[geogu-l] Internship opportunity

[Todd Faubion]

Dear all,

Below are details of an excellent internship opportunity with Common Vision for Kenya; the organization was founded by a Department of Geography graduate, Rose Muindi.  Please see Rose's contact information at the bottom of this email.

Todd

Common Vision for Kenya (CVK)

Our Vision: To empower women, children and vulnerable families through skill building, education, income generating activities and social development that leads to self sufficiency.

My name is Rose Muindi. I am a 2001 graduate of Development Geography, Women Studies with a minor in International Studies, focus Africa. In 2001, I traveled to western Kenya and interned for 3 months in a rural town called Ugunja. I returned home compelled to improve the quality of life of the women, children and vulnerable families in the community. With the collaboration of my dear friend Paul Omondi, Common Vision for Kenya was formed.

Ugunja is located in an area of Kenya and has one of the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS at 38.4%. Ugunja is also located along the main highway from Nairobi to Uganda, where poverty leads to a high rate of prostitution as a means of survival. On the other side of Ugunja, extreme poverty contributes to sex for fish in the fishing community of Lake Victoria. The most devastating consequence of HIV/AIDS is the increasing number of orphans who are unable to fend for themselves after the deaths of their parents. Children 15 years and younger often become the Head of Households for siblings and extended family. Such children, despite their potential to contribute to the nation’s development, are extremely disadvantaged, distressed, and have no access to nutritional, health, educational and other social facilities. These children need social and material assistance to protect them from exploitation and discrimination and to improve their quality of life.

Our Objectives

To improve the quality of life of targeted orphans

To promote formal and informal education among orphans & guardians

To reduce spread of HIV in targeted areas

To mobilize community participation in providing HIV education, care & support

As a grassroots organization, we have limited resources and are in need of passionate people to volunteer their time with our organization. I am happy to offer volunteers internship opportunities, references, and I’m open to proposals students have for a class paper or project. There is also an opportunity to travel with a group of volunteers during the summer of 2010.


We need immediate help in the following areas:

Re-design our website

Develop donation database

Develop fundraising ideas for 2009

Disseminate information about Ugunja and CVK’s work in the area

Plan and manage fundraising projects

Manage a donation drive for clothes, books, blankets, etc.

Many, many other ways to provide assistance

This is a great opportunity for those interested in development issues in Africa with a focuse on women and children.  We are creating positive changes!  Join Us!

If you are interested in volunteering or have more questions, please email me at  or call me at 253-216-2599. Thanks, Rose

Rose Muindi
Common Vision for Kenya
253-216-2599









  EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Join me



> Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:50:59 -0800

> From: tfaubion at u.washington.edu

> To: rose_muindi at hotmail.com

> Subject: Re: volunteers

>

> Hello Rose,

>

> Nice to hear from you, and to hear about the great work you're doing. I would be happy to circulate an announcement on our undergraduate listserv about your work and any opportunities you have. My suggestions to do so and ensure the highest chance of success are as follows:

>

> 1) send me a much-streamlined version of the report you attached (no longer than a page); if it's too long, students won't take the time to read it

> 2) send me an email detailing what, specifically, you'll be asking of interns

> 3) I wasn't clear if people can work from here or if you're seeking people to come to Kenya; obviously, there's a big difference so make that explicit

> 4) what can/will you offer students? I realize that you probably can't provide any money, etc., and that's fine--but do say that you'll be happy to assist them in other capacities (as a professional reference, helping them network, etc.)

>

> If you can get something back to me roughly in the format I've outlined (well, you can do it anyway you like, but my experience is that this format is the best), I'll be happy to circulate it.

>

> Take care,

> Todd

>

> Todd Faubion

> University of Washington

> Department of Geography Undergraduate Adviser

> tfaubion at u.washington.edu

> 206-793-1252

>

> On Thu, 19 Feb 2009, Rose Muindi wrote:

>

>>

>>

>> Greetings Todd,

>>

>>

>>

>> My name is Rose Muindi (Medley is name I graduated from the UW Geography dept). Lucy Jarosz provided your email address to me.

>>

>>

>>

>> I am a Geography alum from 2001 and have started my own non profit organization focused in a small rural community of Ugunja, Western Kenya. I lived there while completing my internship and grew to love the people in the community. In late 2007, I started a non-profit organization called Common Vision for Kenya. We focus our work on the empowerment of women and children by creating means of a sustainable future. I will attach a report completed by my co-founder Paul Omondi to get a glimpse of the conditions in Ugunja. Please keep in mind that english is Paul's third language, but I felt the report was more powerful coming directly from Paul.

>>

>>

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>> I am currently seeking volunteers to work here in multiple capacities. I'm looking for volunteers who are passionate, committed and motivated to make changes in Ugunja. I am particularily in need of someone to complete and restructure our website and for someone to develop a powerpoint presentation. I'm wondering if you would be willing to post a request on the Geography undergrad listserve.

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>>

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>> I always am a bit wordy, always have been, I apologize for that. If you have any questions, please let me know.

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>>

>>

>> All the best.

>>

>> Rose Muindi

>>

>> Common Vision for Kenya

>>

>>

>> Rose Medley Muindi

>>

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>>

>>

>>

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>> EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD

>> Join me

>

>

>