Many parts of Kilifi project are currently in the planning stages, and therefore there are many opportunities besides donating in which to help. This is an excellent chance for leadership and direct involvement with Kilifi Rotary Club, an active and dynamic club overseas, not to mention enthusiastic clubs involved in the project from the United States.
Finally, any club or individual has the potential to be involved in a large education project that will, in the end, feature many phases of development. Projects such as building wells and providing food at schools, putting on farming workshops for parents, and the development of professional services or a placement center are all within the realm of possibility and need only dedicated persons who are willing to lead and make a difference.
Exchange Parameters: The Virtual Exchange, which aims to connect high school students in the US with secondary students in Kilifi, needs to be considered and vetted in order to build long-lasting connections. If designed correctly and students have an easy, interesting and safe way to talk with students overseas, the Virtual Exchange will allow these students to run the program themselves, so Rotary clubs can transition to merely a supporting role. This is high priority: because Virtual Exchange is such a popular idea for communities, many people are anxious to see this start. This is a hands-on project for Rotary Clubs in the US working with Rotarians and school officials in Kenya.
Internet Networking in Kenya: The Kilifi offices of Plan International want to establish Internet connectivity for both schools and nonprofit organizations in Kilifi. This would be a boon for the community. Students would have the whole world of the Internet opened up to them. Non-profits could cut costs and become more efficient in providing services to the citizenry. Connections with organizations in the developed world fostered by e-mail and the web would encourage more investment in Kilifi. Internet Networking would require fundraising in the US, plus contributions of technical expertise and research into low-cost solutions. Corporate grants would be a boon in this area especially.
Rotarians associated with Kilifi Kids feel that if people in the United States can see the faces and hear the stories of bright students who don’t have the means to attend secondary school, that human connection will encourage those in the US to invest in the future of a child. Kilifi Kids is looking to build a network of Rotary Clubs who can put stories or pictures of students onto the Internet. Much like kiva.org, potential donors would choose where they would like to invest and know specifically where their money is going.
This idea needs research and careful planning to avoid pitfalls. Once planned, it will need technical implementation.
Finally, we will need much networking within Rotary to make sure the concept gets off the ground.
Deworming is a low-cost, high-impact way to invest in a community. Like primary school students, children under 5 and expectant mothers are especially at risk to parasites. Expanding coverage to these populations would significantly improve a community’s health. Also, re-infection from these parasites is a concern; educational campaigns would reduce these rates.
Deworming would provide a great chance for Rotarians to travel to Kilifi and have activities that they can do on the ground. Fundraising is of course key for deworming. Any research for an educational campaign would make a difference as well.
