DON BOSCO PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Transcription

1 DON BOSCO DON BOSCO KORR PROFILE & STATISTICS DON BOSCO PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 6/8/2011 This document has information about the background, geographical information, and the demographic traits of the people living in the Korr location, their needs and the beneficiaries of the Don Bosco projects.

2 DON BOSCO KORR Historical Background Before the advent of the Salesians, Korr already had a pretaste of Catholic mission through an Italian missionary, Rev. Fr. Redento in the early 1970 s. However, his works were more concentrated in constructing roads, wells and other such activities. During this period Korr has 35 catechists employed for the single quazi-parish and many others who were recipients of monthly salary. On the feast of Mary Help of Christians the next year the Korr parish was officially handed over to the Salesians as St. John Bosco Parish. The adaptability on the whole hearted dedication of the pioneering Salesians were well responded by the people. The active presence of the pioneering Salesians within a year gave rise to a dispensary in Korr to satiate the long awaited dream of the residents, which today remains as the only health care centre in the whole of Korr and its surrounding villages. A nursery school too was started in Ngurunit- one of the out stations in the same year to mark a new beginning. Several people of all ages like the Savio club, youth centre, sprang up in those early years to cater for the integral development of everyone. In 1983, four sisters from Nirmaladasikal assisted in running of a dispensary in various women groups. Women welfare projects were also initiated during this time. In 1984 the dispensary had a means of communicating using a radio call set. Amazingly, even after 20 years, radio call is the only means of communication available in Korr. In the year 1986, on the last day of the month of May, the dream of the early Salesians realized when the newly constructed church was being blessed by Rev. Ambrose Ravasi. To ensure the education of the boys from villages that is far and wide. Korr has a boy s home called Bosco Home (Hostel/Boarding facilities). A parallel boarding structure was begun for the girls as well. In Ngurunit, a new church was erected in the name of Mary Help of Christians in Amidst the influence of other denominations, the Catholics were on the increase year after year. Each year there are adult baptisms and new catechumenates. Today, the Korr parish has 2121 believers with five outstations. Geographical Environment Korr is situated in the North region of Kenya, along the way that connects Kenya and Ethiopia. The distance of Korr from Nairobi is about 600km. The administration centre is in Marsabit which is 200km away from Korr, on a country road. It is like an oasis in the dry land. Korr meaning white stone for the quartzite present all over has attracted the pastoralists communities because it has had some shallow wells that could provide some water during the

3 dry seasons. Korr has a total population of approximately people. The two pastoral tribes, Rendille and Samburu live here in perfect harmony while being fully immersed in their traditional herding of cattle, sheep, goats and camels. The area is located in the rocky lagged arid terrain that characterizes the Northern part of the Kenyan territory. Throughout the year, Korr experiences very dry spells, which are accompanied by, hot dusty weather, which is inhospitable to people s livelihood. The rainfall in the area is less than 700millimetres per annum and a high annual evaporation rate of over 2500 millimeters. Korr is situated in the North region of Kenya, alone the way that connects Kenya and Ethiopia. The distance of Korr from Nairobi is about 600km. Don Bosco Mission Korr is in Eastern Province Laisamis constituency, Marsabit South District, Korr Division, Korr sub location which holds Korr, Hafare and Halisurwa villages. The area is located in the rocky lagged arid terrain that characteristics the Northern part of the Kenyan territory. Throughout the year, Korr experiences very dry spells, which are accompanied by hot dusty weather with the rainfall being less than 700 millimeters per annum. This is inhospitable to people s livelihood. Given that the area is normally flat, the rains cause flash floods and turn dry creek beds in to stormy rivers. Demographic Traits Different ethnic groups, all nomadic by tradition, inhabit the region; this is largely due to the frequent droughts experienced in the area forcing the people to only rely on nomadic way of life. This has generated to the poor economic situation in the area thus poverty. These ethnic groups include Gabra, Rendille, Samburu and Borana. They do not practice any form of agriculture instead they tend large herds of cattle and camels. During the dry seasons, the Morans (young circumcised men) take the animals far away, where they might find pasture plus water and food for people. They stay with the herds for months, living in the open and defending their camels from wild animals and cattle raiders from neighboring tribes. During this time their only food is blood, drained from the jugular veins of the cattle and mixed with the little milk they get from the same. The population composition is approximated 10,500 men, 24,500 women, 21,000 youth and 14,000 children. This indicates much concern is needed for the youth. They live in traditional houses made of sticks and cartons pitched together to form a manyatta (community homesteads). Korr is a desert area. There are two rainy seasons, which is November- December and March April. As a result, diseases such as Malaria and intestinal infection, drought and famine often hit the people. These people do not own title deeds to any particular piece of land. For their survival they depend on utilizing the resource of what we can rightly term spatial mobility.

4 Their wealth lies in their animals cattle, goats, sheep and camels- for which the optimal balance of water and graining is the key to the health of their herds and the herders families. Korr people are obviously technologically backward, but socially they are exemplary as they cared for those within their extended family or clans. When drought or an enemy raiding party threatens, they can readily abandon whatever they have to save their cattle, sheep or goats. They are usually very colorful and resourceful people, periodically fighting with the neighboring tribes over the diminishing amount of grass and water available to them. Developmental Needs 1. Education The Korr Mission started in The Salesians of Don Bosco took over the mission in The mission has developed infrastructure in the name of residence stone house, dispensary, and primary schools for children, nursery, and relief food program and water projects. Permanent buildings are set up. The three primary schools are Ngurunit (400 children), Korr 450(Children) and Lengima (100 children). Ngurunit and Korr runs upto class 8 where as Lengima is up to class 4. This indicates that there are construction and operation expenses required for growth of Lengima Primary school. This would include training materials Bosco home hostels for boys have a capacity of 120 boys and the one for girls has a capacity of 120 girls. Borders at the moment are 30boys and 15 girls. Clear indication is that there is more to do educational advocacy to counteract the cultural barriers. Female Genital Mutilation is still rampant and the boys engage more in attending livestock due to the societal nomadic way of life. Formal and non- formal education (Technical education is absent) for the youth especially in the form of open and distant learning is of paramount importance. Many youth cannot afford education, and thus makes them indulge in irresponsible habits like drinking and early marriage. A functional Youth Centre: This will cater for the relevant needs of our youth who need strong knowledge and information base as well. Many of our youth are idle and un-informed. Similarly there is need for the youth to be educated in Christian faith, besides the formal knowledge that few of them gain in school. Women Group activities: Our women need an access to informal education, information and knowledge on health, hygiene (access to clean water), and economic stability (income generating activities). They, as per traditions own nothing but babies. They have no voice whatsoever. Gender based advocacy is therefore necessary.

5 Child Care The few children that attend nursery schools do not receive enough support while the majorities are either idle at home or taking care of animals or their siblings. Childcare is not taken care of well, and this had led to high mortality rates in the area. The level of technology being very low, gives the youth hard time especially when seeking for computer training, since they have to travel far and wide. A project that concerns computer training would be introduced which will minimize travelling costs from the marginalized youth. The teachers from the surrounding schools would benefit from computer training. This project would require computers and source of power like a generator so as to lift the skills of the needy masses. 2. Water For many years the community has been relying on water coming from the shallow wells emerging from the water catchments areas for drinking and irrigation. This water is used for domestic purposes and for their livestock survival. Of late, the rainfall pattern has changed and has become quite unreliable. People now are experiencing severe shortage of this essential commodity. Due to this fact, demand for water has been very high and the shallow wells can no longer sustain the communities demands. 3. Rendille Cultural Museum It s nearly two years since the Rendille Cultural Museum (RCM) project was started in Korr. The project was initiated by Silvia Forni on behalf of missions procure; Turin Silvia visited Don Bosco Mission Korr in the year With the guidance of Fr.Joseph, she visited different manyattas. It is within this visit that she finally visited a house where Mr. Fabiano Wambille had been storing the Rendille artifacts. After the explanation of the uses and the importance of the Rendille artifacts by Mr. Fabiano, Silvia proposed to Fr. Joseph that a similar project, such as a Rendille cultural museum should be started at Korr parish. Taking Silvia s proposal into consideration, Fr. Chacko, Fr. Joseph and Mr. Fabiano met to discuss the intention of opening up the Rendille cultural museum for the community living in Koru. Since the opening of the Rendille cultural museum, three cultural dancing groups have been active. The primary school pupils cultural dancers and the local cultural dancers, who include the local people possibly within reach and from different manyattas and the Morans cultural groups, have been functional.

6 Communication though the construction of the exhibition hall that will house an office, a library and a store. It is through this extension project that the increasing number of visitors and the local community, will be able to benefit from the resources that the museum will provide them. 4. Health Given the harsh conditions of Korr and the distance to the nearest health facility, Don Bosco opened a dispensary to help address the issue of poor health among the residents. Among the reasons why they opened include; i. Mal-nutrition due to insufficient food for both women and children ii. During the rainy season malaria is a big problem and in drier weather intestinal infections and famine often affect the people. iii. Un-availability of medicines and vaccines. iv. Stitching done in unhygienic conditions v. Female circumcision is rampant. vi. Villagers inability to buy medicines and tonics among others, beyond what the dispensary can provide freely. The dispensary treats about 100 cases daily. It has 6 personnel; 2 trained nurses, a trained laboratory technician, 2 health workers and 1 health assistant. A nurse, a health worker and health assistant go for mobile clinics to 15 villages to treat patients. 3 villages are 40 km away, 2 villages are 20 km away and the other 10 villages average 12 km away from Korr. The dispensary offers services such as; i. Treating out patients from 15 villages ii. Run mother and child care, vaccinations and triple antigen and complete care of children up to the ages of 5 iii. Conducts classes on health, hygiene and diet & nutrition through women who are volunteering and are trained for that specific purpose every week The nearest hospital is Laisamis Mission hospital which is 65 km away and Marsabit General Hospital which is also 110km away Food Throughout the year Korr experiences dry spells, which are accompanied by a hot and dusty weather, which is inhospitable to people s livelihood. Kenyan economy is highly susceptible to drought. It pushes up the price of food and general inflation. Famine is a perennial problem in Korr. The frequent droughts experienced in the area force the people to only rely on nomadic way of life that has generated to the poor economic situation in the area thus poverty.

7 Beneficiaries Direct The people from Korr, who are the marginalized Rendille and Samburu people as well as those from other parts of the country. Also foreign visitors from other countries who come to Korr as tourists will benefit from project being developed. Indirect The people, who will work towards ensuring that the project succeeds despite of being the target group, Direct and indirect beneficiaries, consist of approximately 70,000 people.