By Noah Lusaka
Projects Manager

ALIN staff during the retreat in Naro Moru.

All roads led to Naro Moru...
The ALIN regional networking family composed of 9 Women and 16 men both new and old travelled from the Headquarters and the field representing 11 Maarifa centres. Notable distant travelers were from Merti and Ndhiwa in Kenya, Shinyanga in Tanzania, Lukwanga and Gulu in Uganda. Travelling to Naro Moru in itself was a big learning lesson since most of us had never reached this far and closer to Mt. Kenya. The surprise to all was the cool, massive, lush and green Naro Moru lodges build at a winding river edge.  Everybody acknowledged the clean environment including the smooth flowing river and very cold nights courtesy of being closer to Mt. Kenya. The rooms were all well designed allowing for flexibility to be turned into social halls or boardroom as situations dictated. Who can deny this?

The Great Week!
What a great week it was and what a fantastic and enthusiastic team it became? One participant was left wondering when the team will have such a family get together again even Just for a Minute! BRAVO to all for sharing your knowledge and making the fun, after all that is what life is about and indeed you fulfilled your desires during the week 10th to 16th October 2010.  Who can deny this?

Fresh Food all the time...
You know what? Everybody felt hungry on the first day! Then, came lunch time and the food we ate throught the week was amazing! I overheard some participants praising the chefs for the good food with sentiments like ‘Tunararua vitu tamu’ meaning ‘we’re feasting on sweet things here’. Others commented that breakfast was just like Lunch, no wonder, we all left having acquired over two kilograms each courtesy of ‘a rare’ three course meal daily that our stomachs had to flexibly accept. Who can deny this?

Why Naro Moru?
Our mission to Naro Moru was to ‘kill FIVE mature Ostriches’ using one BIG stone. Indeed come by Saturday morning the team had shared their second quarter outcomes, were more knowledgeable on HIV and Aids and had gained better ideas on mainstreaming Gender issues at Maarifa centres. Most critical was the team bonding spirit having started simply as a P.E exercise and ending up crossing the Berlin wall and collecting the dreaded drug for virtual patients. These exercises were all fun! And lastly was the evening dinner extended to ‘Honnel’ a kilometer away where everybody exposed the stuff they’re made of! Wait a minute, ‘to be continued next week...’ Who can deny this?

Sharing 2nd Q outcomes
During the second quarter sharing of outcomes, most FOs were surprised to learn that indeed our regional Director had Bosses. Mr. James Nguo narrated to the attentive team his achievements for the second quarter setting the pace for more sharing by HQ staff then later by FOs. Most importantly was the need for speedy reporting from the field to enhance info flow to our supporters. Any delay by one person means a breakdown of information flow in the whole system. The FOs also shared issues on gender mainstreaming and challenges around the Maarifa centres. The ALIN strategy was shared and discussed at length for a common understanding.

Emerging issues were noted by HQ staff from the FOs presentations and brief presentations made on:

1. What to do in the field
2. Improving Communication
3. Strengthening relationships
4. Planning to win
5. Decision making

Discussions on HIV and AIDS
This session was facilitated by a lawyer Annie Mumbi of Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO). The attentive participants were taken through the Kenyan statistical facts indicating 1.4 million Kenyans are living with HIV. She further shared provisions of the HIV and AIDS Act 2006 and best practices at workplace. It became apparent that ALIN’s policy needs reviewing given it was developed in 2004 yet there are emerging policies like the employment act 2007 that need be included. Issues around sexual harassment at workplace took centre stage in discussions and clarifications as most participants were unaware of what this entails. Who can deny this?

Engendering networking at all levels
This half day session was facilitated by Grace Maina a Gender and Life Skills Trainer from Kenya Institute of Education. The participants were given a definition of what gender is further taken through the binding principles and rights as outlined in the Kenyan constitution. The significance of Gender in development was well discussed through groups from various perspectives including technology, Economy, Agriculture, Health and education. Important terminologies were also clarified including gender violence, gender mainstreaming and processes, affirmative action, gender stereotypes etc. Who can deny this?

Should we Work as a Team or individually?
It was Mr. Eliud Nthiga who took through the participants in answering this question through brief discussions and physical exercises followed by an analysis of why certain things succeeded or failed also relating to our real life situation within an organisation.  As a starting point, the word ‘TEAM’ was defined and the importance of a team at workplace, process of team development, why teams succeed were discussed. Overall, a winning team has good leadership, a vision and enjoys challenges and successes. Who can deny this?

The final bash
This was a buildup of an earlier wine event popularly referred to as an ‘exchange visit’ that had occurred earlier resulting in the team being creative in storytelling. As opposed to using mobile phones for music, the real bash involved using a laptop and Thanks to Mr. Walker for the innovation and patience in being the evenings’ DJ an event that was well celebrated and acknowledged by all. Using acquired skills the team innovatively had some leadership and it was a win, win, win situation for everybody participated either by just laughing or being funny or introducing rare energizers. This was the climax of the week and reliably everybody went to sleep thanking ALIN for organizing such a rare event ever witnessed before. As it was agreed, the team now owns ALIN all the time and continues to connect communities through Maarifa centres... Who can deny this?

Key Results

1. Improved and speedy communication: Here is an excerpt from Mr. John Niue’s e-mail; I have realized 12% improvement in communication from HQ to Field officer and vice versa.
2. Motivated Family: Being at Naro Moru was a great opportunity full of inspiration and Thank you all for making it lively – excerpt from Betts E-mail. 
3. Acknowledgement of event: “I arrived safely to my station and thanks for all the efforts you did to ensure a successful workshop and all the fun’ excerpted from M/S Joyce’s e-mail.
4. Well bonded family: From the interactions, the ALIN family felt equal and will strive to work harder as one team.
5. An Understanding of ALIN as a network: Everybody now understands ALIN’s networking principles and the new strategy and focus. ‘Indeed the one week workshop provided me with an opportunity to learn not only about ALIN but also its staff and culture’. Mr. Walker while acknowledging his inclusion to participate at the event.

Finally WHO CAN DENY THIS?