December 2009 – Growing our Extension Network
In preparation for our rapid expansion plans for 2010, we have nearly doubled the size of our extension network to 62 women and men whose agricultural expertise and training will help our farmers in the field.
November 2009 – Celebrating Success!
This month, our team gathered to celebrate a year of success. In 2009, we have nearly tripled our number of partner farmers and built up our capacity to rapidly expand in the coming year!
November 2009 – New Office!
KOMAZA has moved from the center of Kilifi town to a large, welcoming office space that accommodates our growing staff.
November 2009 – Three Foundations Renew Support for KOMAZA
The Oswald Foundation and The Conservation Food and Health Foundation have committed to a second year as KOMAZA’s funding partners. The Mulago Foundation has also committed to a third year of support with a significant operational grant for 2010. We are thrilled to thank each of these foundations!
October 2009 – 128 New Farmers
We have just completed our short rains planting season with 128 new farmer families! KOMAZA now includes nearly 500 dry land farmers.
October 2009 – Expanding our Team
The KOMAZA team has recently welcomed 2 Project Associates and 2 Project Assistants, bringing with them international expertise in their fields and degrees from top-notch universities. Including our 30-person field extension network, KOMAZA’s team has now grown to 59.
September 2009 – Received NGO Status in Kenya
KOMAZA is proud to announce that we have received NGO certification under section 10 of Kenya's Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act.
September 2009 – Water Loans Help KOMAZA Farmers Cope with Drought
In the face of an ongoing drought, KOMAZA has rapidly responded to our farmers’ needs and provided water loans. The water farmers can now procure will further ensure the success of their hearty, drought-resistant KOMAZA plots.
June 2009 –Ready for Short Rains Planting
This month we began training new facilitators, field officers and field managers to prepare for our upcoming planting season. Our extension network is rapidly growing – now including over 30 skilled individuals who work closely with every KOMAZA farmer for ongoing training and maintenance support.
May 2009 - New Experimental Farm
KOMAZA has established a major new experimental farm in Ganze, the center of our current program area. The lessons learned from this farm will help us improve our current planting practices and advance our R&D work on a number of agricultural innovations.
April 2009 - 195 New KOMAZA Farmers
The start of this long-rains season has seen a total of 195 new farmers joining KOMAZA, which more than doubles the amount of families that have chosen to partner in our work.
January 2009 - New Staff for 2009
KOMAZA has welcomed a number of new field staff and Project Associates to our team for 2009. We have now grown to over 30 staff members and plan to continue expanding throughout the year.
December 2008 - Two Foundations Join our Team
The Oswald and Conservation, Food and Health foundations have committed to joining KOMAZA as funding partners for 2009. We thank both organizations for their support.
November 2008 - Mulago Foundation Broadens its Support
After supporting KOMAZA through its Rainer Arnhold Fellows Program for 2008, the Mulago Foundation has stepped up its support for KOMAZA by committing a significant operational grant for 2009.
October 2008 - One Hundred New Families Plant Tree Farms
One hundred new families have planted tree farms with KOMAZA during the 2008 short rains season. This more than triples the amount of families who have partnered with us to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
July 2008 - New Website Launched
Our new website represents a major redesign and a much greater amount of information about KOMAZA and our work. We hope you enjoy it!
April 2008 - Major Community Planting Completed
KOMAZA has completed a major community planting. Our field teams have successfully overseen the planting of 17,000 trees on over 25 acres of land by our community partners. This round of planting involved 48 family farms, four public schools and one women's group
March 2008 - New Offices Opened
We have opened our new offices in the center of Kilifi town. This new space will provide ample room for KOMAZA staff as we continue to rapidly expand our personnel.
January 2008 - KOMAZA Wins Draper Richards Award
The Draper Richards Foundation has chosen KOMAZA's founder, Tevis Howard, as a fellow. The Foundation will provide KOMAZA funding and business consulting services for the next three years.
January 2008 - KOMAZA Awarded Rainer Arnhold Fellowship Award
The Rainer Arnhold Fellowship Program has chosen KOMAZA's founder, Tevis Howard, as a fellow. The award will provide funding and intensive strategic management support for the next two years.
August 2007 - KOMAZA Finalizes Forestry Working Relationships in Kenya
We have developed relationships with a number of Kenya's premier forestry organizations, including the Kenya Forestry Department and the Kilifi Institute of Agriculture. These research and technical partnerships will help ensure that KOMAZA is on the cutting edge of world-class agroforestry.
April 2007 - Formation of KOMAZA Advisory Groups Finalized
KOMAZA is pleased to announce that we have finalized the formation of two key groups of advisors. In Kenya, a panel of advisors including community leaders and forestry specialists have agreed to help guide our efforts as we prepare to pilot community tree farm plantings. In the USA, we have formed a slate of strategic and financial advisors. Our advisors include respected business people, academics and social sector leaders who will provide critical guidance to KOMAZA as our organization continues to grow and mature.
September 2006 - Seed Fundraising Initiated
We've begun KOMAZA's first major fundraising drive. KOMAZA relies on the philanthropy of many people to realize its goals in Kenya.
August 2006 - Workshop & Basic Offices Completed
Long awaited, we've finally completed work on our workshop building, which also includes modest offices and a store room. These facilities will serve as KOMAZA's base in Kenya until we can begin work on a proper office complex.
June 2006 - Website Launched
Long overdue, KOMAZA.org is finally up!
April 2006 - Demonstration Tree Farm Planted
We have planted 3,500 trees on 4 acres of leased land located prominently on the Mombasa-Kilifi-Malindi Highway. This will serve as a demonstration tree farm to illustrate how successful tree farming can be in this climate.
March 2006 - Land Leased
We have successfully leased 4.25 acres of land to serve as KOMAZA headquarters with offices, a workshop, and a demonstration tree farm. The land is being cleared of brush and prepared for tree planting.
March 2006 - Key Staff Hired in Kenya
We are very excited to announce the hiring of our first team of Kenyan administrative staff. These individuals will execute KOMAZA's core operations in Kenya, and will work with field staff that we hope to soon hire. Janet Chihanga is joining us as District Manager, Gibson Mwarumba and Kennedy M'baraka as Field Directors, and Philistine Awuor will serve as KOMAZA's Financial Accounting Officer.
March 2006 - CBO Registration
To facilitate our work with the people of Kilifi District we have registered as a Community Based Organization, effectively a local non-profit organization. We held our commencement meeting on the 9th of March to approve a constitution and elect governing officers. We were officially registered with the Government of Kenya on the 29th of March, 2006, registration number SS/KFI/LR/SHG/BAH-D/2I/2006.
March 2006 - Bank Account and P.O. Box Opened
KOMAZA has opened a bank account with the Kenya Commercial Bank and a P.O. Box at the Kilifi town Post Office: P.O. Box 117, Kilifi - 80108, Kenya.
February 2006 - Registration as a Business in Kenya
In order to establish KOMAZA as a legal entity in Kenya, we have registered "KOMAZA Enterprises" under The Registration of Business Names Act on the 20th of February, 2006.
