Campus youth are also adversely affected by a lack of transparency but they have few avenues of talking about it, and the project aims to identify champions of transparency:give them a platform to add their voice through citizen journalism/media.“Campus” students will have an opportunity to increase their awareness on corruption risks, corrective actions and milestones/success stories and also influence others by collecting and sharing human interest stories of how corruption has affected the society and above all tell positive stories that will trigger social behaviour change.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Nairobi
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
We plan to work with university students (public and private) in Kenya through the various representative bodies, clubs and on-line platforms. Most universities in Kenya have internet access, most students owning at-least an internet enabled phones, with digital accessories such as laptops, P.Cs and ipads. Majority are ICT literate and familiar with on-line platforms such as face-book, twitter and word-press. Young people and more so the target group, continue to bear the burden of the cost of a lack of transparency now and in the future. Most are discouraged for fear of unemployment; a broken fibre of humanity and shadows of shattered dreams linger. Focus Group Discussions with them inspired the project as there is a dire need to support their voices for SAY YES to transparency.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
Name Twitter Facebook
Jacob Orina @jacotachi https://www.facebook.com/Jacob.O.Otachi
Enock Moturi @BlackSmithEJ https://www.facebook.com/Moturi Enock
Winnie Kimani @WinnieTrinny https://www.facebook.com/winniesk
Joan Ruto @joanlillian https://www.facebook.com/Joan Mabwai
Job Wanyama @samwana_ https://www.facebook.com/samwana
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
There will be a collection and sharing of human interest stories on how lack of transparency has affected the society and its adverse effects to them and above all tell positive stories of those who have prevented it/ champions.This will entail features,biographies,editorials,letters and opinions on topical issues.Format will include text, audio-visuals, cartoons,photos and videos.Various campuses will publish the stories through their media outlets as well as being published on the Tachicom-Kenya website www.tachicom-kenya.com .More focus will be given to stories/ ideas that give hope that all is not lost and that Kenyans can still hold onto the dream of a bright future.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established or plan to establish that will contribute to the success of the project.
The Staff at Tachicom-Kenya have experience working with the campus students, having themselves recently graduated. Existing networks include contact with various student representative bodies, university senates and management. Jacob Orina, the coordinator has experience in working on ICT projects for transparency having been involved in the development of a mobile hotline and bulk sms service, climatefinancewatch and other projects. In order to achieve the objectives of the campus for transparency project; stakeholders, partners and allies shall include the Ministry of Education, Student associations and clubs, private and corporate institutions, good governance and anti-corruption agencies, international community and the public. We do have a swot analysis of the above stakeholders.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
We will work with and through university management and student representative bodies: associations and relevant clubs. We plan to train 100 campus students representing the various universities in Kenya selected from the already existing clubs and associations. The knowledge will be replicated by the trained students conducting peer learning sessions at club/association level and will share reports. The trainings will be on article writing, pitching stories, taking photographs, citizen journalism and use of new media. Monthly collection, editing and publishing of their stories on-line will sustain participation as well as the end of year award ceremony where campus citizen journalist champions of the year will be identified and certificates issued to participants and prolific writers.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
The team has vast skills on use of new media to champion causes. A wide spectrum journalism, ICT and communication research would steer the project advocacy through photography,Video editing for web,Social media for advocacy and causes,Digital story-telling,Emerging trends in technology.Specifically the team shall consist of Jacob Orina (MA. Communication- University of Nairobi, BSc. Information Science), Joan Ruto (MA and BA.In Communication-University of Nairobi), Job Wanyama (BA. Commerce- UON,) ,Enock Moturi (Bsc. Media and Information Technology- Maseno University),Winnie Trinny (BA. Graphic Design-Moi University).
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
We will hold two different trainings and workshops near Tachicom-Kenya offices which have a carrying capacity of 50 persons, internet connection settings and an ample space for training. The room will be equipped with 10 round tables (5 persons in each table), two projectors, two training cameras, writing materials, a mobile phone, and 5 extension cables.Additional 5 USB modems will be made available as back-ups
What is your current relationship with the community with whom you plan to work? What makes you the most appropriate individual or organization to implement this project?
We have networks and cordial relations with the following:
1.Ministry of Education (PS, Education Officials, University Officials) who are:
-in full control of access to education resources and facilities.
-hold the key to accessing and engagement of university and we can partner in
a) training the students on supporting transparency initiatives
2. Editorial club patrons who have:
-Knowledge on the running of editorial clubs
-Passion towards the initiative but Inadequate training on anti-corruption and use of citizen media. We can partner in training and mentor-ship in:
-Members participation by articles, art and music (capturing this on video, audio, print)
-Information and training materials
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
-High expectations are likely to fuel an influx of participants when running the project from the student bodies and representatives.This will be addressed by a carefully set out criteria on selection of the universities,participants and how entries are to be met.
-Heavy student work-load is a minor challenge anticipated and will be addressed by planning, prioritization and advance issuance of deadlines for article submissions.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
Key indicators to be monitored will be identified including quarterly meetings to review progress, constraints and lessons learnt. Quarterly meetings will be held for project reviews and reflections between Tachicom-Kenya and relevant stakeholders. Lessons learnt will be integrated in the project where revision of the project becomes necessary due to changes in the project environment.
Success to us will be the actions generated towards :
a) Increased awareness on corruption risks, corrective actions and milestones/success stories,
b) Supporting the youth in voicing their call to promote transparency and accountability,
c) Change of attitudes
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
Anticipated timelines
Output Description Timelines
Stakeholder Planning meeting 1st month
Identification of transparency champions in campuses who are passionate about telling digital stories (spreading the message) 2nd month
Trainings on pitching story ideas, citizen journalism and new media 2nd month /6th month
Monthly publishing of human interest stories, opinions, Monthly
Interactive website and blog for online advocacy 2nd month
Development of a documentary Monthly
Project Monitoring and Evaluation(learning and reflection) 6th Month
Purchase of computers to aid in organizing the project 2nd Month
Project period 1 year
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
Budget according to outputs:
a) Stakeholder Planning meeting- USD 639.54
b) Identification of transparency champions in campuses who are passionate about spreading the message- USD 43.60
c) Trainings on pitching story ideas, citizen journalism and new media-488.37
d) Monthly publishing of human interest stories, opinions-174.42
e) Interactive website and blog for online advocacy-209.30
f) Development of a documentary-232.56
g) Project Monitoring and Evaluation- 220.93
h) Indirect project costs(Coordination and computer)- 488.37
Total Costs: USD: 2497
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
We will require the following:
a) Publicity of the initiative by hosting the initiative updates on the websites and others
b) Monitoring and evaluation for sustained project progress
c) Regular learning and reflections sessions on improving project deliverables
Contact name
Jacob Orina
Organization
Transparency and Accountability Habitat through Information and Communication (Tachicom-Kenya)
9 comments
True,young people and more so the target group, continue to bear the burden of the cost of a bleeding corrupt society. When resources are swindled and mismanaged; they miss classes because they are hungry, ill, naked or lack essential stationery; they will be in class but disoriented and discouraged for fear of unemployment; they will grow up in a valueless society, their dreams will likely die “not be valid according to Lupita Nyongo”and a generation is lost.Campus Rise Up Now and say YES to Transparency
am taking an example of a University A where construction of educational facilities like lecture halls and hostels has taken years to built just because someone somewhere decided to misappropriate funds, what follows is that you have to spend an extra year in the school since the school could not accommodate all students. i advocate for transparency in handling school funds!
It is high time that the war on corruption in Kenya be all inclusive. This proposal comes at the right time and with a never before thought out dimension of targeting university students who are endangered through inequalities in the learning and job markets in general
Absolutely, first campus is where corruption starts, guys have to be bribed to vote their colleagues, they later take the same to institutions where they are finally employed. With each university of the 10 public and over 8 private having an intake of 20,000 students every year, the project can reach out to over 800,000 students if properly conducted.
Very true. Change starts from the roots. I believe that the youth are absolute mirror of the future society. We have to do all we can to create a transparent society. Where every public tender,every tax cent,every court case,every leader,is passed through the acceptable,lawful channels that are transparent. Every citizen has a right to the truth. If we,even in smallest ways possible,teach and inspire our youth to transparent systems-we can make change. We can create an environment where everyone is held accountable for their actions. This way,we can secure a better future,and a better nation. Taking this to the campus level is a requisite.
if we can change the mindsets of the young students …then wherever they go they will be able to fight and condemn corruption,…
Hi all, thanks for the encouraging comments, we also need constructive criticism of the project rationale that would obviously make us improve its implementation i.e where are the gaps? is this approach effective?How can we make it better?Be our M&E officer
Corruption is something that is adopted. it is neither taught nor inherited. University students and setup is a mirror reflection of a nation. The activities that occur there, the communication that is held there, and the line of thought developed therein get carried on to offices and places of work. I do agree with Hyline Nyakundi who says campus is where corruption starts and in addition where it is perfected. This initiative will go a long way in tackling corruption one step at a time into the future.
corruption begins when we entertain the corrupt individuals in our society..if we change this and say no to their endevours,then go ahead and convince our peers to do the same,we wil be on our way to bringing down this big monster..