Kwetu Training Center

Kwetu Training Centre for Sustainable Development is a grassroots Non-Governmental Organization located about 7kms from Mtwapa town along Mtwapa Creek in Mtomondoni Village in the Coast Province of Kenya. The organization was founded in 1996 by Ulrike Neubert and other 5 professionals, who saw the vast underutilized natural resources along the Kenya Coast, where people were nonetheless living in adverse poverty in the midst of wealth. It was duly registered under the NGO Act of 1991 Laws of Kenya in 1997. Kwetu; a Kiswahili word for "home", envisages a poverty free community living in a safe and healthy environment. Its mission is being implemented in the entire Coast Province through initiatives that empower communities to embrace innovative strategies for livelihoods enhancement, natural resources management and climate change mitigation as well as safeguard to human rights and dignity. The realization of the overall goal of Kwetu is underpinned on three strategic goals: •Diversified and sustainable community livelihood bases1 •A healthy environment and better managed natural resources2 •A community with capacity to drive its own development3 The organization is governed by a seven member Board of Directors drawn from diversified fields ranging from environmental conservation, accountancy, human resource management, human rights, and leadership. The board is the highest decision making organ of the organization and some of its duties include; listening to and approving budgets and reports, guiding policy making/formulation processes of the organization, hiring and dismissal of staff etc. The day to day management of the organization is by the Executive Officer in consultation with a management committee composing of the Executive Officer (Chair), Programs Coordinator (Secretary), Programs Accountant (Treasurer), and one Project Officer (Representative of staff). The actual execution of the work at Kwetu is by a secretariat of 15 qualified staff with credentials and experiences in their specific fields of specialization. At any one point, the organization has 3 interns/volunteers from local and international universities. Since its inception, the work of Kwetu has stayed true to its initial catalyst for action, targeting unemployed youth, vulnerable women and artisanal fishermen from the local community. The organization collaborates with like-minded organizations in building synergies to achieve greater impacts to its desired goals. The work of Kwetu is aligned in four broad departments namely; Mari-culture department, Neem processing department, Beekeeping department and Organic farming department, and Outreach department.