PROFILE

1.0. INTRODUCTION.

1.1 LEM is an acronym for Lake Victoria Environmental Education and Management, it is a registered NGO started as a CBO in 2002. It was initiated by the people at local level through people’s participation in Mwanza City. LEM operates around the Lake Victoria in the lake zone arrears which consists of Mwanza, Mara, Kagera and Shinyanga Regions.

LEM is a registered entity which bearer’s registration NO. 14NGO / 1205 of 2007.

Physical Address.

Kenyatta Road Mwanza City. Block No MZA – 26/K.

LEM is a membership organization which constitutes of 12 members now. However there are three types of membership.

1. FOUNDER MEMBERS: Those who sat down for the first time to discuss the formulation of the organization, (also known as life Members).

2. ORDINARY MEMBERS: Who apply to join the organization, usually an individual pays entry fee of Tshs. 50,000/= every year on becoming member.

3. HONORARY MEMBERS: Members who enter the organization by virtual of their positions they occupy in the society or otherwise.

2.0. Vision.

Prosperous livelihood of the marginalized segment of society in things pertaining to environmental restoration and poverty reduction in the Lake Victoria basin, through community participatory.

2.1. Mission.

Enhancement of social economic opportunities in areas of human rights, environmental restoration and poverty reduction in the Lake Victoria basin.

3.0    Main objectives.

Facilitation of social economic opportunities to the marginalized segment of society on things related to human rights, environmental restoration and poverty reduction in the Lake Victoria basin.

3.1    Specific Objective.

1. Management of the wetlands coupled with creation of new and artificial wetlands.

2. Awareness creation to the marginalized communities

3. Formation of Village environmental committees (VECS)

4. Formulation of participatory community workshops on ecological sanitation.

5. Advocacy of HIV / AIDS education campaign programmes to the youth and the general public among the fisher folks in the islands and around the Lake Victoria.

6. Capacity Building of the fisher folks to enable them manage Lake Victoria resources in a sustainable manner.

7. Empower the rural communities be capable of utilizing the acquired information of knowledge and skills related to environment for better livelihood.

8. To solicit support for local environmental planning and awareness rising.

9. Exchanging of ideas on land desertification and mitigation measures to prevent land degradation.

10. Advocating for education campaign programmes and initiation of behavioral change on Environmental degradation and inclusion.

3.2    Memberships:

LEM is a member of all living lakes in the world. Coalition of living lakes of East Africa (COLLEA), MNGONI (Mwanza NGO Net work), (M.P.I) Mwanza Policy Initiatives, LAVNET E.A Lake Victoria NGO,s Advocacy East Africa).

4.0.   ACTIVITIES.

1. To conduct detailed baseline survey on environment, HIV/AIDS, and poverty alleviation among communities.

2. To rehabilitate and protect the wetlands by planting grasses e.g. Papyrus, elephant and grass etc.

3. To conduct an intensive wetlands education campaign through radio programmes, Magazines, Pamphlets, TV and Posters.

4. Together information on wetlands, ecology and wetland management principles.

5. To organize and conduct participatory seminars / workshops to the general communities, with gender senility..

6. To organize and conduct participatory training sessions to the industrial owners, where as,

7. To organize and conduct participatory seminars in which the VECs will be identified.

8. To organize participatory monitoring and evaluation

9. To conduct project report writing and information dissemination.

5.0.      CHALLENGES:

v  Low level of voluntary spirit leading to high operational costs.

v  Lack of proper organization of civic groups working on the Lake Victoria Basin.

v  Scarcity of resources to meet the actual project and other operational costs.

v  Meager financial resources to spearhead extensive creation of awareness.

6.0   WEAKNESS.

v  Little progress in identifying and working with partners.

v  Lack of Training in community capacity building

v  Lack of enough working tools and facilities.

 7.     APPOACHES.

• Participatory and consultative process with grass root communities on things related to planning, decision making, Implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

• Gender sensitivity and analysis in programme activities.

• Bottom up and top down approaches in things concerning decision making.

• Malt and interdisciplinary approaches in project execution and implementation.

• Malt scrotal and sectoral approaches in things related to environment, HIV and AIDS, poverty reduction etc.

• Youth communities to take the lead in things of their own concern.

• Collaborations and cooperation with other stakeholders, interconnected and inclusion.

8.      CORE VALUES:

v  Togetherness, cooperation and solidarity is our motor.

v  Adherence to the norms and values of organizational constitution in which every matter is well spelt out.

v  Working tirelessly, effectively and efficiently for organizational turnover.

v  We believe in equality and fairness.

v  We believe in gender equality and empowerment.

v  We believe in continuous leaning for new knowledge and skills.

v  We believe in quality services that satisfies the needs of many users and beneficiaries.