Computer Centre Work in Progress
Most days at ETCO run on a patchwork — personal contributions, one-off donations, sponsorships that arrive with relief and disappear just as fast. That patchwork works until it does not: when the economy bites, when friends are stretched, when donor fatigue sits heavy in the inbox. A feeding programme cannot live on good intentions alone; neither can art classes or homework help.
So we are building something sturdier — a Computer Centre that trains neighbours in real IT skills while generating income to cross-subsidise the programmes people already depend on. Willow Oak Advisory stepped in with computers; their partnership turns a hollow room into a classroom.
Skills today, sustainability tomorrow
The goal is simple to say and hard to do: fewer Saturdays where we wonder whether the budget will clear. If you have refurbished machines, curriculum links, or employer partners who need digitally confident young people from Kibera, connect with us. The centre is not only about cables and screens — it is about keeping the doors open for everything else ETCO does.
Project Site Visit by Rotary Club of IPSWICH (USA) and Kikuyu (Kenya)
It was a great and engaging day of partnership and learning as we hosted the International Rotary Club of IPSWICH team, led by Environmental Lawyer Chris and his wife, Jane, Former President of Rotary Club of Kikuyu Hon. George Ngotho and Rotarian Yumbya for a visit to our project implementation sites. The visit provided an opportunity to review the project areas on the ground, discuss implementation priorities, and strengthen our shared commitment to sustainable environmental and community development. We also had the opportunity to visit the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC), where we were hosted by Commissioner Dr. Loice Kipkorir, a member of the Ngong River Committee. We explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration and align our work with the Nairobi Rivers Commission's Restoration Framework.
Community Capacity Building Training
We are currently participating in the ongoing PROVE (Public Space Governance Research, Observation, Validation and Experimentation) Pilot Programme, a four-month initiative by Public Space Networks (PSN) bringing together 11 community groups from Kamukunji and Korogocho. The programme focuses on strengthening community organizations’ capacity to manage, protect and improve public spaces as well as restoring rivers and it's ecosystems. The ongoing capacity-building training is helping CBOs and community organizations better understand the connection between public spaces, river restoration and ecosystem conservation, while exploring practical approaches and stronger collaboration among communities, government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.
High Level NRC & Development Partners Meeting
Representing the Ngong River Regeneration Network, I'm having the privilege of attending a high-level breakfast meeting convened by the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) in collaboration with the Kenya Permanent Mission to UN-Habitat. The meeting has brought together Development Partners, Government Agencies, Private Sector representatives, and Community representatives to deliberate on the restoration and sustainable management of Nairobi’s rivers.