2010: Het jaar van de vrijwilligers

Eind vorig jaar is aangekondigd dat 2010 het jaar van de vrijwilligers is. Ujima heeft daarin haar woord gehouden! Studenten Maatschappelijk Werk van de Hogeschool van Amsterdam hebben een behoefte-onderzoek in Kenia gedaan naar de wensen van de vrijwilligers van Ujima. Daaruit is naar voren gekomen dat er hier en daar toch nog wat onduidelijkheid bestaat over de rol van de vrijwilligers binnen Ujima. Daarnaast blijkt het ook voor de vrijwilligers niet vanzelfsprekend dat vrijwilligerswerk niet betaald wordt. De bijeenkomst kwam op een opportuun moment en heeft geleid tot een sterk vrijwilligerscorps. 

Twee vrijwilligers oefenen in een rollenspel met de nieuwe inzichten. Wanneer geef je advies en waar begint counceling?

Naar aanleiding van de aanbevelingen is er een 3-daags seminar georganiseerd met alle 34 vrijwilligers van Ujima. Hierin zijn de wederzijdse verwachtingen uitgesproken, maar is er ook vooral aandacht besteed aan deskundigheidsbevordering. Het waren goede dagen, die zowel voor de vrijwilligers als de medewerkers van Ujima tot nieuwe inzichten hebben geleid. De kosten voor dit seminar en de daaruit voortvloeiende deskundigheidsbevordering zijn betaald door het Anton Jurgens Fonds. De vrijwilligers van Ujima voelen zich nu weer helemaal onderdeel van de organisatie.

Medewerkers en vrijwilligers voor het Ujima Training Centrum in Nakuru

Internship at Ujima Foundation

My name is Anna Jansen, and I am a student at the University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam (Hogeschool van Amsterdam, HvA), where I study Social Work.

At the end of October 2009 I came to Ujima in Kisumu, to complete the minor ‘international social work and community development’. Together with Susana Mohamud who came later, we did research to find out what the needs and wants of the volunteers are, because their motivation seemed to be challenged and Ujima felt the need to restructure the volunteership!

When I talk about my experiences here in Kenya and at Ujima Foundation in particular, I cannot be anything else than positive. The first night I arrived, the people from the office took me out for a night on the town, and we had a really good time! I became really impressed by Ujima Foundation, and the work that is being done. I can see the change in the lives of the trainees, and wherever I go in town, I will find trainees working at restaurants, shops etc.

The current feeling towards development aid is nowadays often quite critical. Although Ujima Foundation has its own income generating programme, and is on its way to be completely independent - and also helps making the trainees be independent - shows me that development aid is still very important and can really make a difference.

In fact, I like it so much at Ujima, that instead of going back last January, I arranged with the HvA to extend my internship here, and do another assignment for Ujima. I’m afraid though that early summer I really will have to go back home. But I will return with many experiences, numerous good memories, and a very warm feeling towards Kenya and Ujima in particular!

De DOCters

De film is af! Na zes dagen monteren hebben we de 600 minuten die in Kenia zijn gefilmd, terug weten te brengen tot een prachtige documentaire van ongeveer een half uur. We zijn ongelooflijk trots op het resultaat van onze eerste productie.

In de film ‘Ujima: the best support is self-support’ volgen we de 24-jarige Irene, die net begonnen is aan het Ujima trainingsprogramma in Nakuru en de grootste moeite heeft om voor haar kleine broertje en zusje te zorgen. De tweede hoofdpersoon is Agnes, die het Ujima trainingsprogramma enkele jaren geleden afrondde, nu in Maili Saba Camp werkt, en haar verslaafde broer onderhoudt. Het verhaal van Irene en Agnes laat zien hoe Ujima jongvolwassen Kenianen helpt om op eigen benen te kunnen staan en voor de naaste familie te zorgen. Marc en Machiel, de oprichters van Ujima, en Robai en Charles, het Afrikaans management van de Ujima, vertellen een verhaal over zelfstandig worden van de trainees en de organisatie als geheel.

Met deze film laten we zien dat er met ontwikkelingsprojecten concrete doelen kunnen worden bereikt; dat geld niet zomaar in een bodemloze put verdwijnt, maar er ook in ontwikkelingslanden gestreefd wordt naar onafhankelijkheid. ‘Ujima: the best support is self-support’ laat zien dat het belangrijk is om te vertrouwen in de kracht, de mogelijkheden en de zelfredzaamheid van Afrika. Daarom denken wij met deze film een positieve bijdrage te kunnen leveren aan de huidige discussie over de koers van ontwikkelingssamenwerking.

Wanneer GoedTV en de Amsterdams zender AT5 de film zullen uitzenden, wordt later deze zomer bekend. Maar we hopen natuurlijk nog op een mooie première voordat de documentaire op tv verschijnt!

Vriendelijke groet,

de DOCters

Experience with the DOCters

Aggie (Agnes)

“…….To me it was a chance of a lifetime with the cameras and the microphone…. I learned to do lots of things. I became friends with the DOCters, which enabled me to open up and share my personal life with them and that of the people I care and love the most: my family.

The interviews at work, at home, with my brother, the supermarket and then joining the trainees in the orientation programme, sharing my experiences were WOW! I remembered what the Trainer shared with us, something I have carried out all through my life: "I am responsible for who I am and hence what I become and the sky is the limit."

I am happy Ujima gave me the chance to share my experiences, be inspirational and a role model. All that thanks to the best Training Programme; the one that has turned my life around. I am who I am today, because of Ujima. Thank you all for sharing in this life changing investment!”

Irene (trainee on attachment)


“.... I appreciate the Ujima Foundation for enabling us to have hope in life again. The documentary team was very good and I really appreciate them.

I featured in the documentary and I felt like a star! This made me so humble, because I got chosen out of many trainees. I understand that the documentary is not for my own benefit, but for the benefit of all the trainees.

My siblings were very supportive and co-operative towards the documentary. The persons in charge of the documentary were good interviewers and they asked relevant questions, which I comfortably answered. I am looking forward to know how the whole documentary looks like.

It boosted my self esteem! Thanks so much Ujima!”

NAKURU FIELD OFFICE

Trainee updates, Nakuru; June 2010

Employment 36
Attachment 21
Orientation 25

Student Alumni

Beryl shares: ‘’I am currently the assistant chairperson of the student alumni. I joined the alumni because I felt it was a good platform for all the previous trainees who had undergone the training to meet and share their success, progress and basically how they handle issues at the work place. I felt also that it would be an adequate moment for us to motivate and encourage all the other trainees… In my view the alumni group is also a good platform to give feedback to Ujima.

Through our monthly contributions of 100Ksh (= € 0,92), we have been able to make some little savings. We have plans of starting a café once we have enough savings! We are also reaching out to other orphans in our target group as we spread the gospel of Ujima Foundation.

Our future plan is to have more organized activities and constructive Income Generating Activities. We hope to achieve the following through the alumni:

• Bring on board as many former trainees as possible
• Keep developing professionalism at work place
• Networking for employment opportunities
• Maintain the level of uniqueness in the job market
• 1 out of 3 Ujima trainees to be a mentor at their job places or work stations
• Have time to come to Ujima and see potential trainees who just joined the programme and share our experiences both in and out of the programme.”

KISUMU FIELD OFFICE

Trainee updates, Kisumu; June 2010

Employment 85
Attachment 58
Orientation 60

Experiences of Charles on attachment at the Duke
‘’……I was very happy when my name was mentioned to be attached at the Duke as I had no idea where it was located! I put into practice every single detail I had been taught in orientation and never forgot to use the golden words.

One of my core qualities is the wonderful smile I have, and Ujima encouraged me to use it as my unique selling point. I guess it did the trick of landing me a job at the reception coupled with my patience, employability skills, determination and handwork. I now man the reception alone, and am able to balance familial responsibilities and work. Thank you Ujima for giving me this wonderful chance…..’’