Location:
The Marsabit District is located in the Northern part of
Kenya. It borders the Samburu District to the East and the Turkana District to
the West. It is 500 kilometers from Nairobi.
Altitude:
1500 meters (4225 ft) above sea level. The Northern part is
bordered by hills and mountain ranges. The district is located in the driest
region of the country.
Climate:
Rainy and cool in the town and along outskirts of the mountain.
Extremely hot and dry in other areas.
Travel:
2-hour flight from Nairobi on Tuesdays and Fridays. Road trips
with FHI are possible, although the trip takes 2 days.
People:
There are five main cultural groups - the
Borana, Gabra, Rendille, Samburu and Burji. The majority of the people are
pastoralists who derive their livelihood from livestock and livestock-based
industries, often under extremely unfavorable climatic conditions.
FHI Work:
FHI commenced emergency relief operations in Marsabit in 1976,
as a one-off exercise in response to the severe drought of 1972 and 1973. FHI
was initially involved in child sponsorship and emergency relief programs. As a
result of program expansion in 1987, FHI began work in food security with a
focus on improving agricultural practices. When wildlife caused havoc in
communities and crops in close proximity to the mountain forests, an electrical
fence was erected by FHI to reduce incursions by wildlife, particularly
elephants, into the community’s garden crops.
Languages:
The main trade language spoken is Kiswahili, while the
various other indigenous languages dominate rural areas. English is spoken by
educated people and traders.
Housing and Meals:
Local guesthouse. Locally prepared food is available
and consists of vegetables, fruits, starchy ‘ugali’ and meat.
Communication:
Internet, email and phones are available. There are plans
by FHI/Kenya to install satellite services soon.
Medical:
Basic medical care is available at the clinics. Medical
evacuations by air are available for complex and critical conditions.
Work Practicum Options for Marsabit:
- Work Practicum: Assist with women’s dairy project
Available: Spring
Number of Placements: 2 women
Brief description of duties:
- Analyze the impact of the dairy goat project on the community
- Provide a cost and income analysis as well as any suggestions for future
improvement
- Provide recommendations for future dairy goat project association
development
- Work Practicum: Community Water Provision
Available: Spring and Fall
Number of placements: 2 men or 2 women
Brief description of
duties:
- Analyze community water needs, including distance to water and time spent by
various family members in meeting basic water needs
- Observe water management committee meetings and describe problems and
potential solutions for community water needs
- Analyze impact of technologies, such as bicycles and pumps, on gender
workloads
- Work Practicum: Literacy
Available: Spring and Fall
Number of placements: 1
Brief description of duties:
- Teach general literacy to adults and conduct vocational Bible classes for
children
- Participate in and organize sporting activities for the children
- Work Practicum: HIV/AIDS
Available: Spring and Fall
Number of
placements: 1
Brief description of duties:
- Student will make home visits, provide support and general counseling, give
advice based on FHI’s training materials on health/nutrition, and also research
and outline potential income-generating activities for people living with or
affected by HIV/AIDS.
- Work Practicum: Wildlife Conflict Project
Available: Spring and Fall
Number of placements: 2
Brief description of duties:
- Carry out a survey of damage to the elephant fence and report to FHI on the
refurbishment that should be undertaken
- Conduct survey of damage reports by community in the Marsabit Mountain
region
- Where possible, participate in wildlife barrier structure repair
- Work Practicum: Food Security and Emergency
Available: Spring and Fall
Number of placements: 4
Brief description of duties:
- Under the guidance of Virginia Nzisa Mutiso, Manager of Commodities &
Disaster Relief FHI/ Kenya (BA Development Finance, University of Pittsburg/ MA
Agric Econ. University of Nairobi), carry out an analysis on the barriers
involving the 58 relief committees and the factors that hindered them from
reaching the most vulnerable groups
- For World Food Program relief feeding programs, prepare a suitable manual
focused on reaching the most vulnerable groups in a culturally acceptable manner
- Determine the impact of food aid on the different faith based groups
- Work Practicum: Land -- Planting
Available: Fall only
Number of
placements: 6
Brief description of duties:
- Assist in planting and land rehabilitation programs
- Help in tree nursery management and development
- Visit land rehabilitation centers in Kenya and develop a manual on best
planting, soil conservation and land management practices for the Marsabit
Mountain region
- Work Practicum: Assisting music teachers in a FHI music school
Available: Spring and Fall
Number of placements: 2
Brief
description of duties:
- Help students learn basic music skills
- Teach students to read and write music, and to play various instruments
- Work and assist Inho and Jisan (Korean Volunteer staff)
- Work Practicum: TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Available:
September - November
Number of placements: 2
Brief description of
duties:
- Teaching grades 6 to 8 on a variety of topics
- Note: If subject of interest is art, physical education or any other extra
curricular activity, it is advisable for the student to bring materials and
supplies for classes. (Contact field for further details.)
Kenya Country Information
Kenya Practicum Site II: Korr (max 5 students)
Kenya Practicum Site III: Meru (Max 4 students)
