Maldive Digest provides latest information of the happenings in the Maldives. It also provides a directory of sites in that country, which you can check before you visit Maldives. Also, the website provides a an updated Database of all the resorts in Maldives with images, awards and facilities in respective resorts.
The Maldives was largely terra incognita for tourists until the early seventies. Strewn across the equator in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives archipelago possesses an exceptionally unique geography as a small island country. Nature has fragmented the archipelago into 1,190 tiny islands that occupy a mere one per cent of its 90,000 sq km territory. Only 185 islands are home to its 300,000 population, while the other islands are used entirely for economic purposes of which tourism and agriculture are the most dominant. Since Maldives is located near the equator mostly the temperature is around 27-33 degrees. Fortunately Maldivian people do not have the ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ in their country
Tourism accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives’ foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country’s economy. It has created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. The first tourist resorts were opened in 1972 with Bandos island resort and Kurumba Village. The country has over 89 resorts to date 2009.
Maldives features resorts of different prices and categories, and Maldivian resorts has won lot of international awards, where almost more than half of the resorts have trophy or certificate in there resume.
Lot of tourists visit Maldives every year. however, the country offers a lot of destinations of different price ranges. To take the loved special person on a honey moon or taking your family to a special place, it always wise to do the best research possible.
Holidays are moments of relaxation and Enjoyment and a span of day everyone look forward to be excited and happy.
If at any case the resort or hotel or, place you visit may had not turned to reach the expectation you had for it, or if that place had not provide what they preached to do for you, then of course it can never be a pleasant trip for any one. On the other had, the money spent can never be retained. or if you are to choose another destination also, lots and lots will be wasted.
Maldive Digest is the first of its kind website in Maldives, which brings all categories such as News, Resorts, Maldives website directory and Maldives local receipes. The site accumulates information of resorts on a monthly basis and updates for its users.
Maldive Digest also lists its own reviews of latest movies and games plus informative health articles by qualified practitioners on different diseases which become current affairs of the medical world
What is ‘copal’?
The Aztec word “copal” (Nahuatl: copalli) is used for all tree resins -old or young- that have been used as incense over the centuries.
In our days, the definition “copal” is based on the age and it is not considered amber. But basically “copal” is “young amber” and “amber” is “old copal”.
As such, copal is considered semi-fossilized resin or sub-fossil amber. In order not to offend anyone and to respect the commonly accepted rules, we want to reserve the word “amber” for ‘really’ ancient tree resins and “copal” for certain tree resins that might be more recent, even there is no clear dating. Therefore we use the term “copal” for Colombian amber.
Where is the age limit?
There is much theory and commercial interest. Some set the limit at 20 million years, others earlier.
We have no dates or specific geological information on Colombian copal – amber. Because of it’s color and hardness, many scientists believe it may be Pliocene or Pleistocene, probably about 2 to 3 million years old. In some regions it could be even up to 16 million years old, but in others much, much younger (Santander). The basic fact is that copal is softer than what is commonly known as “real amber” since it has not gone through an timely extended stage of polymerization.
Nevertheless, even if we assume that Colombian copal is only 2 to 3 million years old or younger, it still has extremely important value for those studying biodiversity, biogeography, ecology and other related subjects. Others see its use for jewelry or industrial purposes.
http://www.colombiancopal.com
Welcome to Namamuka Community Based Organization this is a place to be. We are located outside of Bungoma town that is where we most of our programs running. I would say that when you volunteer with us you won’t regret with the community and staff support you will be guided through on what you will be doing .We have quite a number of programs the we do believe that they will be of your satisfaction we would like to assure you that this organization is working hand in hand with the entire community as the name suggest. We in love everyone in a way that one fits best. As we write this information on the ground we have put in place some projects that are beneficial to the community it is our prayers that we have you out there that is interest to come and join us in what we are doing. Since we have tried as much as we can to put up a centre for our operations we have already all the projects named below operational and we have all the living testimony of what goes on the ground. It is our concern that since we are still a young organization we have done our part by establishing a centre and so the remaining part is to get you to come and have your time, ideas, resources and advice. As we all know seeing is believing we welcome you to come and join us in what we are doing and you will have an opportunity to learn from our friendly community. Please we thank you as you take some time to go through on what we are doing: We have quite a big variety of programs to choose from these program areas include:
VOLUNTEER AT THE SCHOOL:
We have been privileged to get a land and build a modern school that takes good care of our vulnerable kids, abandoned kids and other pupils from the surrounding area. We feel that it is our responsibity to build the foundation for these are the near future leaders. We have 200 pupils of which three quarters are vulnerable this means that these kids cannot afford basic education,food,clothing and shelter so we do take care of them while the other children who can pay for themselves by their parents pay and the fee is used to take care of these needy children when you come here at Namamuka you will have a great opportunity to teach at the school, donate school stationaries,computers,books,working at the library and other many school stationaries,computers,books,working at the library and other many things. Our time will be put into wise use and you won’t regret this. The school runs from Nursery class to class 7. Please feel free to come and join us in building/empowering our near future leaders with skills and knowledge. We believe that all things are possible and that is why we decided to sacrifice our time and meager resources to come up with this project. Let’s put together hands and work toward common enemy that is Ignorance, poverty and sickness. Just go a head after reading through our website: www.thenacohomecraftfurnitures.org and get back to our executive director Chrysantus Khaemba and he will get back to you as soon as possible.
The school that we have is one of its kinds in this community since the government declared free primary education public schools were flooded with kids and so the concentration and low education standard has been recorded in the past years. So that is the main reason that made us to create this opportunity to offer children quality basic education before they join high school. So we offer the best we can to make sure that these children compete with others. Come one come all to help us build the future of our innocent young ones.
VOLUNTEER AT THE HOSPITAL!!!!!
This organization has made efforts to set up a hospital which is located at the centre. Namamuka community lives kms away from the town of Bungoma it proves to be so hard for them to access medical services and the General hospital so we resolved to get one for the community. We provide medical check ups, mobile clinics, Laboratory examination, treatment, drugs dispensing, wound dressing, jigger removal, maternity services among other services. We need qualified and medical students’ volunteer oversees to come and join hands. We would like them to be involved with what we are doing and be part of this clause.
We need volunteers to come and assist us in:
-Treatment
-mobile clinics,
-Health checkups,
-donation of medical equipments,
-fundraising to expand on our current infrastructure,
-Counseling and Testing,
-Administration among other services.
Let’s join hands and be useful/resourceful to the community. We value your support be it material, ideas, advice, financial and any other related kind of support.
When you feel touched please visit our website and read more on what we are doing and how you can help on: www.thenacohomecraftfurnitures .org and contact our executive Director Rev.Chrysantus Khaemba and he will get back to you as soon as possible.
VOLUNTEER AT THE ORPHANAGE:
Since at the centre we rehabilitate vulnerable children, abandoned children we prepare them by ensuring that they go through a healing and learning process, cloth them, feed them and shelter them so that they can be of great importance as other children. They attend classes with other children from the community and other parts. We know that all things are possible we make sure that we sacrifice all our time, reasources and ideas to make sure that these children access basic needs. But as the saying two are better than one we feel that we have really done our part so the rest of work we would like to share with you out there feel free and come to visit and stay with us. We have enough houses for our volunteers.
When you come you will have an opportunity to interact with our social and friendly community they will take you round and see for yourself how Kenya is beautiful. This is normally during your free time. So your coming has a big meaning to us you can help us with the following:
-Donate food, clothes and playing materials,
-Donate your time, money and other resources.
-Sponsor a child’s education ($100/70 sterling pounds)
-Play with the kids and have fun!!
Otherwise we are highly waiting for you to get in contact with our Executive director Rev. Chrysantus Khaemba .You can also visit our website: www.thenacohomecraftfurnitures.org. We can’t wait to hear from you soon thank you!!!
VOLUNTEER THE WORKSHOP:
We are also offering training through our newly established workshop. Most of the youths in this community dropped out of school because of lack of school fees or they are unemployed. So the main reason for us establishing this workshop is to empower these youth with skills and Knowledge so that they can stand a chance of getting employed or self employed in order for them to be financially stable. It is our prayer that volunteers world wide who would like to empower us to join us and help us reach the unreached through technical skills. At the workshop as you can read through our website: www.thenacohomecraftfurnitures.org. We make all kinds of furniture and crafts and we do sell them and the money received is then used to assist the vulnerable children at the orphanage. When you feel touched please don’t hesitate to come and work/network/partner/sponsor/fund us so that we be in a better position to reach out to the needy persons. So the following are some of the responsibilities our volunteers can be involved in:
-Donate tools/equipment.
-Volunteer your time/skills at the workshop.
-Marketing of the already finished products.
-Fundraising to help us with capital for running this workshop.
With all this information I believe that you will find a reason to come and volunteer with us. Otherwise we are waiting to read from you.
VOLUNTEER WITH GENERAL ADMINSTRATION:
We are still a young organization and we have no good infrastructure and so things are still hard for us despite of us getting a permanent resource center we have not yet finished developing it. It is through volunteers’ efforts that we can move on. So we entirely depend our progress on volunteers, well-wishers, donors/funders. It is true indeed that the world is advancing on fast but the major challenge that we are faced with is that the rural communities are left much behind. We need to put together all our resources and make sure that the technology goes a long with the community. We need you so much to come and assist us in our environmental conservation program we have a well established tree nursery we normally sell it at an affordable price to our community members and give some seedlings for free to the widows. Apart from this we also have a land where we do practice farming as business we plant food crops/fruits vegetables e.t.c. So when you come you can always find some time to volunteer with us. Just let us know and get back to us through the executive director Rev.Chrysantus Khaemba. You can get more information from our website: www.thenacohomefurnitures.org. The following below are more information on what we want:
-Donation of Laptops.
-Proposals writing.
-Fundraising for the school, clinic and the orphanage.
-Help with manual work/report writing/donor recognition.
-Donation of other used materials e.t.c.
It is our humble prayer that you will go through what we are doing and please don’t forget to get back to us for more information and direction on what next.
FREE TIME!!!!!!
We love our volunteers to feel at home when you are here with us. During your fee time that is weekends/public holidays we shall be making arrangements for you to tour around Bungoma and outside towns by having a walk,jogging,having picknicks,camping,touring monkey hills,Webuye water falls,Kakamega forest, Crying stone, Lake Victoria,Maasimara,Tsavo,Samburu National parks. Lake Nakuru, clubbing& enjoying Kenyan drinks/foods.
With this you do not have to worry because we have made all the necessary arrangements with the concerned authorities in order for you to get the best services with discount on each safari/tour you make. We shall keep you up-to-date entertained. So please make an effort and join our wonderful country Kenya. Welcome (Karibu Sana)
LIVING & ACCOMMODATIONS:
HOUSING:
The housing situation can be by far one of the most interesting aspects of your trip. In the rural areas of Kenya , there are two predominant types of houses. Many families live in houses made of mud with straw roofs. The floors are made of a mixture of cow manure and water, which is spread smoothly over the surface of the ground (by hand!). Don’t worry, they only smell for a day or two after they are put down. The way these homes are made is absolutely amazing! The straw roofs provide for cool shade from the hot sun in the summer months and are totally waterproof for protection in the rainy season. Others live in cement houses with tin roofs or the mud house but with a tin roof. All options suffice and are plenty comfortable. Most rural homesteads don’t have electricity or running water. The farm now has a power generator Solar energy that goes on right before dinner and goes off around 10 pm . Therefore, volunteers are able to charge any items with batteries and will be able to eat dinner with electricity on. Water is drawn from the well on the farm and is either filtered for drinking or heated for bathing. Beds usually consist of a wooden frame with a foam mattress.
Volunteer accommodations on the Namamuka Community Based Organization compound consist of permanent structures and two Gazebos with grass roofs.
VOLUNTEER FEES & DATES:
1. How much are the Volunteer Fees and what do they include?
The Volunteer Fees for one month per person are $1000 USD. This includes program materials and expenses, program transport (such as vehicle repair and gas), salaries for the Kenyan staff, and Room and Board. Volunteers receive three meals a day, seven days a week while on the farm. Volunteers are housed within our premises. Not included in this fee are airplane tickets, bus ticket from Nairobi to Bungoma ($11USD), safari fees, leisure travel, souvenirs, and food/drink outside of the home stay. However, we do have a discount arrangement with a good safari company. Or our volunteers are encouraged to fly from Nairobi to kisumu airport and then the Director picks them from there by road transport. (see below).
fee distribution…
How are these Fees distributed?
Volunteer Fee Distribution (one month):
in $1,000 USD,UK Pounds &Kenyan shillings:
1. Room and Board: $280,175P,Kshs 21,000.
2. Salary fee for Kenyan workers:$ 300, 205P, Kshs22,500.
3. Program fee: $420, 286P, Kshs31,500.
Total:$1,000, 666P, Kshs 75,000.
How to Apply:
We know that you will have every reasons for you to come and volunteer your time with us.So let’s keep intouch and see what we can do for the community.We welcome everyone out there to come and see for yourselves what it means to live in the most interior villages in western Kenya!!!!
So for more information on volunteering with us contact :
-The Executive Director.
-Chrysantus Khaemba.
-Email :cohomecraftfurnitures@yahoo.com.
-Phone:+254733955827.
-Website: www.thenacohomecraftfurnitures.org.
With the following details:
-Your Names.
-Your age.
-Experience in Africa if any?
-Your country of origin.
-Your volunteer duration(How long & when you are available).
-Personal academic Curriculum vitae(C.V)
INTRODUCTION
We are a Non-Governmental Organization known as THE MOVE AGAINST POVERTY networking with WEPOGA. We have been in operation in Western Province since 2006. Our areas of concern are as below mentioned, we target:
Vulnerable children care and support
Women Economic Empowerment
HIV/AIDS affected and infected persons
Home-Based care programme
Housing and resettling of the Internally Displaced Persons after the Post-election violence that rocked Kenya
Healthcare
Community Development
Sustainable agriculture
DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
We have been in assistance of the above mentioned group and until now, our project is still ongoing basing on the key factors that need urgent address. After the elections, the country was in turmoil because of the disputed election results. There was arson attacks, maiming, killings, family displacements, business disruptions, torching of houses, human rights abuses i. e. rape. THE MOVE AGAINST POVERTY abandoned all its programmes and embarked on assisting the Internally Displaced. We mobilized the little funds we had and pumped them in this programme. The Internally Displaced Persons had to camp at our center which is located in Bungoma Town. We were involved in the basic support programme for these people now that they faced hostility from their neighbors. This group had nothing to rely on because all their programmes had been halted. Those who engaged themselves in business did not get an opportunity to go on. We have been providing food, shelter, clothing, health facilities and other basic needs. These are about 300 men, women and children; they are still in dire need because their neighbors still do not want them back. Part of these families has been resettled but they have no edible starting point. There is no food, and all the basic necessities. The bottom-line of this is, these families need urgent address. We therefore contacted the CARE International Organization for assistance but they referred as to you, siting that you can be in a position to assist such situations.
We as an Organization have played an important role in the alleviation of this problem. We have exhausted our resources that were meant for other commitments, we are at a cross-road, funds exhausted, materials in need, the people around us, but we can’t assist fully. Our hands are tied. We urgently need the support in these areas:
Clean water supply as there has been frequent outbreak of waterborne diseases in our camp
Building materials for the reconstruction of homes that were torched
Economic Empowerment for those who lost their businesses to avoid reliance
Health facilities
Hard cash to meet costs
Feeding programme
Purchase of Seeds, fertilizers and agro-chemicals for the next planting seasons
CONCLUSION
It is our plea that you do consider our need for support in the above mentioned areas so that we can be in a better position of continuing to support the affected people and the community at large. This is a situation that is on-going and we need to keep it running in the positive direction. We are therefore looking forward to your assistance.