APYN Conference Planning

Thanks to the generous donations from friends and family in Canada- and in particular Kit Redmond at RTR Media and The Department of Women’s Studies and Feminist Research at Western University in London- more than $3,100 dollars (or 4.65 million Tanzania Shillings) was raised in support of APYN’s first ever network-wide conference, promoting group solidarity, capacity-building and entrepreneurship!

 Just look at all that TSh! 

Thanks to everyone back in Canada who donated to the APYN Conference Fundraiser!

The conference will take place on March 12-14 and 19-21 in the conference area behind Kivulini Kitchen, the same building in which the APYN office is located. We had to divide the kitchen members into two groups of approx. 35 individuals and host two separate conference sessions in order to ensure that half of the members from each kitchen would always be available to provide the beneficiaries with their daily serving of probiotic yogurt, and sell to members of the local community who have also come to depend on it's amazing health benefits!

Conference area behind Kivulini Kitchen 

More than 70 local women and youth involved with the program will attend the conference and receive hands-on training in business marketing and entrepreneurship, financial accounting, the health benefits of probiotics and probiotic yogurt production. These topics were determined in consultation with APYN staff and partners, and were also based on a thorough assessment of the challenges, needs and achievements of each kitchen conduct by APYN staff and interns in January 2013.

Due to the unexpected amount of donations received from Canada, APYN staff was also able to hire local consultant and business expert, Bernard Makachia, to facilitate program-specific workshops with the kitchen members on marketing, entrepreneurship and financial documentation. Having the funds available to hire Mr. Makachia was particularly exciting for APYN staff members, who have worked with him in the past and speak very highly of his capabilities.

Me and Ana, APYN's Finance Manager and Community Programme Assistant

Tyto and Celestine, APYN interns from SAUT University in Mwanza, standing in front of the super fancy conference itinerary from our first planning session

Abdallah, APYN's newest staff member

Susan, my roommate and fellow Western Heads East intern

Emily, another of one us Western Heads East interns

Here is a breakdown of the conference schedule:

	Conference Schedule
Schedule Day 1	Topic	Facilitator(s)
9:00-10:30	Welcome and Introductions	Ana and Esther
9:30-10:30	Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities of APYN and Kitchens	Ana, Esther and Emily
10:30-11:00	Breakfast
11:00-1:30	Financial Documentation	Bernard Makachia
1:30-2:00	Lunch
2:00-4:30	Financial Documentation	Bernard Makachia
Schedule Day 2	Topic	Facilitator(s)
9:00-10:30	Entrepreneurship Training: Building a Business	Bernard Makachia
10:30-11:00	Breakfast
11:00-1:30	Entrepreneurship Training: Growing a Business	Bernard Makachia
1:30-2:00	Lunch
2:00-3:30	Entrepreneurship Training: Marketing a Business	Bernard Makachia
3:00-4:30	Kate’s Questionnaire on the Gender Impact of APYN Program	Kate
Schedule Day 3	Topic	Facilitator(s)
9:00-10:30	The Health Benefits of Probiotic	Ana and Esther
10:30-11:00	Breakfast
11:00-1:30	Probiotic Yogurt Production Training	Shannon Seney
1:30-2:00	Lunch
2:00-4:30	Probiotic Yogurt Production Training	Shannon Seney

As you can see, the final session of day 2 is when I will be administering my questionnaire to the kitchen members, asking about the impact of the program in their lives, as well as for their families and their communities. Thus in addition to being hugely beneficial for APYN staff and kitchens members, the conference will provide me with an otherwise non-existent opportunity to administer my questionnaire to all of the kitchen members over two days. The questionnaire also serves as a method for recruiting interview participants, as the final question asks individuals to indicate whether or not they would be interested in participating in a one-on-one interview with me in April/May, and if they answer "yes", to provide their name and contact information. Administering the questionnaire first will also allow me to make reference to and follow-up on individuals’ written responses during their interview.

After the conference takes place I will be posting video and photos from the event online, so be sure to check back here over the next few weeks! I will also be writing a post detailing event highlights, and short and long-term outcomes. 

A huge thanks to everyone who has given their time, money and support in order to allow this event to take place!