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These groups can form self help groups that could enable them to raise money for building their houses. They could as a result use cheap building material made from recycled garbage; like the plastic roofing slabs made from molten plastics. We can also use bricks made from mud and cement. These ideas may actually reduce the cost of building.
We could also seek audience with our Members of parliament, councilors and local leaders so as to keep them on their toes regarding development of informal settlements. This tradition of seeing our politicians just near the election; when they are desperate for our votes and the next time we see them is after five years. Politicians have resorted to buying their way into the leadership positions by bribing constituents, who are more than willing to sell their votes. It has become a vicious cycle that must be broken in order to realize tangible development. We are the employers of our political leaders, so we should monitor their work.
This should be followed up by proposals to the Community Development funds (CDF) and Local Authority Service Delivery Action Plan (LASDAP) among other funds that are available for the development in our communities. It is our full right to access these monies. Only after all these efforts can we sit back and analyze who is failing us. Knowing that we have played our part, we could also use the media to inform our leaders of our disappointments with their leadership strategies.
Along with proposals to government bodies, there are also Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), both local and international that would be interested in funding similar projects. Through our activities and networking with various groups, we may end up attracting the external donors’ interest. This indeed is possible, because I have witnessed groups form and start activities that now earn them a living.
Our fascinating city has all kinds of imaginable talents, some of which would even surprise you; examples are Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) football team, the Eco-sandals industry which makes sandals out of recycled tyres, the City garbage recyclers in the east lands estate; Makadara , local musicians, Koch FM- a radio station in Korogocho slum, several youth groups and numerous other enterprises initiated especially by young people- most of whom live in resource strained suburbs of the capital. With these talents also comes innumerable untapped potential, which may be discovered during the youth activities.
The vast population living in the slums is majorly jobless, or living under a dollar a day. The initiatives would be a good job creation strategy that could be appreciated by the people. I believe that together we stand, divided we fall.
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Writer Profile
Julie
A 25 year old lady who's a Journalism student at Daystar University. I am also a HIV/AIDS peer educator in Kenya. I am a strong believer of evidence based information to young people, in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. "We can not fight an enemy if we lack all the skills to win."
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