PCEA Samburu Awareness and Action Programme
Through the Samburu Awareness and Action Programme (SAAP), the Presbyterian Church of East Africa(PCEA) is involved in rural evangelism and Christian development among the Samburu and Turkana peoples living in Northern Kenya.
Supported by PCI's Mission Overseas, Stephen and Angelina Cowan, who live in Tuum in Samburu North District in Northern Kenya, have been involved with this work since its inception 20 years ago.
SAAP is coordinated in cooperation with the nearest PCEA Presbytery, which is about 10 hours' drive South of Tuum.
SAAP is a church-based community programme with a 'tent-making' approach to ministry, in which many of the workers and participants are new believers in Jesus Christ.
SAAP seeks to put the Church at the heart of the community
Mission Statement: "The Samburu Awareness and Action Programme (SAAP) aims to enable Christians to live out the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ among the indigenous people of Samburu North District; that through the change of hearts and minds the people may be better prepared to adapt to life in a changing world."
SAAP's commitment is long-term
In the early years, time was spent getting to know people and building trust among communities. SAAP encourages a 'tent-making' approach to witness and ministry, so that many local people are now self-reliant, whilst actively involved in both Church and community.
A number of small, flourishing business ventures are encouraging further entrepreneurship. With community participation strong in all ventures, SAAP teaches people through 'learning by doing'. Leadership skills are aquired through participation in a variety od day-to-day activities, as well as by attending training courses.
Christian witness is most effective when people relate to people and communicate gospel values in a natural way. When culture is counter to Biblical teaching, it should always be challenged but not condemned. Under God, commitment to change not only brings positive results for day-to-day living but also fruit of lasting value, and those who trust in Jesus Christ are assured of eternal life.
Youth ministry
Biblically inspired transformation is at the heart of all that SAAP seeks to do.
Most of the young people have little knowledge or understanding of the Bible but with regular teaching at Youth Camps during the school holidays, many of have been significantly impacted as the message of Jesus is lived out before their eyes.
Some have come to a personal faith in Jesus Christ, while a number of girls have begun to take a stand against cultural initiation rites involving female circumcision.
Around 200 people attend these camps, which are often led by teams from Ireland or other parts of Kenya. Both Samburu and Turkana youth mix freely during these events. This is hugely encouraging given the ethnic tensions that prevail in the area.
SAAP Projects
All creating employment opportunities:
Animal health
Government policy allows locally trained veterinary technicians to administer animal drugs, while there are several small outlets in the district selling modern medicines for livestock.
Numerous herbal remedies are also used, though most are curative rather than providing routine prevention. Sadly, treatment is very often left till it is too late to be effective.
Construction
Training in building techniques has given local people new skills, enabling them to help develop their own community. Most recently, a girls’ secondary school complex has been built in Tuum, as well as a number of nursery schools for the locality.
Bricks are made on site, using Hydroform technology (a low cost, environmentally friendly process, where termite-mound soil is mixed with cement and compressed in a mould). Steel roof trusses are also fabricated locally. Overall, local infrastructure has been improved through the acquisition of generators and welding equipment.
Education supported through jobs
The government encourages formal education but many parents struggle to pay school fees. SAAP promotes a ‘no sponsorship’ policy, but two projects, in particular (in and around Tuum, and in nearby Wuaso Rongai), provide work opportunities which enable parents to earn enough to meet the cost of their children’s education.
- The Tree Nursery - Located in Tuum, the nursery supplies both indigenous and exotic tree seedlings. These are planted to replenish local tree stocks that are dwindling due to the increasing demand for wood as fuel for cooking.
- Road Works - Local road surfaces are regularly repaired and improved; while drainage ditches are maintained and developed to reduce run-off and soil erosion when the rains come.
Honey production
Two types of honey are being harvested in large quantities from traditional hives; lowland honey, and mountain honey from Mt. Nyiru and Oldonyo Mara. Production is seasonal and dependent on rain. Nothing is added. ‘Processing’ simply involves straining the honey to remove the wax, which leaves a 100% pure, natural product. Once the wax is separated out, it becomes a valuable by-product in its own right.
In 2008, around six tonnes of raw honey were purchased by the small cooperative operating out of Tuum. With a new product label, a Kenya Bureau of Standards kite-mark, and a reliable distributor in Nairobi, Samburu Honey is being successfully marketed within Kenya, generating valuable income for the communities which gather it.
Tourism
Employment through tourism is another valuable source of income for the community.
SAAP has helped establish a small camp site in Simale, just over an hour’s walk from Tuum, which is used by Gametrackers Safaris (GS). Camping equipment is carried to this site by camels.
Visitors can also stay in the SAAP guesthouse in Tuum.
Vehicle maintenance
Many skills are acquired by doing! Vehicles are repaired on site at Tuum, where up to ten young local men work in the garage. Rigorous maintenance is carried out by these mechanics, as they seek to redress the severe wear and tear to vehicles due to the poor quality dust roads.
All the vehicles used by SAAP are Landrovers fitted with Isuzu diesel engines, sourced in Ireland and fitted on site in Tuum.
Several local, Kenyan-owned, Landrovers have also been converted by SAAP mechanics.
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