PASHA community continues to grow
March 27, 2012 Leave a comment
Lucy Wanjiku Kinyajui dreamed of one day serving her community. And as she left formal employment, to concentrate on doing consultancies in Knowledge Management at various NGO’s, this urge was unrelenting.
The 50-year-old woman vision for her community was clear. She wanted to integrate content and technology for the development of her community. However, she wasn’t clear on the “how” and lacked enough finances.
Her answer came one day when she read an advertisement in the media calling for entrepreneurs who would set up digital hubs in their community. “I have always wanted to make a difference in my area, and here was my opportunity,” the Kikuyu-Kinoo area bred woman, who holds a degree in library science, says.
Going under the banner, ‘PASHA, connecting communities’, the initiative of the Kenya ICT Board (KICTB), hoped to diffuse technology from the urban centers to rural areas.
That was in 2006, and today, Lucy is among 29 trainees awarded with certificates on completion of ICT entrepreneurship courses courtesy of the Kenya ICT board and sponsors. “This is my third one, and I am very excited on the practical skills I have acquired,” Lucy divulges. This last training, held in Nairobi between 5th and 6th March was facilitated by Intel Corporation. Others sponsors have been Cisco and Appleseeds .
Pasha Centres are hubs that provide a host of services to the public via computers connected to the internet, or by using and marketing other ICT-enabled applications. The services at any given centre could include: internet access, computer training, vocational training, ICT retail, access to government services, entertainment and gaming. The centre could also offer typing and data entry, printing, copying and scanning, CD/DVD burning, faxing, IP telephony services, cell phones and SIM card sales and M-banking/agency banking services.
The World bank funded project, hopes to enhance business skills and knowledge in development-devoid rural areas and expose rural communities to world news and trends. In so doing, it hopes to propel job creation and information sharing.
Though the idea was noble, the facilitators knew the major hindrance to be that of finances. To make it easier for budding ICT start-ups, a Digital Village Revolving Fund (DVRF) was established to enable entrepreneurs’ access financial support to set up PASHA centers. The loans have a three-month grace period and are repayable within three years with a current interest rate of 10.5 percent per annum.
No collateral is required to secure the loans, but close monitoring and evaluation is done by the financial institution that disburses the loans on behalf of Kenya ICT Board.
Lucy and thirty six others are the premier beneficiaries of the fund that targets a total of 210 entrepreneurs across Kenya by June 2013.
“I got my loan last year. I set up a community theater to tap on the many jobless youths talents in Kikuyu region. And with internet I am also offering tailor made information on Agriculture, CDF tracking and an opportunity to interact with loved ones in the diaspora via the internet,” a beaming Lucy shares. Her Pasha centre is named, ‘Nehema Pasha Knowledge Centre.’
After the first call for proposals in February 2011, a total of thirty seven (37); entrepreneurs benefited. Out of the 37 centers, 29 are operational, while the rest are still in the process of setting up.
Through a Pasha loan of Ksh 900,000, Jeremy Wando sees his economic status changing for the better. The 29-year-old, who has ran a photo studio since 2007, at his hometown in Limuru, says the PASHA loan, has helped him integrate ICT in his business and therefore solve many of his customers communication needs. “ I am now able to stream videos live on the internet, so that their relatives abroad or elsewhere can view them. I also upload videos and photos through Skype,” the married father of one, says.
Oscar Gidei, got a Pasha loan of Ksh 580,000 and is upbeat that his Baringo Pasha Centre, that he set in January will steer development in his rural town.
“I plan to illustrate to my village mates that technology is not just for urban centres, and how they can use it to solve their everyday problems,” the 29-year-old, IT graduate says.
Speaking during the event, the ICT board, Deputy CEO and Marketing Director, Eunice M Kariuki, challenged the graduands to step out of their comfort zones, in offering relevant solutions to their communities.
“Diversify products that cater to the uniqueness of your village. Don’t just replicate what others are doing,” advised the director.
Announcement for the second round of successful applicants is planned for the April, 2012.
PASHA - Baringo Resource Centre - GdeisoftRCe' 