and basic journalism skills. The training
which took place in Nanyuki, Laikipia East is set to spur knowledge sharing as YLT
will now be able to document and disseminate their project activities.
The training was conducted to
complement an earlier training for United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP) grantees from
Laikipia County.
The CBO was also trained on news
writing, creative writing, feature writing, photography, interviewing and media
law and ethics. This is one of the additional ways that is being used in aiding
knowledge sharing amongst the grantees.
This is expected to not only enhance
their online visibility but also help in closing knowledge gaps, improving
accessibility of indigenous knowledge as well as ensuring that communities are
better informed about Sustainable Land Management (SLM).
Hon. Jennifer Koinante, Executive
Director, YLT and also a nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA)
in Laikipia County, noted that the training will enable the organization share
knowledge emanating from their work for a wider dissemination.
“I am glad that ALIN decided to train
some members of Yiaku Laikipiak Trust on blogging. This is a great opportunity
for us as we will now be able to share our project activities with our partners
and the general public,” said Hon. Koinante.
Risper Raisan, 21, a student at Kenya
Institute of Management (KIM) noted that the training has enabled her to
acquire valuable knowledge in blogging which she is eager to share with her
friends. She has already created her own blog called Empowering Maasai Girls.
“I have managed to create my own blog called Empowering Maasai Girls. I will be using the blog to fight against cultural
practices like Female Genital Mutilation. The training has given me a
perspective on how I can enlighten my fellow girls on such practices,” said
Raisan.
She has been passionate about the
fight against FGM and she has been attending various seminars organized by YLT
on FGM. She has already started training other girls about blogging so that
they can share information about some of the challenges faced by girls from
pastoral communities.
On his part, Rodgers Muchina, an avid
motorsport enthusiast has already created a blog called Rmuchina Motorsport for his soon to be established business. He intends to use
the online community to promote his business as well as blog about motorsport.
YLT
is an organization that is primarily geared towards uplifting the welfare of
Yiaku people, a forest dwelling ethnic minority of Mukogondo Forest, Laikipia
North. The CBO has been supported by
UNDP GEF SGP in helping communities adapt Sustainable Land Management (SLM) as a
means of securing improved livelihoods which will in turn ease pressure on
Mukogondo Forest.
