Community Initiatives

The Community Initiatives program exists in order to provide teachers and community members with the skills they will need to run development programs during and after KnowledgeBeat’s presence. This program aims to build the capacity of teachers and community members to successfully implement community based programs including those established by KnowledgeBeat as well as other programs initiated by the community. This program is unique in that it lends support to the KnowledgeCamps and other KnowledgeCenter programs by catalyzing community mobilization.

Community Initiatives Program Objectives:

• Create awareness of KnowledgeBeat’s vision, mission and programs in the teaching staff and community such that they will develop long-term ownership of the project.
• Enable teachers and community members to participate fully in implementation and sustainability of KnowledgeBeat programs through the committee structure.
• Equip teachers and community members with knowledge and skills of program design, fundraising, management, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and sustainability.
• Enable teachers and community members to mobilize for full participation in KnowledgeBeat programs and events.

In February 2008, KnowledgeBeat conducted a teacher training workshop to train teachers on the utilization of their new resources supplied by KnowledgeBeat. Follow-up classroom training sessions were also provided which included instruction on advancing classroom teaching skills. In 2009 KnowledgeBeat opened up the program to community members, and established teams of community members who would oversee the development of each of the student’s program areas and provide input to help further the mission of the program.

In February 2010 an Entrepreneurship Workshop was launched for young professionals and community members. The workshop focused on how to set up a business, which included information on microfinance, presentation and development skills. Marian Cipemba and Macmen Luhana taught the workshop. We plan to continue conducting independent workshops that target different topic areas such as entrepreneurship in Ngoma, Masasabi and future sites.

Throughout the next five years, KnowledgeBeat will expand the Community Initiatives program beyond Ngoma and Masasabi along with its other programs. We target engaging 24 to 32 individuals at each school.