SWIXX - walkabout

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Pastoralists in Garba Tula

In the Garba Tula district in Kenya (north-east of Nairobi and 60km from Meru National Park), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the Wildlife Resource Advocacy Programme run a project focused on the management of natural resources. They work with various community and government institutions to formalize local people's land rights and to make sure that natural resources in the area are used in a sustainable manner. This way the development of the region should remain compatible with traditional pastoralism - the raising of livestock - which is the main economic activity in the area. The project focuses both on conserving the region's biodiversity and on improving the lives of local people.

One of the project's initiatives is the 'Cultural village' where tourists can stay in traditional 'bandas', taste delicious African food, enjoy traditional dance and music and spot elephants, hippos, lions, rhinos and other wild beasts in the Meru National Park just round the corner.

Meru National Park

The village is run by the locals - mainly women - who look after the guests, prepare food for them and maintain the cottages.

Income gained from the 'Cultural village' allows local people to send their children to schools.

In the nearby town of Kinna, community elders - the Council - gather to discuss the project's development.

Kinna town

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Stéphane von Rouge, Lausanne 2010

Stéphane Commend (a.k.a. « Stéphane von Rouge ») although recognized as an expert in mesh-based numerical modeling , Stéphane is better known as a connoisseur of red wine and tasty music, and as a devoted father of lovely Malena. He can be often seen with a glass of wine in Doll gallery helping to support young contemporary artists during exhibition openings. Stéphane is the co-founder of GeoMod – the consulting office offering finite element modeling oriented on civil engineering projects.