Opportunities Fund Project meeting

[george arabbu]

Thursday, June 4th, 2009
Wimpy restaurant, Sarit Centre, Westlands, Nairobi

Thanks to the following members we had very useful discussions between
1730hrs and 1900hrs.

Andrew Kilonzi
Antony Kinyanjui
Benson Hinga
Faith Kinithia
George Arabbu
Hellen kinuthia
Ludivine Cornille
Maina Gatongi
Michael Mungai
Nisha Shah
Susan Makhulo
Victor Mahinda
Wilson Mugambi

AGENDA:
- DCF constitution and by-laws
- DCF registered partner organization
- DCF officials
- Proposed project
Project definition and scope
Direct and indirect benefits to members and to the
target group
- Proposed project’s budget
- Membership: Gender sensitivity

Possible projects that were tabled and discussed

1. ICT and education
a. Dream Cities Forum Server; DCF secretariat, seminar space and
information bank.
2. Youth and women Enterprise
a. Hawkers’ Kiosks typology at bus stops, etc.
b. Hawkers’ footbridges and tunnels
3. Urban sanitation
a. Sewer blockages in Nairobi
4. Property rights and land ownership
a. Makeshift house type for informal settlements
5. Public transportation
a. Mat Map; mapping of Nairobi’s public transport routes and proposing
new routes
b. Nairobi tour bus with an open top
6. Sports development
a. Sports academy in schools
b. Social halls in disadvantaged neighbourhoods
7. Urban agriculture
a. Hydroponic gardens (aquiculture)
8. Garbage disposal
a. Community cooker food court

RESOLUTION:
Four projects stood out as worth deliberating upon further;
- Community cooker food court, as a garbage disposal and urban
sanitation project
- Model kiosks typology, as a women and youth enterprise project
- Hydroponic gardens, as an urban agriculture project
- DCF Server, as an ICT and education project.

After further discussions and clarifications the following issues
arose, concerning the shortlisted projects...

The community cooker food court: community cooker designed and
constructed by Planning Systems Services Ltd, requires more detailed
environmental audits to prove that the burnt waste (especially
plastics) do not release harmful gasses into the atmosphere. Thus,
justification for this undertaking might hit a wall.

The model kiosks typology requires consultations with the City Council
of Nairobi for approvals before and during implementations. Given the
politics at City Hall and the time left before the deadline for
submission of the proposal to the Fund, we might not put together a
comprehensive proposal.

A hydroponic garden project calls for further technical information.
The intricacies of implementation would be a socio-economic challenge
that needs careful studies. This is a project that the group can
research on and take up at a later date.

The DCF server is the most viable since it will form the square one
base for our future undertakings. It has been argued that if we set up
a secretariat with a powerful computer server members can engage in
modeling the city of Nairobi using Google Sketch Up, maps and images
of places. Other members will be involved in building a physical model
of the city out of cork or white card. The resultant 3D map and cork
model will serve as DCF’s base for comprehensive dreams on future
projects.

The next meeting will be held on a yet to be confirmed date.
In the mean time, think about these projects and send in your
thoughts. We only have up to June 15th to deliver our proposal.

[Karuga Koinange]

George,

Interesting agenda. Would have been interested to attend. All the best with it!

 

Karuga Koinange

UK + 44 (0) 7908794102

Kenya +254 (0) 720920208

 

---

From: george arabbu <ara...@gmail.com>
To: dream cities forum <dream...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 7 June, 2009 11:12:41
Subject: Opportunities Fund Project meeting

[Henry Miheso]

Hi All,

Very interesting update. My apologies for not coming, we start our end
of semester exams this week. For those not familiar, i lecture at the
department of Urban and Regional Planning UoN and interestingly our MA
students have a project abt model kiosks in collaboration with the
City Council. I think we can collaborate. Also, have pending virtual
3D city project for Nairobi, which we can also collaborate together.

Thanks

Henry

[george arabbu]

Henry, indeed, great minds think alike. Your department's contribution
to DCF activities would be greatly welcome. I believe your students
will be of much value to our group and as such will keep you posted on
the progress with the 3D map project.

Thanks again for blogging.

George.