Representatives to the U.S. Embassy in Kenya attended the dedication ceremony of the Muungano Women’s Group vocational training center January 17, 2011, in Matadoni, Kenya.

The U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger’s self-help fund aided in the cost for the group to build the training center.

“(The Muungano Women’s Group) is going to use the center primarily to teach young girls and women a life skill, which is sewing or catering, so they can go out and have something they can use to better themselves and their families,” said Erin Wirtanen, Ambassador Ranneberger’s self-help fund coordinator.

According to Wirtanen, the vocational training center is the second project funded by the Ambassador’s self help fund and has been a year in the making.

The ceremony included dancing and singing from the Muungano Women’s Group and children of the village. Also, Keith Gilges, Ambassador Ranneberger’s representative to the coast province, spoke on the partnership between Kenya and the United States and the importance of the friendship.

“There are different perspectives, different needs, different cultures and different people who exist in different parts of Kenya and I think that certainly the coast is different and merits increased attention,” Gilges said. “The programs we are doing in partnership with groups like the Muungano Women’s Group is a sign of the friendship, not only of the government of the United States but of the people of the U.S. to the people of Kenya and to the people of this village.”

Also in attendance at the ceremony were members of Maritime Civil Affairs Team 208, who are assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to maintain relationships with groups around the coast province, such as that with the Muungano Women’s group.

“(The Muungano Women’s Group) is a driving force in the community,” said U.S. Navy Lieutenant Andrew Moyer, MCAT 208 officer in charge. “The women’s group (in Matadoni) is a really awesome example of them taking ownership in their community. We are there if we can do anything for them, but also to see how they’ve done things in their community so we can help encourage that in other communities.”

The dedication of the vocational training center was yet another example of the strong partnership between Kenya and the United States.
“We’re helping the Muungano Women’s Group, not just because it’s an important, good thing to do that has great results, but because it’s also good for (the United States),” Gilges said. “By helping the people and the women of this village, we’re helping to create a more prosperous, economically diverse, stable and transparent Kenya. We’re here to help improve the lives of people in Kenya because that’s so important to the entire region, and that is important to the United States.”