MASIMBA COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER (MCRC)

Situated at Masimba Town, North of Kisii town, Nyanza province, Kenya; Masimba Community Resource Center was founded in 1997 by The Youth Vision International in collaboration with Rural Health Care (RUHECA). Housed in a two roomed rented house in a spacious compound the center is the only one of its kind in the region. To create room for its ever growing business often tents are used. The Resource Center has over a thousand books, a variety of informational materials, and serves as a meeting place for youth meetings. On average twenty patrons visit the resource every day. The resource center serves several rural primary and secondary schools, out of school youth, and researchers among others.  We are proud that the center has received visitors from around the world including the USA.

Management

The center is run by a fulltime Resource Center Attendant. Besides, an oversight team of a ten-member board assists the Resource Center Attendant. The Resource center has been hailed as a model for rural development. 

Objectives

¼  To provide information about HIV/AIDS to the local community

¼   To promote reading as away of life for the local youth

¼   Provide a meeting platform for youth groups to plan their activities

¼   Facilitate and encourage research on issues facing the community

¼   To act as a training center for youth leaders.

Major Activities at the Center

¼   The center lends its books to members, local schools, and other institutions.

¼   Members of The Youth Vision International hold their meetings at the center.

¼   Area youth and other members of the community often hold their meetings and other activities at the center.

¼   Information outlet to the community: the center is perhaps the only one of its kind in the region that provides critical and current information about HIV/AIDS.  Other information available is on environment, education and agriculture.

   ¼The center hosts different organizations that support form The Youth Vision International Family. They include churches, Central government, schools, NGOs, local government, and community organizations representatives. 

  ¼ The center serves as The Youth Vision International, Kenya office

   ¼The center organizes the annual Masimba Race Against AIDS.

The future of the Resource Center

In the next five years the Masimba Resource Center would have an Internet linked computer system, a photocopy machine, more books and other information materials. In ten years’ time we hope to build a modern state of the art resource center. The Center will have more space for offices and training activities, conference rooms, and recreation facilities, among others. Meanwhile, we have requested the owner of the center to build a bigger room for reading and research activities. 

Funding

The center is funded by BGSU-Kenya 5K Benefit Run, a project of The Youth Vision International.  We sincerely appreciate those who have supported this initiative that impacts the lives of community members greatly.

Vision
Our vision is to establish more community resource centers in the rural areas so as to avail current, relevant, and appropriate information to rural communities in Kenya. We believe that information is a powerful tool for rural development.

Got Questions or Need More Information? Contact

 Masimba Community Resource Center

Attn. Joseph Marucha Mwamba

 Resource Center Attendant

P.o Box 33

Masimba, Kenya.