After nine successful months and over 1000 community beneficiaries trained, DOT Kenya’s ReachUp! Interns were feted at a ceremony held at the All Africa Conference of Churches on 29th June, 2007. The 13 Interns who had accepted extensions to their contracts namely, Victor Omondi, Rose Juma, Erick Olang’, Robina Guchu, Nicholas Mulei, Judith Mwangi, Amisi Lumasia, Christabel Masheti, Denis Ombuna, Faith Muricho, Vincent Wakaba, Carol Wamwea, and Samson Muigai, were joined by Moses Opondo, Christine Nkingo and Adrian Gitau at the function. Christine Nkingo’s new born son was also on hand to help celebrate.  Representatives from government ministries, the private sector, other NGOs, universities, DOT Kenya community partners and some of the beneficiaries were also on hand to help the entire DOT team to recognise the achievements of the Interns.

She remarked about the changes that had occurred in the Interns in the 9 months she had known them. “I remember when we were recruiting them, they were not confident, they did not know where they wanted to be in 5 years. They knew they were graduates and that they wanted to go into the job market. They were not  sure the kind of jobs they wanted to do. They did not know their skills and strengths and that’s where we started.” She added that the ReachUp!  programme is not just for the community beneficiaries, but the Interns are beneficiaries as well.  “They did everything the community participants are expected to do including developing a project, and they are visibly different because of it,” she said. 

Each of the Interns present had an opportunity to introduce themselves and speak about their experience as Interns. All of them expressed their gratitude for what they had gained which they felt will hold them in good stead in their future plans. Moses Opondo, who is now working with Faulu Kenya, made a presentation, tracing the life of a DOT Kenya Intern from recruitment to placement. 

Three community beneficiaries were also given the opportunity to showcase their projects. Susan Mwende showed off one of her warming baskets. She had boiled water the night before and put it in an ordinary plastic bottle and placed it in the basket. The bottle was then passed around to the guests who were leasantly surprised to find that the water was still quite warm. Charles Ndirangu presented his idea for retailing pepper spray and Nelson Ngari presented his batik works. 

John Odie, a representative from the Ministry of Information and Communication, was the chief guest. Blair Walker of CIDA presented the interns with their certificates. Martin Shapiro, DOT Vice president of Operations and Marga Fripp, Director of Partnerships were also present at the ceremony. DOT Kenya hosted the Interns and the invited guest to lunch thereafter. 

DOT Kenya thanks all the Interns for their service. We wish you all the best in the next chapter of your lives.