Daniel Salau Rogei accepting his diploma
Introduction
Tribal Link Foundation (TLF) and Simba Maasai Outreach Organization (SIMOO) have had a long and cordial relationship with shared objectives, aspirations, and zeal to better Indigenous Peoples’ (IPs) situation. I was lucky to be one of the beneficiaries of the TLF global access capacity building program in the year 2005 and 2006. This was an invaluable program for the PF participants considering the limited capacity of IPs in accessing information regarding the UN and its affiliated processes.
This was however not enough especially for IPs and the Maasai in particular who have lagged behind for decades in academic advancement. I approached and explained to TLF the need to equip IPs leaders academically for a sustained capacity building and empowerment. It was a dream comes true when TLF offered to facilitate my four years undergraduate studies. I enrolled at Daystar University, Nairobi for BA in Community Development and Business Administration in the fall 2006.
Experience and Successes
June 19th 2010 was a hallmark of achieved dreams when Daystar University held its 33rd graduation ceremony at Athi River Main Campus. True to Daystar’s mission statement of ‘training servant leaders in Africa’, I feel I have emerged as a qualified servant leader. To me it was a culmination of a sustained focused determination and the immense support of my donors, family and community. I owe them all for their support and I dedicate this success to them.
Four years back I have never been the same again. The skills and experience gained is invaluable in addressing community’s development challenges of the 21st century. My experience in college have given me a better world view and renewed my hope for the renaissance of IPs . The exposure to immense wealth of information and interaction with knowledgeable professors coupled with my on-hand experience in community work in the course of my studies have made me better than ever before. On the process of doing my school projects, I have helped in the formation and formal registration of five community based organizations commonly known as Self-Help groups (two youth groups and 3 women groups). I have also been involved in the training of community based organizations (including four in Tanzania) on leadership/governance, project cycle management, advocacy techniques, proposal writing, monitoring and Evaluation and report writing.
Future Plans
Now that I am better equipped, I look forward to continue working with Indigenous Peoples in general and the Maasai/pastoralists in particular. I feel it is my time to give back to the people what I have generously received from others. I have come to appreciate that many IPs organizations require strengthening in the above mentioned areas. I will offer my self to help where I can. I hope to discharge my services through SIMOO or any other IPs organization.
Another important requirement of IPs is diversification of livelihoods through entrepreneurship development. This is another area that am willing to help the communities achieve their dreams through development and management of small businesses, access to start off funds and marketing of products.
Lastly but not least, IPs and their organizations are desperately in need of well researched and factually established disaggregated data that is reliable for informed decision making and sustainable development. This is particularly authentic and more acceptable if done by IPs professionals and is therefore trusted to be free from biases and errors. I can’t purport to have the capacity at the moment to do this, but perhaps that informs my desire to pursue graduate studies. I would wish to enroll for a masters program if and when I get support from TLF.