LOCAL NEWS - BY SOFARI WYCLIFFE – 12.4.2012 - AKICHA EDITORIAL TEAM CARRY OUT AN IN HOUSE TRAINING

Akicha newsreporters today had their in house meeting to check on different issues partaining news writing.
Chief Editor Akicha Radio Mr Zachaues Otaba organized the meeting in order to help in efficient running of the studio and improvement in the news department.
Running across the news reporting to editorial Mr Otaba re-emphasized on the importance of keeping the key value in writing reporting and reading news. The meeting was attended by staff among other people interested in knowing much about the editorial work. Though news being a difficult part in the Radio department, Mr Otaba told the reporters and other people to be strong and courageous when collecting news touching on the county in order to help the local people who are not getting the best out of editorial team.
He further said reporting needed courage and strength because a lot of challenges are in the field includes reporting some things that might touch the community in different ways and that which might not even be pleasing to the higher people in various positions in the county
The meeting ended today with an encouragement from Him who said reporters are the eyes of the county and without them nothing is going to bring change at all. He thanked them for the good cooperation and understanding and wished the they best of lack in the field as they went back to work.

LOCAL NEWS – 09.04.2011- By Zacheaus Otaba - Councilors get a training on HIV/A IDS Drugs abuse awareness.

There is need to have a collective responsibility on the fight against HIV/AIDS and drug abuse and advocate for voluntary medical male circumcision. The Turkana county council conducted a two day training for its councilors from all over the county on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse awareness. Speaking in his office, the Turkana county council clerk, Mr. Christopher Onanda said that, the training was organized by the county council committee on HIV/AIDS and facilitated by the ministry of public health and sanitation.
He said that they targeted the councilors first since they always meet with people in the barazas and that gives them a chance to advocate for voluntary medical male circumcision.
He promised that, it was a start and now they will role the programme to the whole staff of the county council since every one is affected. Onanda said that this is the exercise that the people of Turkana should accept collectively, since the HIV/AIDS prevalence in the region is 6%, which is alarming.
The training brought together more than 45 councilors who had been training since yesterday. He urged them to go out and act as an example for the people to see. However he cautioned that people should change from irresponsible sexual behavior, saying that it is the only way of guaranteeing health safety.

Local News - 6th May 2010 - Training on Sphere Project. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom.

The ongoing sphere project training at St Teresa Pastoral Centre marked its second day today registering 21 participants from the Diocese Of Lodwar. The participants were sub divided into three groups where they brainstormed in five thematic areas; Hygiene/Sanitation, Water, Food Security and Nutrition. Addressing the participants, TROCAIRE facilitator Elizabeth Itumbi Muendo emphasized on Hygiene promotion saying the important thing is to educate the community on essentials like cleaning hands, storing water in locked jerrycans, constructing toilets at ratio 3:1 and it should be in clean environment. Mrs Itumbi added that water provided should be of good quality , healthy for consumption and water points should be accessible to the community around. On food security Mrs Itumbi said for sustainability, its important to ensure distribution points are accessible and distribution is done at a good time. The Sphere Project Training is funded by ''Horn and East Africa Regional Office (TROCAIRE)'' through Development office of the diocese of Lodwar. The training will end tomorrow afternoon.

Local News - 5th May 2010 - Training on Sphere Project. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom.

Seventeen representatives from every department of the diocese of Lodwar have attended a three day training on “Sphere Project” that kicked-off today at St. Teresa Pastoral Centre Lodwar. The project is aimed at addressing issues on different aspects of Disaster Response, that is water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion, food security, nutrition and food aid, shelter, settlement and non-food items and health services. Speaking to a Radio Akicha reporter, Trocaire Regional Humanitarian Project Officer, Mr. Francis Omude Emoru said that he appreciates the Diocese of Lodwar for allowing their departments to attend this Participatory Risk Assessment/Appraisal (PRA) and Sphere Standards training which will improve quality and accountability in their programs. He added that it is their prayer as TROCAIRE, that all participants share this knowledge and practice for better service to the Turkana community. The training was facilitated by Francis Omude Emoru and Elizabeth Itumbi Muendo representatives from TROCAIRE Nairobi. The Project Officer from the Development Department, Diocese of Lodwar, Minyan Ngasike John, said participatory risk assessment and mapping was done yesterday and it covered camps of the internally displaced persons in Nakwamekwi and Naurenpuu. He added that they are yet to hod a workshop with the two communities on 24^th and 25^th this month whereby they will display the results of the exercise they carried. The PRA/Mapping and Sphere Project is funded by ''Horn and East Africa Regional Office (TROCAIRE)'' one of the major partners of the Diocese of Lodwar and the training is expected to end on friday afternoon.

Local News - 30.04.10 - Training for Youths Ends. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom.

Business Group Training for the youth and vulnerable groups that kicked off three days ago at Resource Centre, Lodwar, came to an end today. In his speech during the closing ceremony, the Drought Management Officer (DMO) who was also the guest of honour, Mr. Geoffrey Kaituko, asked the groups that had been trained to submit their business plans for possible funding. According to Arid Lands Mobile Extension leader, Brendah Mana, Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP) gives the youth small grands to boost their business adding that they allocates 2 million each year to distributed to various groups. So far 15 groups have benefitted from the grands. The training which was aimed at imparting business skills and promoting self reliance in Turkana community was facilitated by ALRMP under the Urban Youth Development fund.

Local News - 28.04.10 - Youth and Vulnerable Group Training Held. By Emmanuel A. Ekuwom.

A three-day training kicked off today at Resource Centre in Lodwar. The training which is aimed at equipping skills to business people and promoting self reliance in Turkana community attracted 15 groups comprising slightly more than 200 people from Lodwar Municipality. It was facilitated by Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP) under Urban Youth Development fund. According to Arid Lands Mobile Extension leader, Brendah Mana, this is third phase of their training projection. Similar trainings were held in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Targeted in the third phase training are the youth and vulnerable groups.

Mrs. Amana further said that they give the youth small grands to boost their business. According to Amana, ALRMP allocates 2 million every year to each of the groups. So far 15 groups have benefitted from the grands.

She further said that each group of the chosen 15, twelve of them will receive Kshs. 120,000, while two with special needs will get Kshs. 200,000, and Kshs. 160,000 for the remaining group. The criteria for selection is decided at the District Steering Group (DSG) which is usually chaired by the District Commissioner with the ALRMP Coordinator as the secretary.