Kenya Herders Coding WEB
Metadata
- Kenya Herders Coding WEB
- November 28, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA HERDERS CODING HEADLINE: Kenyan Herders Learn Coding for More Sustainable Jobs TEASER: Kenya’s government and aid groups support the project that could change herders lifestyle PUBLISHED AT: 11/28/22 AT 12:25pm BYLINE: Victoria Amunga DATELINE: ISIOLO KENYA VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: Salem Solomon, DLJ VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB__ TV X RADIO X TRT: 2:49 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: There is an accompanying radio piece.)) ((INTRO)) [[In northern Kenya, the government and aid groups have launched a project teaching computer coding to herders so they can find more sustainable jobs. But not everyone supports education that could end their traditional way of life, as Victoria Amunga reports from Isiolo Kenya.]] ((NARRATOR)) Herding communities such as these in Northern Kenya’s Isiolo county don’t have access to education but the government and some aid agencies are stepping in to make a difference by introducing digital literacy programs in schools located in remote regions. The goal, they say, is to equip this generation of pastoralists with skills for modern jobs, like teaching them coding. ((Purity Kinoti, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Education Programs Manager, in English, 24 secs)) “There is no way for them to be exposed. It’s difficult for them to have trips to take them to areas where they can see technology. There is no mobile network here so it’s just not possible. They don’t have television, they don’t have smartphones in their homes, so technology is just a strange thing. So, bringing it to the classroom really makes that child empowered.” ((NARRATOR)) Fourteen-year-old Christine Kinyagah is one of the children benefiting from the program. She says her exposure to the training helped her realize that there are other opportunities beyond pastoralism. ((Christine Kinyagah, Student (in Swahili, 20 secs)) “Education is good, it will help me in my life. I had not been sent to school, I was just always herding my fathers goats, one day my elder brother questioned why I was herding instead of going to school. My father did not want me to come to school.” ((NARRATOR)) Easing dependence on pastoralism in favor of education here is a long shot, but some elders in the community like John Pardhusea believe it is necessary in the wake of a growing population and climatic conditions that are putting pressure on natural resources. ((John Pardhusea, Community Elder (in Swahili, 15 secs)) “In this area, there are almost no cows because there is nothing to graze. As soon as the green grass comes up it is all eaten and when the grass is gone, our wealth goes too because the number of people is increasing [setting in] and grazing land is now getting smaller.” ((NARRATOR)) Keeping the students in school is hard for these communities, and state authorities say they are finding ways to encourage them to attend classes, including initiatives to feed them. ((Eric Bundi, Isiolo County Education Officer (in English 18 secs)) “We also offer incentives in terms of providing food, that is the schools meals program whereby they have one meal per day and this one helps to bring these kids to school. Actually, some come simply because they know they are going to have one meal per day.” ((NARRATOR)) Herders in at least 23 schools in northern Kenya have access to the digital education programs. Authorities say they hope to extend the initiative to more schools in marginalized regions in the future. ((Victoria Amunga, for VOA News, Isiolo, Kenya.))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA HERDERS CODING HEADLINE: Kenyan Herders Learn Coding for More Sustainable Jobs TEASER: Kenya’s government and aid groups support the project that could change herders lifestyle PUBLISHED AT: 11/28/22 AT 12:25pm BYLINE: Victoria Amunga DATELINE: ISIOLO KENYA VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: Salem Solomon, DLJ VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB__ TV X RADIO X TRT: 2:49 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: There is an accompanying radio piece.)) ((INTRO)) [[In northern Kenya, the government and aid groups have launched a project teaching computer coding to herders so they can find more sustainable jobs. But not everyone supports education that could end their traditional way of life, as Victoria Amunga reports from Isiolo Kenya.]] ((NARRATOR)) Herding communities such as these in Northern Kenya’s Isiolo county don’t have access to education but the government and some aid agencies are stepping in to make a difference by introducing digital literacy programs in schools located in remote regions. The goal, they say, is to equip this generation of pastoralists with skills for modern jobs, like teaching them coding. ((Purity Kinoti, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Education Programs Manager, in English, 24 secs)) “There is no way for them to be exposed. It’s difficult for them to have trips to take them to areas where they can see technology. There is no mobile network here so it’s just not possible. They don’t have television, they don’t have smartphones in their homes, so technology is just a strange thing. So, bringing it to the classroom really makes that child empowered.” ((NARRATOR)) Fourteen-year-old Christine Kinyagah is one of the children benefiting from the program. She says her exposure to the training helped her realize that there are other opportunities beyond pastoralism. ((Christine Kinyagah, Student (in Swahili, 20 secs)) “Education is good, it will help me in my life. I had not been sent to school, I was just always herding my fathers goats, one day my elder brother questioned why I was herding instead of going to school. My father did not want me to come to school.” ((NARRATOR)) Easing dependence on pastoralism in favor of education here is a long shot, but some elders in the community like John Pardhusea believe it is necessary in the wake of a growing population and climatic conditions that are putting pressure on natural resources. ((John Pardhusea, Community Elder (in Swahili, 15 secs)) “In this area, there are almost no cows because there is nothing to graze. As soon as the green grass comes up it is all eaten and when the grass is gone, our wealth goes too because the number of people is increasing [setting in] and grazing land is now getting smaller.” ((NARRATOR)) Keeping the students in school is hard for these communities, and state authorities say they are finding ways to encourage them to attend classes, including initiatives to feed them. ((Eric Bundi, Isiolo County Education Officer (in English 18 secs)) “We also offer incentives in terms of providing food, that is the schools meals program whereby they have one meal per day and this one helps to bring these kids to school. Actually, some come simply because they know they are going to have one meal per day.” ((NARRATOR)) Herders in at least 23 schools in northern Kenya have access to the digital education programs. Authorities say they hope to extend the initiative to more schools in marginalized regions in the future. ((Victoria Amunga, for VOA News, Isiolo, Kenya.))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date November 28, 2022 12:24 EST
- Byline Victoria Amunga
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America