MA large crowd, many clad in white T-shirts and caps with bold blue messages, was quickly filling up the school playing field. From the beehive of activity and the festive mood in the air it was obvious that this was no ordinary day. At the edge of the playing field school pupils could be seen arranging brightly coloured costumes and doing final rehearsals of their performances. It was Friday, 22nd September 2006 and all roads led to Barkorwa Primary School. Located a few kilometers from Kisumu town, the school was host to around a 1,000 people from nearly thirty Community Resource Centers and more than ten development agencies. AfriAfya had organized the event in partnership with Plan Kenya.

Eager crowds streamed into a large tent that occupied one side of the field to see one of the main activities of the day. Representatives from the different Community Resource Centers were showcasing their projects through demonstrations, posters and other informational materials. A women’s group from the Kabunde Resource Center in Homa Bay had learnt how to keep poultry and displayed photographs of their healthy chickens and the trays of eggs that they sell. The Barkorwa community demonstrated how they extract and process honey at their beekeeping project. A group from Nanyuki demonstrated how to make solar mobile phone chargers and the use of solar cookers. A group from Mitaboni in Machakos displayed handcrafts they had made and even managed to make some sales!

A key attraction was the Barkorwa Resource Center. Here visitors were treated to an array of modern Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s), which included a computer, a printer, a world space receiver, a TV, scanner and a digital camera. Barkorwa pupils and several of their teachers took pride in demonstrating how they used this equipment to access health and development information as well as to manage and document local knowledge. They had kept a record of CBO projects that have been funded, and for which purpose, thus improving transparency and accountability of local resources. The information allows them see which of their needs are still not addressed and help CBO’s in their locality to develop proposals to respond to them. The center has become so popular among pupils, teachers and outside visitors alike, that it is difficult to keep up with the demand. The area counselor informed the attendees that he too is an ICT student here. The area MP, although unable to attend due to prior commitments, had sent his representatives who announced that, in recognition and support of the good work going on, he had donated an additional computer to the resource center.

AfriAfya, together with Plan Kenya and other partners, are working with over thirty communities in developing Community Resource Centers. Many of these organize computer classes for school children, out-of-school youth and adults. Representatives from Gagra Resource Center who have been teaching basic computer skills reported that fifteen of the youth they had trained have found employment. “My son learnt how to use the computer and he is now working at a chemist in Bondo and doing their data entry,” said one community member. Other youth talked of the sort of information they are able to access. “ From the Encarta we are able to learn many things like photosynthesis, and also get information on Thierry Henry!”

For those who did not know about the Community Resource Centers, and AfriAfya’s mandate to provide health and development information using modern communications (ICTs) direct to the centers, this was their chance. Echoing the theme of the open day, they left with a clear message that, “Technology can enable ordinary people to do the extraordinary”.

The Scouts of the host school set the rhythm for the day with an elegant parade that culminated with the singing of the national anthem and prayers. Prior to the event they led a musical procession through the neighborhood around the school, which attracted many area residents to the show.

An enthusiastic Master of Ceremony ably managed the excitement, which characterized the day. The busy program was so captivating that attendees stayed until it was all over. The first speaker of the day, a representative from the host community, made a short and concise address expressing how glad his community was for being able to host an event of such of such magnitude and importance. Short speeches were punctuated with excellent and informative entertainment. The performers used song, dance, recital and drama to convey messages on subjects such as Information Communication Technology, HIV/AIDS, child rights, the fate of the girl child, water and sanitation and the environment.

The entertainers, most of whom were school children, captivated the audience with heart-warming performances. They educated the ‘grown-ups’ about the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. They warned fathers and mothers about behavior that put them at risk of contracting the deadly virus. Girls boldly took the floor with powerful renditions of how society had taken advantage of them and relegated them to lowly positions, early marriage and sexual exploitation. However, they were quick to warn that no amount of intimidation would deter them from achieving their goals in life, the most important being education, which was the key to a better life.

Many development partners attended the event and addressed the gathering. These included the Ministries of Health, Education and Youth, GTZ, Merlin, AMREF, Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange (KACE) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute-Walter Reed Project. They unanimously commended the performances and acknowledged the advantages that AfriAfya and Plan Kenya had given to these communities through Information and Communication Technology for development. They promised to look for more ways of collaborating with both organizations in a bid to improve the health and development of the area.

The enthusiastic attendance of the Open Day was a memorable success and a true example of community development. Hours before the official program began people had began gathering at the venue and the stream of people pouring through into the grounds continued until 5pm. Every stand was visited by crowds of interested people. Brochures and handouts were distributed in huge numbers and Community Resource Center staff attended to numerous questions raised by the visitors. The occasion provided a unique opportunity for a wide distribution of AfriAfya’s brochures and the community newsletter, ‘The Informer’. The six huge tents were filled to capacity and children sat on the grassy area in front.

In closing, the Master of Ceremonies said that it had been a day of learning and he called on community members to come forward and say what they had learned during the day. Their comments were exciting and a true illustration of what community development is all about; “We learned the power of information”, ‘We learned how to start income-generating activities”, “We understood why it is important for our sisters to come to school”, “We learned to plant our beans in rows of two”, “We learned how to help people with HIV/AIDS”, “We learned how such a small start – a computer in one primary school health club – could grow into what we see today”.

The day was one of the best-attended open days in the history of AfriAfya’s six years of community work. This success would not have been possible without the unreserved support of AfriAfya and Plan Kenya and the untiring efforts by all staff that assisted in the event. A special tribute is due to the volunteers in the Kisumu and Nairobi offices who made valuable contributions. Last but not least, the community should be congratulated for coming out in large numbers and making the occasion such a resounding success.