Liana Activities

In early April 2009 Drug Fighters and Counseling for the Young Generation operating in Kibera slum Nairobi pleaded for assistance in continuing their school feeding programme. 1.4.09 "We've been facing acute food crisis and have been appealing to our friends and well wishers to donate food for our children at the rescue and rehabilitation centre. Our main financier for the past three years i.e 2006-2008 was the ministry of foreign affairs of Finland ... for a development project that faced out end of last year. We've been trying to mobilize for resources and we are still hopeful that well wishers will come in to help us in this reach out mission... We have applied for food that is being distributed by the government. But we have not yet received a word from them yet... We are also working on our Income generating Activities, like the bone carving for the youth group, children's handicrafts where children are taught how to make jewelleries. These two have already kicked off but the biggest challenge is funds to get the materials for them to continue with production. We have three more categories of IGA's that have not yet been started because of the financial constraints. We are still sourcing for finances to get them started." 14.4.09 "We are now in a very desperate situation because we do not have any food to feed our children. We are now giving them porridge for breakfast, lunch and supper." Liana responded with 350 euros as a 'first aid'. It was enough to provide beans and vegetables for the 263 children for three weeks.

Oct-Dec 2008 Susanna Mäkelä conducted a review on firewood/energy saving stoves based on documentation available on the Internet. This will guide us in the selection of models for further testing and introduction. The report is available as a pdf file (893 KB)

17 April 17 May 2008 Kikapu project, Kapedo basketry workshop for women to create new designs and products for improved marketing and income generation This is a one month activity done with a local CBO (Community based Organisation) KEDA, Kapedo Educational and Development Association. Liana organised a professional textile designer, Erja-Riitta Alander from Finland to come and lead the workshop. She works on a voluntary basis. All local arrangements in Kapedo are taken care of by KEDA and Kapedo Primary School provides the venue for free. 70(!) women participate. Funding comes from four individual donors and the volunteer designer, who contributes towards her return air ticket cost. Total budget is 2600 €. KEDA takes care of the marketing, however, in less than a month since the end of the workshop Liana has assisted in selling baskets worth about 800 €. Kapedo is a very poor Turkana village of 2000 inhabitants in the hot and remote semi-deserts of Kenya. Read more...

20th January to 8th February 2008 Liana assisted an NGO based in Kibera, 'Drug Fighters and Counseling for the Young Generation' in their relief work in Kibera slum in Nairobi. Kenya was hit by a serious wave of violence after the disputed elections at the end of last year. The worst hit areas were some of the slums in Nairobi and some specific areas upcountry. Liana is not a relief organisation. However, in this exceptional time, Liana decided to assist according to its abilities. Liana members and supporters donated a total of 2448 euros to this activity. In total (in three parts in January and February) this covered the cost of: Maize 3264kg, Blankets 104, Rice 400kg, Beans 540kg, Cooking fat 456 jars of 500g, Soap 300 long bars of 700g, Unimix porridge mix 275kg, Millet infant porridge flour 60kg. The three loads of relief food and blankets served more than 400 families in total. Read more...

Nov 2007 and Jan-March 2008 A Voluntary Consultant, Anthropologist/Psychologist Rachel Stern worked for Liana compiling an adult education package for the marginal drylands of East Africa. Subjects include: Literacy training, health, hygiene, nutrition, environmental education, dryland agricultural methods (incl. water management), livestock and rangeland management, simple maths. Read more...

In April 2006 Liana and KEPI (Kenya Environmental and Pastoralist Integrated Development Initiative) assisted 83 women in Olepolos, south of Nairobi, Kenya, in planting over 1200 trees in their homesteads. Species included papaya (Carica papaya), orange (Citrus sinensis), Casuarina sp., Grevillea robusta and wild olive (Olea africana). To demonstrate tree planting some trees were planted together with the women in eight centrally located homesteads to which women's groups had gathered. Planting and caring for trees were also taught by using brief written instructions with illustrations. Photocopies of the instructions were left to the women to remind of the important points. Tree planting in the pastoral Maasai society is a new activity to many. Species descriptions were left for those who can read English and can translate the descriptions to the others. Donations to Liana in honour of Eija's and Ric's wedding paid for this activity. Thank you to all those who made this effort possible. Liana was further able to support KEPI with donation of books on environmental management. Tom Coe donated a used laptop computer to them through Liana. Photos available