Soar Kenya

BURGEI ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP
P.O.BOX 10348,
NAKURU, KENYA.

-What is Burgei?
Burgei is a kalenjin word for warmth. Warmness is always associated with goodness. Kalenjin is one of the 42 tribes in Kenya.
FORMATION
Was formed on october and registered in 09th November 2008 with a total of 23 members who were like-minded in terms of communal work submissiveness. Their names are as follows:
OFFICIALS
1. James Yegon -Group co-ordinator
2. Peter Ngeno -Chairman
3. Charles Rotich -Vice chairman
4. Josephat Cheruiyot -Secretary
5. Schola Rono -Vice secretary
6. Susan Chepngetich -Treasurer
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
7. Francis Langat
8. David Sang
9. Sharon Sigei
10. Sheila Rotich
MEMBERS
11. Norah Koech
12. Paul Koech
13. Charles Ngeno
14. Joyce Chepngeno
15. Joseph Chepsergon
16. Caroline Kirui
17. James Biwott
18. Richard Siele
19. Lina Cherono
20. John Mutai
21. Isaac Rotich
22. Johnstone Kilel
23. Joyce Cherono
-Why formed?
Our community has always been working together especially when it comes to matters of uplifting one another. e.g when one has a problem of raising school fees for the children. Last year one member of the community had a wedding ceremony for her daughter. She had no money to buy food for her guests.We as community members intervened to help her feed them. During one of the sittings we realised that we need to have a registered group and use it as a way of easily helping address the problems facing the entire community.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. Construction/buying of water tanks
- The area we come from is semi-arid. The nearest borehole is some kilometres away. To fetch water one has to travel such long distance to have this precious commodity for human and livestock consumption. In this field women are the most affected because most of them are house wives. Alot of time and energy is wasted during this process. We realised that something has to be done to curb this situation. Having water tanks will help trap rain water during rainy season hence relieving our women this burden.
We also hope that one time we shall have pipes to convey water to our homes or even have a borehole drilled.

2. Tree planting
- Trees help attract rainfall. Our parents did not take action towards consevation of the environment but as young generation we are trying to change it by having tree seedlings which we shall plant when mature and give some to the entire community. This will later lead to a beautiful and conducive environment and help bring rainfall.

3. Sensitization on matters relating to development and cohesiveness
- The main driving force behind this idea is the fact that we live in a community that still do alot of cultural practices. The main ones being that of inheritance. Women/ladies have no say in matters concerning the property of the family e.g land. Women are not allowed to own land. This is one of the perceptions we aim to fight as Burgei through sensitization, those in the group being pioneers.

4. Education
- In our community the level of education is very low and we have been considered as one of the primitive communities. This one has been triggered by poverty level. Children do not attend schools because of the scarcity of food and the level of learning is low due to poor education standards provided by public schools. Also the distance to school for these young children is very far hence they don’t attend school frequently. We as Burgei Group hope that God will one time open a door to help have a pre-school that will help young children get good foundation of learning. We also plan to select some children from poor families and help them by paying their school fees in their respective classes of education.

REPRESENTATION/MEMBERSHIP

(a).Kenya;
Initially, we had 23 members one member shifted to a far land therefore forcing him to resign. Recently, we disqualified two members. For the success of any given organisation/group, there must be rules and regulations governing it. It is not that we are harsh but their problem was simply related to lack of commitment to group’s progress. We followed the right channel by giving them written warnings twice which they did not honour. We are therefore remaining with 20 members. They are active and submissive to the group.

To have ladies more represented some men decided to have their wives participate as members to take their positions which was a good move. Now we have 9 gentlemen and 11 women/ladies. 90% comprises of youths. Of the ladies, one is divorced while 4 are not married. The rest are married and some have problems in their marital lives. All men are married and struggle to make ends meet.

(b). Abroad(USA)
We have had many and supportive visitors from America. The group strongly owes them alot for their friendliness. During one of the meetings the group agreed to have willing members to join us in America. It was agreed that the following represent us there:

NAME : POST:
1.Mary Hoffman -Group Co-ordinator
2.JoAnne Franzene -Group Matron
3.Steve Werner -Member
4.Patricia Werner -Member
5.Don Hoffman -Member
6.Mason Disrude -Member
7.Britney Disrude -Member
8.Elson -Member

The group is kindly requesting those who are willing to join the above team do so.
NB: Membership fee is kshs.200 per month($2.6).

CONTRIBUTION
Each month a member is to contribute kshs.200. The amount may seem little but was arrived at to allow each member be able to contribute considering economic constrains facing most members. The same money we have been using to purchase group’s plot of land, fencing it and sometimes contributing it to members who may have problems, like illness or deaths. We really thank the U.S team for supporting us through.

The group is a non-profit making one but acts as a channel to easily reach the entire community.

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
1. We have been able to buy 0.25 acre of land and fenced it with barbed wire. Thanks to Hoffman and Werner families for your contribution towards this.
2. Sewing machine- we have been able to buy a sewing machine,thanks to JoAnne and an old lady. Two ladies are learning how to sew. We have two trainers from the group who are volunteering.
3. Tree Nursery- We have about 1,000 tree seedlings, thanks to Mary Hoffman.
4. Plastic tanks- We have been able to buy two plastic tanks(3,000litres/652gallons) for our members, thanks to SOAR Kenya.
5,Table banking-from 200kshs we contribute, we do led members then by the end of the month they return with small interest, Thanks to Mason for your contribution towards this and connecting our group with other people, also thanks to Elson and Brittniy for your great ideas you gave us.
5. We have also been able to support the needy, especially the sick by visitting and taking some food stuffs and money to them.

STILL TO ACCOMPLISH
1. Buy 18 remaining plastic tanks each at Kshs.18,000 (+ kshs.1,000 for transport) or $247.
After this we hope to buy 200 pipes at a cost of kshs.80,000 to reach the plot and nearest community from the nearest water tank.
2. Sewing machines for training- If possible have two more.
3. Pre-school- If possible to have three classrooms and one sewing room and an office.

DOWNS
1. Drought- This year has been worst hit by drought. For that long distance we have been forced to carry water to water the tree seedlings.
2. Financial Constrains- Some members have been too weak even to contribute the kshs.200 per month. This problem will be addressed soon to allow everyone be able to raise even if it means lowering the amount to be contributed.

We appeal to any one willing to support this project so as to help the less fortunate.It will be of great importance to us and everyone in the community. No matter how small the contribution might be we will really appreciate. LET’S FIGHT THIS TOGETHER AND BE PART OF THE WINNING TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lastly, the group will hold its annual election of office bearers on 1st November this year.

OUR MISSION:
To reach the less fortunate in the society through different ways and help change their lives

OUR VISION:
Have a self-sustainable community and be civilised.

Yours, Josphat Cheruiyot- Group’s secretary
James Yegon -Group’s co-ordinator