A Daring Objective
The objective of DARE is to help communities in Northern Kenya establish environmentally sustainable enterprise. We believe that the people have the talent and vision to lift themselves out of poverty. What they lack are the skills and knowledge to compete in a western driven economy. DARE works from the ground up, assisting people to develop their own ideas, tailoring the support it gives to each unique set of circumstances.
Currently we are working on several projects with pastoralist communities in Isiolo District. We are helping these communities to establish alternative sources of income and increase their ability to weather the loss of livelihood through drought, disease or violent raids.
The Need
Northern Kenya is a semi arid environment. The people who live here traditionally practice nomadic pastoralism, a harsh way of life but one that is well suited to this environment.
However, a combination of population increase, competition for scarce resources, and climate change is making this traditional livelihood less and less viable. With each drought more and more people become permanently locked into the food aid system. If communities can develop alternative livelihoods, through trade, tourism or innovative land use they can avoid the aid trap and be masters of their own development.
Background
DARE grew out of MSc research into communities in Kenya that had set up ecotourism projects. The results showed that most projects failed through a lack of basic skills and an understanding of how the western world “worked”. The people were enthusiastic and very adaptable but the agencies that had funded the projects had neglected to provide basic training. The communities were expected to run before they could walk.
DARE intends to fill this knowledge gap by providing these groups and communities with knowledge of the fundamentals of running and marketing their enterprises effectively, enabling them to lift themselves out of poverty and build lasting and sustainable businesses.
Further Information
I you would like more information about DARE Foundation or would like to help by donating much needed funds or by volunteering to work in Kenya please get in touch.
Turkana Women of N'gare Mara
One of DARE’s current projects is with the Turkana women of the Ngara Mara area. The Turkana are pastoralists but successive droughts have left the people of Ngara Mara on the edge of survival. We have assisted the women in setting up community based women’s organizations which are undertaking social projects and collective enterprises for alternative income.
DARE’s role is to help the groups develop skills and knowledge that will give their projects the best chance of success.
Isiolo Football Project
Though DARE’s primary focus is on rural enterprise we can’t ignore what is happening on our doorstep in Isiolo town. In the last few years we have watched the passion that many of the children here have for football (they all support either Manchester United or Arsenal). We have also seen the very great difference being part of a team and regularly taking part in the sport can make to the very poor, homeless and otherwise highly disadvantaged kids of this area.
These children play on stony pitches, few have shoes and their clothes are tattered yet while they play they feel (just like kids everywhere) that they are flying across the pitch like Beckam.
We decided that if we could tap into the shared experience of kids all round the world we could help expand the horizons of all the kids involved and support the young players of Isiolo District with much needed footballs and basic kit. Find out more about the Isiolo Football Project here.