Contents:
* WOMEN'S PROJECT LAUNCHED
* ZAIN VERJEE OF CNN VISITS THE PROJECT
* ECOSANDALS.COM VOTED SITE OF THE MONTH
* LOCAL SALES UP 250%
* A NOTORIOUS GANG MEMBER QUITS GANG LIFE TO JOIN WAP
* SANDAL MAKERS TO ATTEND A BUSINESS CAMP IN CANADA
* PLANS TO START THE AKALA SOCCER TEAM UNDERWAY
* PASSIONATE APPEAL TO ALL WAP FRIENDS.

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The Korogocho Times is a monthly production of the educational unit of
the Wikyo Akala Project in the Korogocho shantytown. For more
information,
please see www.ecosandals.com. To be removed from the
Korogocho Times mailing list please respond to this message or write
[email protected].

The Korogocho Times is wholly supported by sandal sales across the globe

and generous donations from individuals just like you. The Wikyo Akala
Project is a community-owned
effort striving to bring a few glimmers of hope to a community fractured

by illiteracy, malnutrition, joblessness, and crime. Your support is
greatly appreciated. We welcome visitors. Please do contact us.

WOMEN'S PROJECT LAUNCHED
As reported in the April issue of the Korogocho Times, the Project
launched a women's project on 21st May, 2001. A total of 8 women are now

with the project and as result a new line of products have been
introduced to best utilize the women's skills. These include beaded
chains,
bracelets, earrings with wildlife carvings from bones and wood,
necklaces, tie and dye, and beaded belts.

The Project now has 17 sandal-makers and 4 total employees,
nearly tripling the number we had only four months ago when we first
went online. Since the Project was started six years ago, it was our
dream
to have the resources to grow and expand, to include the training and
employment of our community's women while providing them with a quality
wage. By buying our sandals at ecosandals.com, by sending us valuable
donations, by taking the time to read this newsletter, you enable us to
achieve dreams we never even imagined. Thank you.

Following the launch of the women's project we were somewhat desperate
for more expertise. And we were lucky, as volunteer Rachel T. Mburu
has
come to rescue us. The following is a short note from Ms. Mburu:

"I was born and brought up in the rural Kiambu District. I came to
Nairobi in 1998 and after staying on Park Road for awhile I came to stay
in
Korogocho. Seeing the pathetic situation of Korogocho inhabitants, I
had the urge to work towards community empowerment after completion of
my
course in Community Organization. Since then, I have been engaged in
various community activities.

" As part of helping and empowering the youth I decided to join WAP as a

volunteer. I hope that I will have the opportunity to apply my
professional values as well as learn more about the people. I also hope

that they will be able to accommodate more people especially the youth
and women who shall act as our ambassadors in the community."

ZAIN VERJEE OF CNN INTERNATIONAL VISITS THE PROJECT
When CNN International telephoned the Project's office and requested to
do a feature on the project, everybody was excited. More surprise lay
ahead for the Project as on the material day, none other than Zain
Verjee,
formerly a popular newscaster with Kenyan media house giant Kenya
Television Network, came to do the feature. Ms. Verjee joined CNN
International last year and is based in Atlanta, where she hosts Q&A
Asian edition.

Ms. Verjee gave priority to the Project and visited us just one day
after jetting in from the US. Everybody at the project felt honoured by
her
visit. The story will be broadcast across the world on "Inside Africa."
The programme airs locally on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Ms.
Verjee is also working to get the story on CNN USA.

ECOSANDALS.COM VOTED THE SITE OF THE MONTH
Ecosandals.com was voted the website of the month by QUEST magazine [May

Edition], a top local fashion and design magazine and as a result given
a full color page advertisement free of charge. We have already had
many
customers who contacted us after reading the QUEST issue.

LOCAL SALES UP 250%
Local sales went up two and a half times in May over April. Two hundred

and sixty one pairs were sold as compared to only 95 pairs in the month
of April. The increase is attributed to two things. First, Kenya
Television Network featured WAP in their newscast. Second, the
introduction of a
new sandal design has seen local sales go up tremendously.

A NOTORIOUS GANG MEMBER QUITS GANG LIFE TO JOIN WAP
In a surprise move a member of a notorious gang terrorizing residents of

Korogocho, Kariobangi and Huruma walked into the Project office and
decided that he was quitting robbing people and wanted to become a
sandal maker. The Project officers at first thought it was a joke but
when the
short and stout Collins Omondi returned with his mother they were
convinced he was serious. Later, in a comprehensive interview, he
confessed to how he and his accomplices had committed crimes. Below is a

story by Mr. Omondi:

"I was born 18 years ago in Huruma estate that neighbors Kariobangi and
Korogocho in Nairobi. I went to school in Baba Dogo Primary school but
dropped out in my eighth year before doing my exams in 1998. Due to
idleness, I left my parents and joined other boys in the mugging
business. This was not a pleasant job but since I had no alternative, I
had to do
it. In many occasions we came across many problems and many occasions we

were arrested and held in police custody. In April this year, I rejoined

my parents (now living in Kariobangi) but then my mother had a surprise
for me. She introduced me to this sandal project through their trainer.
After getting more information concerning the project, I decided to quit

mugging and gain some skills. I have seen the difference in life now I
sworn never to engage in bad company. I'm now enjoying my new place and
have good friends at the project and hope to continue to improve in
life."

Even when informed that it would take him at least three months to train

before he earned any money, Omondi said he would be patient and even
work harder to learn fast so he could start earning money even before
the
standard three month training period is over.

The other boys at the Project were first scared of Omondi because he is
heavily built and because of his history, but now they have no problem
with him. You can encourage Omondi by emailing him directly at
[email protected] (subject: Collins Omondi).

SANDAL MAKERS TO ATTEND A BUSINESS CAMP IN CANADA
The akala sandal makers have been invited to participate in the
International break into Business camp to be held in Halifax, Nova
Scotia CANADA. (http:www.ofbnetwork.com/bib/). The sandal makers believe

that they will greatly benefit from this camp as it will enhance their
sandal making capabilities, improve their entrepreneurial skills of
leaders of the project, greater understaning of the world market place
and finally boost their Canadian sales.

However the sandal makers are not able to raise enough money to enable
three participants to take place in the camp that will commence on
August 20th to 24th. We therefore appeal to our friends to assist in
fund-raising to enable them attend and be part of the global network.

PLANS TO START THE AKALA SOCCER TEAM UNDERWAY
Plans to begin a soccer team for the Project are underway. Soccer is a
popular sport among the people of Kenya and especially in the slums,
where youths often make soccer balls of old plastic found in the garbage

dumps. Following the interest of the sandal-makers it has become
necessary to
begin a Wikyo Akala Project Soccer Club to compete with the Mathare
Youth Soccer teams. Mathare United is a team in the top Kenyan National
League
that began from the slums and even currently draws its players from the
slums of Nairobi. It has been able to clinch the National League title
once and has represented the country in international matches. The Akala

sandal-makers have the same ambition.

Already four of the sandal-makers are good footballers and play in the
same team that is in Division Two, the third tier Kenyan league.
Sandal-makers Kinuthia, Maina and Chege are turning professional as
local teams will likely hire their services whenever they have
tournaments.

The Akala team needs assistance in the form of game equipment and
uniforms to help in starting what they believe will be a formidable team
and will
occupy in a constructive way many talented but idling youths. This will
also offer our sandal-makers something extra apart from sandal making.
We hope to have the resources to develop a fully equal women's sports
team
as well.

PASSIONATE APPEAL TO ALL WAP FRIENDS.
It is summertime in North America. It is wintertime in Australia. But
it is sandal-time around the world. Thousands of sandals have already
sold
and above you have read of just a few of the benefits. We need you to
tell all your relatives and friends about the Project and
ecosandals.com.
Every single pair of sandals sold goes a long way in helping the people
of Korogocho.

Editorial board.