In a previous article, we took the position that protectionism is an idea that merits further perusal as a means of developing our local industries. In this article we will attempt to define the role played by neighborhood organizations in reviving and stimulating the local economy.
What is a neighborhood organization?
A neighborhood organization is one made up of concerned citizens coming together to tackle the pressing issues that are peculiar to that locality. It should operate in a small enough area so that you can know everyone else fairly well, have a real voice in what the community does, and yet it is large enough to have real diversity, and offer and accomplish more than you could alone or as a household. If it is truly a community, with many overlapping relationships (co-worker, friend, neighbor, etc.), then it exerts an important pressure on its members to develop their personal integrity and take seriously the issues to be addressed.
It employs a participatory form of governorship as opposed to the representative form whereby we elect a Member of Parliament who disappears only to reappear at election time. Neighborhood organizations are invaluable in the pursuit of good food, good health, a pleasant home, a friendly community, satisfying work, time to play and a sense of security.
We will address some of the areas in which people working together can stimulate the local economy.
Community supported agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for consumers to buy local, food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included such as poultry or meats. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of produce each week or other defined period. With techniques such as irrigation and green house farming, farmers will be able to offer produce free from the influence of seasonal rains.
Advantages for farmers:
• Gets to spend time learning the marketing aspect of the business.
• Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
• Will sell directly to the consumer so will retain the majority of the profit that would have gone to a middleman.
• Has an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
• Eats ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – this would lead to a more varied nutritious diet
• Develops a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learns about how food is grown
• Food will be presumably less expensive since it has a shorter distance to travel and has less packaging
Civic engagement
Neighborhood groups, well organized would be able to take to task government agencies and the local county council on delivery of essential services. They would attend council hearings, if they are held, and demand some floor time to present their opinions. As a recent example, there was a fire in Ongata Rongai, a township outside Nairobi, The fire department from Nairobi responded after a while. From this story, we learn that the local county council does not have an emergency response department and it registers businesses without inspecting for fire alarms and fire exits. In such a situation, a neighborhood organization could demand accountability and an open audit of county revenues to ascertain how they spend it.
Local groups would also be able to hold adult awareness classes in topics such as:
• Civics and the rights of citizens under the law
• Health awareness and associated topics such as healthy eating and disease prevention.
• Cultural and sporting events. These would advance neighborliness and promote national cohesion devoid of stereotypes.
A sense of security
Neighborhood groups well organized groups would lead the way in demanding from the government adequate security for their region. For every cluster of population there should a police station or security outpost within reach to respond to emergency situations. They would demand the police stations have updated communications equipment and emergency response vehicles.
Neighborhood Watch Program.
This is a citizen ran program with roots in the U.S.A that may contain some useful ideas that may be adopted for rural and urban neighborhoods.
What it is
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that teaches citizens how to help themselves by identifying and reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
The town of Ngong, outside Nairobi, was recently hit by a spate of robberies whereby victims were drugged then robbed. Victims interviewed gave descriptions of the gang yet police have not apprehended them. Livestock are even being driven off farms by rustlers. An alert neighborhood, watching out for each other and raising the alarm can prevent crimes before they happen.
In addition, Neighborhood Watch provides citizens with the opportunity to make their neighborhoods safer and improve the quality of life. Neighborhood Watch groups typically focus on observation and awareness as a means of preventing crime and employ strategies that range from simply promoting social interaction to active patrols by groups of citizens. All Neighborhood Watches share one foundational idea, that bringing community members together to reestablish control of their neighborhoods promotes an increased quality of life and reduces the crime rate in that area.
Strategies employed
• After forming the initial group, consisting of resident volunteers, the group will identify any problem areas and set priorities on which to tackle and in what order
• They would establish a partnership with local law enforcement. Ways in which residents and the police can work together is: the police can help residents start patrol groups, the police can set up a dedicated phone line for tips to prevent impeding crime or tips leading to the arrest of law breakers.
• They would identify projects beyond crime prevention. One way to accomplish this is to create and embark upon new projects so that there is always a goal towards which the team is aspiring. Projects may include: building a neighborhood playground, regular town or village cleaning and beautification, volunteer work with the local hospital or school among others.
Community supported enterprises
Many businesses, especially in most rural areas, play an irreplaceable part in community life. They are the hub of the community, they are meeting and lounging places, and they are historical places while others provide unique services to locals such as credit purchases based on good faith.
It would therefore be prudent for neighborhood residents to support local businesses to maintain the unique life style that is the essence of rural life. Also by supporting local businesses, the money spent stays in the neighborhood and is reinvested enhancing the quality of life. Take the simplified example of the farmer family whose produce is sold pre-order. They then take part of their earnings and use it to commission uniforms for their school children from the local seamstress. She will then use that sale to pay her local taxes and spend some in the neighborhood. If her product is good and her business expands, she may hire employees. This will lead to more jobs for residents who will in turn have money to spend on other businesses. This is one way in which a community thrives and grows.
Tax revenue generated by local businesses will also be used to improve the provision of essential services such as health, education and security.
If a business were to run into financial trouble, the neighborhood organization could bail it out in a unique way by buying shares redeemable for goods or services later. Take the example of a neighborhood eatery. If in financial trouble, the neighborhood may purchase shares of the business at a set value in exchange for a cash infusion to prop the business up. When the business steadies, investors would then redeem their shares for meals over a period of time. This way the business remains operable and the residents have a place to eat and socialize.
Conclusion
Although neighborhoods, especially in urban areas, are invariably made up of residents, often with nothing in common, looking for affordable housing, they would be well served to get to know each other and take pride in the preservation and progress of their neighborhoods. Thriving and vibrant neighborhoods would by extension lead to a healthy and progressive nation.
Full disclosure: The opinions expressed in this and other preceding articles are excerpted from the manifesto of a budding political party that will be seeking the mandate of the Kenyan people in the general elections of 2017. We will continually strive to present solutions with substance to issues affecting fellow Kenyans in order to uplift the living standards of this generation and bring prosperity to future generations.
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