N.I.L.E. journeys
Nurturing Impulses for Living Ecosystems
Learning Spaces
In addition to the online platform the Nile Forum offers opportunities for physical interaction with local learning spaces. With the development of the Nile Forum those learning spaces are equipped with infrastructure that enable the connection across the Nile Basin for those who do not have proper internet access. These physical learning spaces will also be the social centers of excellence where the practices of the Nile Forum will be conducted locally.
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Among these learning spaces are some of the partner organizations:
Fekra Cultural Center in Aswan, Egypt
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FEKRA is cultural center aspiring to be a permacultural center in Nubia, South of Egypt. It is located on 40'000 sqm of land next to the Nile coves and opposite the island of the Philae Temple, in Southern Egypt.
FEKRA is a space designated to provide a learning and inspiration hub for artists from around the world. Fekra demonstrates in its architecture, agriculture and management the cultures and traditions of Southern Egypt.
The center organizes traditional and contemporary music and dance events, poetry evenings, lectures, nature explorations, Nile connection journeys and film screenings. FEKRA also offers courses and workshops with local and international artists and facilitates an international cultural exchange
RIOFA on Rusinga Island in Kenya
RIOFA-PTC (Rusinga Island Organic Farmers & Permaculture Training Centre) is a community Based Organization & a social enterprise working with small holder farmers around lake Victoria Basin in Ecological and Climate smart agriculture using Organic farming & Permaculture principles and ethics of Care for the Earth, Peoples care and Fair share. Our major aim is working towards reducing environmental pollution of Lake Victoria which is one of the major sources of River Nile.
HOW RIOFA IS CONNECTED TO THE NILE
Rusinga Island is one of the many small islands on Lake Victoria with an exploding population of 35000 inhabitants, this is not only putting pressure on the limited natural resources on the Island but also posing a serious environmental threat to lake Victoria which is source to the Nile . More than 80% of people living in Lake Victoria Basin rely on fishing and agriculture for sustenance, economic, social and cultural gain. Like Rusinga Island many communities around Lake Victoria Basin and those depending on the Nile either through agriculture or fishing are not only faced with declining land & fish productivity, soil degradation, water pollution, livestock and crop diseases rendering reliance on agriculture & fishing increasingly untenable, hence Communities along the lake left with no alternatives but to engage in dangerous fishing & farming practices which are not sustainable and friendly to the lake and environment. Rusinga Island Organic Farmers is working with these very vulnerable population living along Lake Victoria & the Nile Basin not only to help mitigate climate change effects but also building resilent,loving, and caring communities living/ coexisting peacefully, embracing each other for development & posterity.
Fili Coffee in Ethiopia
Fili Coffee Roasting is established as one of the leading specialty coffee roasters based in Addis Ababa. Fili Coffee Roasting is made up of seasoned professionals who have reach experience in the coffee industry. Our philosophy is driven by a passion for coffee and commitment to source and roast some of the highest quality Ethiopian coffee packages the very pure Arabica coffee from different regions of Ethiopia.
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The founder Filimon believes that the rive Nile could be more of a means for peace and unity that for division and insecurity.
International Peace Initiatives in Kenya
The mission of International Peace Initiatives is to promote cultures of peace by supporting sustainable initiatives that improve livelihoods and enhance the quality of life. IPI-U.S. helps fund and gives advice and technical assistance to IPI-Kenya, which runs all operations in Meru, Kenya
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Key projects include:
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Kithoka Amani Children’s Home - Amani means ‘peace’ in Swahili. The mission of Kithoka Amani Children’s Home (KACH) is to keep orphaned and vulnerable children in the community where they grew up, which preserves a child’s network of support.
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Enterprise & Empowerment - IPI helps community women develop skills so they can support their families. These women are often widowed or with husbands who are ill or unemployed. IPI provides training in tailoring, jewelry making, weaving, hairdressing, and hospitality management. Some of these efforts have included giving circles of trained women seed money to fund the purchasing of supplies, and assisted them in transporting their goods to market.
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Peace & Ethical Leadership Training - IPI leads many nonviolence and peace training programs whose mission is the prevention and transformation of conflict through research, education, and training.
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Tiriji Eco Center - An eco-project geared towards reviving a community’s traditional ways of food production began in 2014. This enhances sustainable agriculture through the care of our land, conservation of our environment, and the empowerment of the local people to rebuild the broken relationships.
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