In 2008 Sticthing Het-Groene Woudt (SHGW) and ICS came up with an intergrated model combining a commercial tree farming enterprise and a social initiative focusing on promoting small-holder tree farming ,community livelihood projects and civic driven child development.The commercial and small-holder intervetions will use "state of the art" technology that aims at increasing the forest cover of the areas while reducing poverty through income generation. For these purposes, The Green Forest Social Investment Trust Ltd. was established to implement the commercial tree farming , while the Green Forest Social Investment Trust (GFSIT) will be..... Learn More..
Proposed Guest House
OSIENALA is to construct a guest house at the research center in Dunga Beach.The guest house will have parking,conference facilities,22 self-contained rooms and two fully furnished rental apartments. The plans have been drawn and ratified by the management committee. The construction process is to start soon
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Cosmer Lav
COSMER LAV is set against a backdrop of unprecedented development challenges, problems and issues in all fronts, which variably threaten Lake Victoria as an ecosystem. Such problems include but not limited to Poverty; Pollution and waste Water disposal; Degradation of water quality, Poor ecological sanitation and domestic rain-water and well-water management systems; Poor land use management systems; Degradation of wetlands, Over exploitation of fisheries resources; Eutrophication resulting in increased algae production and spread of water hyacinth and other weeds; and Lack of adequate institutional and technical capacities .......Read More.
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Tonga Water Purification System
OSIENALA in collaboration with one of its's international partners , Global Nature Fund is funding the the importation, transportation and installation of a water purification system at Tonga Boys' and Girls Secondary schools in Gwassi Division of Suba District. The water purifying system will ensure clean water supply to students and staff of both schools hence reducing the risk of acquiring water borne diseases
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Osienala's Lake Victoria Bulletin
The OSIENALA'S newsletter Victoria Bulletin , will be back after a few months of reflection for its revitalization and repacking. The newsletter endevours to build awareness on specific issues and activities on Lake Victoria. This enables sharing of information, building and showcasing of programmes and provides revenues for partners,individuals , organizations and institutions to outreach Lake Victoria community and interested parties with various messages.
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Environmental Education
OSIENALA’s environmental education department has now embarked on a very important role of positively changing human behavior towards environmental issues. While the department acknowledges the fact that such environmental education should e made available to all generations, education targeted at the young generation is undoubtedly the most important and the most effective. ..Read More.
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Regional Outreach
OSIENALA has been proactive in formation of synergistic regional partnerships in East Africa Community. These includes partnerships with Organizations in Uganda: National Association for Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) and Rural Development Media Communications (RUDMEC); Tanzania: Takwa Health Care Center (THCC); Community Care Trust (COMM-CARE) and Kagera Development and Credit Revolving Fund (KADETFU); Kenya: Lake Victoria Sunset Birders (LVSB) and Women in Fishing Industry project(WIFIP). This partnerships has contributed towards equitable and sustainable riparian society in East Africa Community outreaching the poorest of the poor.
OSIENALA was instrumental in the formation of East African Communities Organization for Management of Lake Victoria Resources(ECOVIC) founded in 1998. ECOVIC is an amalgamation of Civil Societies working for sustainable lake region and has registered milestones in this regard. OSIENALA continue to support it through resources and technical backstopping.
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Osram Off-Grid Project
Osram and OSIENALA have teamed up to promote sustainable livelihoods at Lake Victoria by introducing solar lamps for night fishing. The framework of the joint project is based on the fact that fuel prices have doubled in the last three years and fishermen can hardly sustain a livelihood for their families with the already low income. In the first phase, two off-grid energy hubs were constructed in Mbita and Nyandiwa with ability to generate 9.3 kilowatts power. Each hub can charge approximately 250 batteries a day. The batteries and lamps are stand-alone systems that are being used for fishing, house lighting or charging cellular phones. Key factors for the success of the pilot projects are qualified employees who are able to inform and educate the users in handling the batteries and lamps.
The OSRAM off-grid project (Mbita and Nyandiwa energy hubs) was launched officially on April 1st 2008 by the OSRAM world President. The energy hubs will supply the fisherfolk as well as the communities with affordable solar lamps. The hubs will also produce clean bottled water to be sold to the local communities.
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OSIENALA Beach barn/OSIENALA SACCO
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Partnership with American Embassy.
We are also grateful for the consideration given by the Ambassadors Self Help Fund. OSIENALA has benefited from this fund twice. First was in 1998 when it received funds for training 15 boat builders and building a boat shade that has since developed into a Research Center that also host the OSIENALA headquarters.
The second provision has been the purchase of Hp 5550 dtn for Community Information Dissemination that presently serves as the Community Information Instrument for the capacity building of the Lake Victoria Community . The Printer is capable of printing A3 poster, Newsletters, booklets, and magazines. from the Embassy's Information Resource Center the organization has got several books.
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Biodiversity and Wetlands Management.
Wetlands are increasingly being threatened not only nationally but in the Lake region too. OSIENALA has been supporting and working with Site Conservation Groups such as Lake Victoria Sunset Birders and Village Environmental Committees through resources provision, training and technical backstopping to enable wetlands ecosystem research and monitoring , promotion of nature-based enterprises such as eco-tourism and undertake conservation education and public awareness. this has contributed towards the conservation of Lake Victoria wetlands known for their ecosystem goods and services,ecological integrity and livelihoods security.
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HIV/AIDS INTERVENTION.
OSIENALA is also engaged in the fight of HIV/AIDS to enable infected/affected people live in dignity. This is due to the fact that HIV/AIDS is a cross-cutting issue and unhealthy riparian communities can proactively manage the natural resources of Lake Victoria. OSIENALA implements this component by its partners such as Family Support Services(FASUSE) for several yeas on its Radio station, Radio Lake Victoria. The OSIENALA intends to expand the programme to cover the East African community states and discussions are already underway to air the programme in respective countries. The organization is conducting the following specific programmes : radio programmes on HIV/AIDS , visits to affected and infected special groups and more personal interaction between social workers and these groups and training on income generating activities appropriate to HIV/AIDS affected and infected persons particularly in nutrition issues.
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Partnerships with Commercial Banks
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East African Living Lakes Networks
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