A letter from Coady graduate Patrick Ekodere,
The COVID-19 pandemic has struck us hard, physically, financially, emotionally, and psychologically. As a social enterprise, my work has borne the brunt of this pandemic from closure of all livestock markets to diminished end market for our beef. Albeit, I am glad the local county government has heard our cry and allowed us a window to operate a livelihood market while observing all guidelines and preventive measures.
We are keeping to the stipulated guidelines as we strive to keep our communities alive spiritually and morally. From a personal perspective, I have provided my services to the pastoralist communities of Northern Kenya under the Northern Rangelands Trust organization. We are providing the people an opportunity to sell cattle as a livelihood support strategy to beat poverty and financial impoverishment so that they can afford to buy food and basic requirements during this hard moment.
I have held several awareness meetings with all stakeholders while upholding social distancing and basic control principles and guidelines on the pandemic control. One basic principle from Coady that has driven my commitment is building ownership by working with all stakeholders. As an individual, I cannot make it alone or create any impact alone. I look at problems from the “glass half full” principle from the asset-based community development (ABCD) program. This motivates me a lot. It is not too hard to meet my objective if I soldier on positively, and the journey is shorter than many would think with the right mental framework.
I am driven by one quotation from my time at Coady. ”Participation without ownership is theatre.” I have endeavored to build ownership in my work and conclusively rally the whole team towards a successful mission. By God’s grace, I am putting a smile to one family and many families in this landscape. Long live Coady for imparting to me this noble principle of development among many others.
Patrick Ekodere
Strengthening Inclusive Economies, 2019
Director of Livestock Program, Northern Rangelands Trust, Kenya
We are providing the people an opportunity to sell cattle as a livelihood support strategy to beat poverty and financial impoverishment so that they can afford to buy food and basic requirements during this hard moment.
