Northern Kenya Education Trust launches in Minnesota with fanfare, Kenyan delegates and a keynote address by Minnesota's favorite Congressman.

Contact: Siyad Abdullahi
Phone: (612) 281-6866
Email: siyadabdul@gmail.com

Minneapolis, MN. (NoKET)…Northern Kenya Education Trust (NoKET), the will sponsor a dinner and program on Friday, May 11, 2012 from 5-9 p.m.at the Doubletree by Hilton located at 7800 Normandale Blvd in Bloomington, MN. NoKET has invited Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-CD5) as their keynote speaker to talk about the organization and the importance of their mission.

NoKET supports education for students, particularly girls, pastoralist counties of Northern Kenya while also tackling the underlying causes of educational marginalization in the region.

The Northern Kenya Education Trust (NoKET) is an independent trust registered in 2010 to promote and advance quality education. A Board of Trustees governs NoKET. Day to day management is provided by a small Secretariat, headed by its Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Ole Twala.

NoKET’s work covers the counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu, Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kajiado and Narok. These have some of the lowest indicators of educational achievement in Kenya, particularly for girls.

NoKET helps bright but needy young people from Kenya’s arid and nomadic counties complete their secondary, tertiary or university education. It has a particular interest in girls’ education. In January 2011 it took over administration of the successful UNICEF-supported scholarship scheme for girls from North Eastern Province.

NoKET believes that investing in education is key to reducing poverty in pastoralist areas. More trained professionals will be on hand to develop their own counties. A wider choice of vocational and technical training will help livestock-keepers who want to diversify out of pastoralism. And a critical mass of female graduates will be transformative in terms of social change.

NoKET’s strategic plan for 2010-2015 has five program areas:

1. Governance and management: to establish a fully operational and accountable Trust.

2. Advocacy and community engagement: to build understanding of, and support for, the Trust.

3. Resource mobilization: to ensure that the Trust has adequate and sustainable resources.

4. Partnership and policy engagement: to enhance educational access and retention, through policy engagement, partnerships, and the provision of scholarships.

5. Monitoring and evaluation: to ensure efficient and effective programmed implementation.

This event is open to the general public. Organizers are asking for a $100.00 tax-deductible donation to attend. For more information or to attend the event, please RSVP by calling (612) 749-3314.

Visit their website at http://noket.net