Download - Trust for African Rock Art

Improved Livelihoods – Community PerspectivesDenis Ogweno Musiara (Coxswain/Handyman)I have been a volunteer with the Abasuba Community PeaceMuseum from 2003 to 2008. I started earning my first salarywhen the European Union funded the construction of the newmuseum building. I have managed to take one of my brothers to asecondary school nearby and now he is in Form Two.Text message from Denis to Terry, TARA COO - 2007“Good morning. I’m very much ok. May I inform you thatI bought two goats from my salary I received last month.May God bless you until we meet again”At the same time, it has enabled me to take dowry to my wife’shome and now I am a father of two, which is just a blessing to me.I have also managed to purchase four domestic animals (goats)through my salary that I am paid from the museum.48Through the museum support I have managed to create both local and international friendsand at the same time attend a number of short courses in tour guiding. I have also started topurchase three iron sheets per month so that I can finish my iron roof house by the end of thisyear [2009].Akinyi, Peri, Susan, Mary and Scola (Cooks)We started cooking at the museum when Jack was coming up with this idea. Therefore we havebeen helping the museum for free for some time. However after the European Union grant wasofficially announced, the museum called us back so that we could help them in the preparationof food when visitors are at the museum. During the year that the project was going on, wemanaged to go for special training on how to prepare food, which was a great achievement forus. At the same time it has enabled us to cook for high profile people like several Ambassadorsfrom different countries in the world like France and Australia, the American cultural attaché,Kenyan ministers, District Commissioners and many other tourists who visit the museum.Through the museum we have managed to evolve our cooking talents as women from Suba.Through this cooking programme at the museum we have managed to get funds that we haveused to buy several household materials that we never had before. We have also bought clothesfor our children and our husbands.