Project

SHALIN has open volunteer and intern positions focused on three projects in Kenya

This is an open and excellent opportunity for a student or a development worker wishing to be involved in any or all the three projects as a combined approach to understanding the role of policies, innovation, technology and local knowledge in development.

Terra preta and Stove research project read more following this LINK

The project is researching on household gasification stove and role of biochar in soil improvement  and agricultural productivity (Terra preta).  The focus is two pronged- to develop and improve the gasification stove technology and to test biochar efficacy on different soils on agriculture. The project is working with targeted households who will be provided with support to set up experimental and open access demonstration plots.  The same farmers will test the different stoves. KEFRI – Kenya Forestry Research Institute will be undertaking the technical soil measurements and testing of stoves (efficiency).

The project involves Coalition for Environment and Development, SHALIN and Helsinki University of Technology (Aalto ! University)

Forestry Project

GISEEM stands for geographical information systems (GIS) enhanced ecological mapping for improved governance of natural resources in Kenya. It is essentially a governance project aimed at empowering marginalized communities with valuable knowledge and skills of their natural environment. The GIS technology is part of the tools used towards generating knowledge for the improved governance and empowerment.

Between 2007 and 2009, GISEEM project worked with three forest communities in Kenya, mapping and documenting their traditional knowledge, producing a 3 D model on one of the forests, conducting several trainings and workshops on both technical aspects of mapping, forest and land policy environment and intergenerational transfer of ecological knowledge.

GISEEM will be looking at community forestry from a national level. Therefore an important part of the project will be to share the experiences from the 3 case communities with other communities, NGOs, and CSOs working on forestry in Kenya.

Renewable Energy Project

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Universal Ecology (RESCUE) is a project that started in 2008 and will continue to 2012.  The project aims at promoting small-scale, local renewable energy technologies. In 2008/09 the project trained artisans in wind and biogas technology.  The biogas units have been developed at schools to replace the use of firewood.  It is estimated that schools use about 17 tonnes of dry firewood per year.

The current phase of the project aims at upgrading the skills of the  technicians and improving the technologies, especially the wind power.   The project is also to strengthen the network further and build a strong partnership between renewable energy users and developers in Kenya.  Partners to this project have been Friends of the Earth Finland. Siemenpuu Foundation has also supported the local partner in the technical capacity development of the artisans on biogas and wind technology.

The aim of RESCUE is to respond to energy poverty, deforestation, climate change and unemployment by providing renewable energy solutions, develop new skills, create employment and build business opportunities.  The bigger goal is to improve the local environment and general ecosystems.

Opportunities

The projects under SHALIN offer many opportunities for research, innovation and as well as developing creative home grown solutions that address the much larger question of energy, food security and the integrity of ecosystems.  This is an  opportunity to develop an even bigger research for a student, intern, or development worker interested in the questions of environment and development.

Or contact us using the form below: Remember, a condition to intern or volunteer with SHALIN is that you are also a paid up member.

SHALIN Suomi is a Not-for Profit Organisation based in Finland. SHALIN seeks to promote sustainable development through networking, capacity building and knowledge management.

We work with local groups or communities to establish platforms through which communities get better equipped to deal with externally driven processes such as globalisation, climate change and the general politics.

SHALIN ry has a keen interest in global development trends and specifically the interpretation of development concepts by vulnerable communities.

We also focus of highlighting the conceptual differences in the understanding of development and how different development paradigms contribute to the strengthening or weakening the counterpart cultures or societies.

On climate change, our target is to get the global civil society to enter into a conscious climate change mitigation contract with local communities for direct action.

Participatory 3 D Mapping, Mukogodo Forest, Kenya

SHALIN Board 2009/2010

Tiina Kukkamaa (C)

Slade Syakango (VC)

Kaisa Seppanen -Secretary to the Board

Heikki Korhonen (Consultant Finance)

Sari Leinonen

Peter Kuria (Director, Finance)

Leena Akatama

Eva Kagiri

Advisors to the Board 2009/2010

1. Tomi Toivio

GIS Specialist

2. Miia Toikka

Kepa Finland- Advocacy Officer

3. Sonja Vermuelen,

International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED), UK

4. Nigel Crawhall

Director, Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), South Africa

Auditors: Audit Polar Oy

Risto Ekholm (KHT)

Untitled from SHALIN ry on Vimeo.