“If we are lucky enough to be living a good life, we should recognize this gift and thank God for it by looking out for others who need our help
in breaking out of the cycle of poverty.” - Dalai Lama
THE RONNIE MDAWIDA FUND
The Ronnie Fund programs are community oriented and based on community initiatives. Through community engagement The Ronnie Fund evaluates various community projects supporting those that seek to improve the quality of life for people living in those communities. The projects and programs are managed by the communities we work with assisted by our volunteers, both local and from abroad and are funded through the generosity of donors like you.
ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to improve the quality of life of Kenyan people by empowering them through education, technology and linkages to resources.
OUR VISION
Our Vision is develop Mghongo Eco-Leadership Centre, an educational facility featuring provision of high quality educational programs based on sharing knowledge, skills and training on local low cost, self-sustaining initiatives employing appropriate and adaptive technologies and innovations with a focus on Conservation and Environmental Issues.
The Ronnie Fund is a volunteer based, grassroots humanitarian organization initiated in 2006 by Peter and Kathy Wood of Bracebridge, Ontario. The Ronnie Fund was named after Ronnie Mwachia Mdawida, who lived with the Wood family in 2005 for 3 months as a participant in the Canada World Youth (Canada, Kenya and Tanzania) Eco-Leadership Program. The Ronnie Fun was established to assist Ronnie achieve his dream of empowering people in his native village of Wongonyi, in Voi Sub County, Taita Taveta County, located about 478 kms south of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The Ronnie Fund also works with other communities in Kenya who are experiencing impoverished conditions and similar cycles of poverty, both in urban and rural areas. Ronnie envisions improving people’s quality of life by addressing critical challenges that plague them, key among them being health and access to health facilities; education; safe water and food security; and other basic infrastructure necessities. The Ronnie Mdawida Fund is legally registered in Kenya under registration No. OP.218/051/13-0384/9093. Over the past 14 years, The Ronnie Fund has grown as a grassroots movement impacting the lives of local communities, achieving social good through teaching strategies for resiliency and sustainability inspiring many volunteers to support transformative programs for community based needs and causes funded through the generous contributions of our donors. All projects are initiated by the communities themselves. The Ronnie Fund has been successful because of the volunteer spirit and generous support of those who believe in our ideas and approach for local sustainable solutions to community challenges by offering a “hand up not a hand out”.
INTERVIEW WITH PETER AND KATHY WOOD
Spotlight On Local Business-Ronnie Fund-Oct 12 2021-Podcast.mp3 - Box
MEET THE TEAM
PETER AND KATHY WOOD
RONNIE AND SERAH MDAWIDA
PROJECTS
MGHONGO ECO-LEADERSHIP CENTER
We are currently building Mghongo Eco -Leadership Centre, Demonstration Farm and Eco Lodge in Wongonyi Village to address that need. This project aims to transfer knowledge, skills, mentorship and build the capacity of women and youth within local communities uplifting their standard of living by providing skills and education people can use to feed their families and improve their business opportunities. With this educational centre we’ll be able to help educate many more students with extracurricular learning opportunities.
Currently we have one classroom and washrooms completed using plans for Mghongo Leadership Centre provided by Journeyman International architecture students. Future plans include more classrooms, Cultural Centre, Library/Computer Hub and Dining Room. The Demonstration Farm is up and running and is being continually added to. The Eco Lodge component will be built in the future of bandas in traditional design featuring green building initiatives using natural materials locally obtained and incorporating alternative technologies such as solar lighting and solar/thermal collectors providing energy for hot water), passive solar and green roofs to provide housing for visiting students.
As Mghongo Eco-Leadership Centre continues to be built we have already been hosting a variety of training programs. The Demonstration Farm has been the site of agricultural training workshops for local farmers who are gaining knowledge on best farming practices for maximum yields using traditional and modern farming techniques while observing ecologically friendly measures to protect their ecosystem. We have also offered training in Soap Making, advancement of Basketry and Weaving Designs, building and distribution of Biosand Water Filters and many more projects. There has been a successful push in income generation for the community that is unique for this area.
New programs we are developing are training and capacity building for women and young people within the lines of technology such as computer literacy, IT skills and other technological advances that will give them a competitive edge as they are absorbed in various employment
opportunities. As well we will be focusing on Conservation and Environmental solutions to address climate change like Reforestation and Tree planting, a crucial component in maintaining our local ecosystem as a water catchment area by reclaiming forest areas lost to deforestation and the resulting soil erosion.
YOGI GOLLE I.C.T ACADEMY
The Yogi Golle ICT initiative is an ICT platform that seeks to provide young ICT enthusiasts with the necessary infrastructure for them to advance their skills and expertise in digital content development and other online related activities. The Hub facilitates the young ICT enthusiasts access to equipment and ICT infrastructure to enable them acquire digital skills that guarantee them access to digital and online freelance opportunities. The Hub will also play a key role in technology and knowledge transfer where ICT expert volunteers shall assist the ICT enthusiasts maneuver the intricate world of digital content creation and online freelance opportunities, creating employment opportunities for the youth.
YOGI GOLLE - FOUNDER YOGI GOLLE I.C.T INITIATIVE
Partners & Donors
Like minded individuals working together for a noble cause
Rotary Clubs
We would like to thank you for supporting our work in Kenya:
The Rotary Club of Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes, Canada
The Rotary Club of Bracebridge, Canada
The Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, Canada
The Rotary Club of Haliburton, Canada
Universities
Western Carolina University
For several years, students from WCU have come to Kenya and spent time in Wongonyi village learning of the work of The Ronnie Fund and adding their support.
The George Washington University, Washington DC- Brought a group of students in 2013
Partners
Videos from Wongonyi Kenya-Volunteer Stephan Bartsch has recorded the progress and challenges in Wongonyi village for our organization and partners.
Katherine Bartel - More recordings of Wongonyi and our projects.
Rus Binkley, Katherine Bartel, Nadine and Norman Abrahams and friends- These amazing people saw the installation of Wongonyi Mwambanga Mashimba Library which serves the community. With the help of many friends as well as students and Professors of Western Carolina University, the library was stocked with books and resources
Bracebridge United Church-The Ronnie Fund has many supporters however Bracebridge United Church stands out. As Kathy and Peter are members of BUC, it is only natural that many friends from church also support the work that Ronnie is doing in Kenya. The church itself supports The Ronnie Fund with many financial contributions through the years via regular communion collections and money from the Special Gifts Fund. They continue to show their belief in Peter, Kathy and Ronnie for this valuable work in Kenya. BUC knows that all donations are spent 100% in Kenya and really make a difference in lives there.
Kelly Hart and Hart of Muskoka Motel and Storage Rentals- Kelly Hart, business owner and local Lions member has given us free long term storage for the skids of tools donated by Fiskars tools. As of March 2015 we have raised $25,000 from these donated tools and shared
The 400 Market-The 400 Market offers a great shopping experience at it's location of Hwy 400 and Innisfil Beach Road, just south of Barrie. Jeremy and I spent Saturday July 28 at the market offering our Fiskars tools to the shopping public. We were able to raise over $250 for The Ronnie Fund. With the generous donation of a complimentary booth space from market manager Scott, again all money raised will be spent in Wongonyi village, Kenya on projects there. We had a lot of fun with friendly neighbouring vendors and 400 Market staff, Scott, Patti and especially Peter, the outgoing guy at the information booth.
Muskoka Transport-A second generation family owned transportation firm, Muskoka Transport operates a huge fleet of transport trucks across North America. In January of 2012 they were instrumental in delivering 8 skids of donated Fiskars tools from Mississauga to Bracebridge.
McKenzie Seeds-McKenzie Seeds have provided a box full of vegetable seeds with a half dozen varieties of their quality product. The farmers of Wongonyi often have difficulty getting access to first quality seeds in Kenya. McKenzie's contribution will be well received in the village.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - Baker Creek has donated many packages of thier quality seeds. They only offer open-pollinated seeds: pure, natural and non-GMO! The company carries heirloom seeds from 70 countries
Renee's Garden - Renee Shepard has extended a helping hand across the ocean. Soon farmers in Wongonyi will be able to try a wide selection of garden vegetables as a result of Renee's Garden generous donation of Vegetable seeds. This will be a valuable learning opportunity as they try dozens of different vegetables and discover what may be best suited to their farms.
Muskoka Kia, Bracebridge - Muskoka Kia teamed with the Ronnie Fund in the spring of 2009 to provide much needed sports balls for youth in Kenya. The basketballs, footballs and soccer balls will be well used by the Kenyan youth
BD Diagnostics- Becton Dickinson (BD Diagnostics) sales rep John Roe ships two new full colour laminated periodic tables to the schools in Wongonyi. The new ones will be a valuable visual aid for the science students at Allan Mjomba Secondary School in Wongonyi.
Cobra Head "The Best Tool in Earth" - Noel Valdes has joined our effort in getting quality tools in the hands of the farming families in Wongonyi village. In August 2008 we presented one Cobra Head garden weeder to the Whispering Family group of farmers. We now have a dozen more donated by Noel Valdes at www.cobrahead.com. Once we are able to ship them to Kenya we will post photos and comments from the farmers on this versatile and well made garden weeder.
Quality Solar Power, from Affordable Solar - Searching for quality solar equipment led us to www.affordable-solar.com. We are indebted to Affordable Solar for their partnership with The Ronnie Fund. In August 2008 we will be taking two Dual Use AA Battery Solar Chargers with us to Wongonyi villaage. As Wongonyi is a rural village off the grid, these solar chargers will be indispensable and a significant cost savings to the villagers for a variety of battery run applications
The People of Muskoka
Canadian Scouting Youth - Scouts in Whispering Pines region of Ontario are raising funds to support a Scout troop in Kenya. This linking experience will allow youth of both countries to learn of each other.
TerraCycle - Earth friendly garden products packaged in recycled containers. Terracycle donated their excellent and earth friendly fertilizer for us to sell and raise funds for the Kenya Scout project
Fiskars Tools - A complete line for cutting tools for the garden, crafts and sewing. Fiskars has donated and shipped a selection of their quality tools to Nairobi for distribution to the farmers in Wongonyi village. More importantly Fiskars has donated multiple skid of tools as they do periodic warehouse inventory. These new tools may be last years model but the quality is known world wide. As of March 2015 we have raised $25,000 for Ronnie Fund projects and shared another $5000 worth of tools with over 30 various local charities for thier own fundraising ventures.
Icangarden - Canada's largest internet gardening resource site since 1996. We thank Donna Dawson and icangarden for promoting The Ronnie Fund on their widely visited website.
And, last but not least, all of the friends, family, and donors who have supported our cause along the way! Thank you!