Interchristian Fellowships Evangelical Mission
IcFEM is an interdenominational Christian organisation. The Interchristian Fellowships’ Evangelical Mission aims to build up people in the rural areas both spiritually and practically, to be wholly for God and hard- working, especially in the area of self- help and sustainable welfare and development projects, to run a mercy ministry to the needy and to involve various community development programmes while conserving the environment.
Member since: 05 Dec 2007
How the minimum criteria of the responsible travel standard was met...
Economic responsibility
- Over 97% of the staff at the headquarters is Kenyan. We have three English staff at the Mission headquarters out of a total of 108.
- Even when we organise trips locally i.e. Mt. Elgon and Kakamega Forest Reserve we always use local tour guides to show us around the Parks/ Reserves, we encourage our volunteers to visit the local tourist sites during the weekends which supports the local businesses, tourism industry and local employment.
- Our volunteers live at the Ukuhani Guest House - all six staff have been employed from the surrounding area. The food which we buy is from the local market which is held every Thursday in Kimilili Town.
Environmental responsibility
- The water used when washing clothing is all rain water which is stored in two large tanks outside; which normally stores enough water for the dry seasons.
- All of our volunteers are involved in the planting of trees (5 fruit trees each) around Kimilili. In mid 2007 we bought 50,000 saplings from a local tree nursery. We want to plant 100,000 saplings in each of our 4 local units and to develop our own tree nurseries which will be run by the local community.
- We have agricultural projects which encourage the local farmers and communities to grow fruit trees in the households which provide them with shade and food. We have also been encouraging the local community to use environmentally friendly stoves, which do not use charcoal.
Social responsibility
- We provide every visitor with a comprehensive welcome booklet which gives details of the history of the Mission, an introduction to Kimilili and its facilities and transport, the administration and government of Kenya and living conditions of Kenya. We also warn our visitors of taking photographs and dress sense etc.
- When ever our volunteers go in the field, they will be accompanied by a member of staff who will be able to translate, introduce them to people, inform them of what is about to happen and for more security.
- The gap programme isn’t only a tourism programme but is a programme which aims to bring in new skills and resources to the local area of Kimilili and at the same time we can organise trips for our volunteers for their weekends and also at the end of their stay with us.
