Design Thinking Forum.

Design Thinking as Methodology to Problem-solving

What comes to mind when you think about design thinking as a tool to use?
In trying to figure out what the design thinking is, last Friday we attended a Design Forum at Pawa254 in Nairobi. Technology is changing at a rapid pace, that's why we've reached out to visionaries and experts to get more understanding of design thinking.

The panelists were all optimistic and they started describing what design thinking means; each one of them in turns. "Design thinking is the process of solving problems by being users oriented designer who creates solutions to complex problems," said Elmar from Design without borders.

The audience listened carefully and one of them asked the speaker about the courses one needs to specialize in to become a design thinker. Felix Tao from Aleutia in the panel described that a design thinker is a person who understands the process well because, design thinking is collaborating with partners, users, and stakeholders who use the product or need the service. "In design, you have to be everything, not one specialized skill," Sarah from Thinkplace said.

The design forum ended with takeaways from everyone. We all gained knowledge that human-centered design is a design thinking approach to problem-solving; all about building empathy with the people you designing for, and sharing innovative ideas with the people in need of the solutions; and what you have made for them.


The future of design thinking is the human-centered design methodology that plays an
important role by connecting the users with their needs to solve problems in their daily
lives.

#GMERL Nairobi 2016. #Stand4wildlife

Kenya wildlife heritage staggering at an alarming rate. Where would the next generation get to see our Big five animals in free range wild if poaching for their ivories, Rhino horns and hunting for trophies and Lions claws continue be a great demand in the black market? No more poaching? we stand and shout for our magnificent species to worth living.

Youth stand for Wildlife our key message as we march for our heritage.

A bright day for animals started well as we march sending the conservation message to all. We started the global march 2016 for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions after the cabinet secretary of Environment and natural resources Prof. Judi Wakhungu flagged off in the National Museums of Kenya Nairobi at 9:00 Am. 

#GMFERL Nairobi 2016

We all joins hands with a slogan "Youth stand for wildlife, will you?" till 12kms marching in solidarity to Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters. Despite that the sun was hot, we all march tirelessly for our magnificent species in the wild.

"Africa highest population is young people so if youth stand for conservation, I believe the world will hear us because are not going back but the fight is on" Said Peter Moll the CEO and the President of www.suso.world.

Our work has not been in vain since we started global marching for our wildlife in 2014. We saw a change in our society. For instance, the fourth President of Kenya burned 105 tonnes on 30th of April 2016.

Also Kenya five proposals for saving our Elephants presented to Conference of parties known as COP 17 CITES in South Africa brighten the future of our Elephants. Four of the proposals adopted, that make a success of 80 % to Kenya proposals won the battle.

#GMERL Nairobi 2016. #Stand4wildlife

The wildlife of Kenya our heritage is declining at an alarming rate.

Poachers are killing Elephants for their ivories, Rhinos for their horns, Lions for their claws, Leopards for their hide and selling them in black markets. This is denying the next generation a chance of seeing the big five that Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard, and many other animals. This menace has triggered many governmental and non-governmental institutions to intervene to stop it, but it doesn’t seem to end. Professor Judi Wakhungu (Cabinet secretary for environment and natural resources) is one of those who actively intercepting to stop the killings of our magnificent inheritance. "No more poaching!” She declares.

Youth stand for Wildlife our key message as we march for our heritage.

This year, she flagged off a global march for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions at the National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi where people of all walks had gathered to march 12KM in solidarity for these animals. The team had one goal in mind, to pass the message to the world that time has come for the nation to stand and conserve the wildlife.  "Our ecosystem needs protection for posterity," One participant said.

#GMFERL Nairobi 2016

"Youth stands for wildlife, will you?" the team (majorly comprised of the youth) shouted. "No one ran short of strength to walk all the distance from museum to the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters in Langata. The sun was hot and was scorching our heads, but our love for wildlife surpassed our love for comfort."

"Africa highest population comprises of young people, if the youth stand for conservation, I believe the world will hear us because we are not going back but the fight is on," Said Peter Moll the CEO and the President of www.suso.world.

Our work has not been in vain since we started global marching for our wildlife in 2014. We saw a change in our society. For instance, the fourth President of Kenya burned confiscated 105 tons of Ivories and Rhinos horns on 30th of April 2016.

Also, Kenya five proposals for saving our Elephants presented to Conference of Parties known as COP 17 CITES in South Africa brighten the future of our Elephants. Four of the proposals adopted, that make a success of 80 % to the Kenya proposals won the battle.

Wild Run 2016.

Hundreds of Kenyans and Chinese communities who are true conservationists participate on Wild run.
Today's mission is to pass the message to the world to conserve the wildlife in our heritage, we all know that endangered species worthy living in their rich nature ecosystem.

"Our magnificent Elephants are more valuable in wild with their tusks than poaching for their ivories. Our Rhinos species worth being alive than killing for their horns for the demanding black market" said Kitili Mbathi Director of Kenya Wildlife Service.
Wild Run live from cctvafrica

We come together today to run in the wild, as we join our hands to pledge that our wildlife never gets extinction. Our future generations will be fortunate to witness our diverse flora and fauna flourish in the rich mother nature.  "We are against the malicious act of poaching that intended to put them to brink" said Peter the wild run participant.

All participants for opening remarks

Wild run colorful event

After wild run posing with friends.

Wildlife conservation join us.

Lake Naivasha Birds of Wetland.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater Lake in the rift valley. Situated in Nakuru county in Kenya.

The name Naivasha derives from the Maasai community that means "Naiposha" or the rough water in the Maa dialect, Due to the sudden rise of storms frequently in the Lake.

Lake Naivasha is the highest point above sea level of the Kenyan Rift valley, it is at 1,880 metres (6,180 ft) on volcanic rocks and sedimentary deposits from a larger Pleistocene era Lake. The Lake is fed by perennial Malewa and Gilgil rivers with no visible outlets, but since the Lake water is relatively fresh, it is assumed to have an underground outflow.

Kenyans Hip Hop singer Juda King visited the Lake recently and got to spot the following birds roaming the Lake; African Hoopoe, Egyptian Geese, Hadada Ibis and Superb Starling.

Juda knowing that I am a professional nature guide, I challenge my ornithology knowledge by naming all the above birds without a reference and I actually got them all correct.

Egyptian Geese photo credit: Juda King.

Superb Starling photo by Juda King.

Hadada Ibis photo by Juda King.

African Hoopoe photo by Juda King.

Artfest in the Wild 2 edition

Many today joins their hands in the day of fun as many talented Kenyans showcase their arts in the wild.
Nairobi National park Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters was today a booming place, where many witnessed the great work of arts like clothing, gravitas, carving and soft stones shaping in the artfest in the wild event.

Models got a chance to showcase their good work and their passions courtesy of Mash-autos, where many youths were optimistic and happy in the event when they appear in the red carpet with Kenya made African clothing of all types and different sizes.

In the children corner, Kids got to play unlimited games provided by 24/7 Entertainments, as kids feel the wild art day out of hustle and bustle of the busy Kenyans city of beauties and rich diversity of flora and fauna in the wild.

Everyone who got an opportunity to visit the Safari walk or a game drive in the Nairobi National Park. Comes out smiling as a day of memories in the wild arts event second edition 2016.

The main message of every Kenyan is let's protect our rich heritage. Artists and Artistes all sung and presented spoken words of conservation of our ecosystems.

Pygmy Hippos in Nairobi Safari Walk.

Common Zebra under shade.

Soft Stone arts.

Beads work in the event is amazing.

Model with African clothing.

Conservation message.

Migration of Wildebeests

You might have heard about the spectacular migration of mammals on earth. Do you? which only take place in East Africa Kenya Tanzania ecosystem. The Wildebeests circle occurred throughout annually, at the moment the circle is in the greater Maasai Mara national reserve. That's our pride as Kenyan having this magnificent spectacular wildlife event, which is one of the world wonders.

This migration of wildebeest as a term used mostly by the Maa Silver research of flora and fauna volunteers is a really rare phenomenon event. Only takes place every year in the Mara river when they battle for their life with hungry reptiles called Nile crocodiles, when they focus crossing to the great ecosystem of Mara in search of plenty of their delicacy red oath grass in the savannah grassland.

At the moment its their high season to roamed around from July - Oct mating in Kenya territories, then the circle continued to southern part of Tanzania spending December - February, where they breed and rear their calfs before the journey starts back to the toughest crossing of Mara river with a focus "Cross or die in the land of plenty Maasai Mara".

Picture taken by Maa silver research volunteer

It is an event that occurred with obstacles like human encroachment, where lots of camps now are situated right on their crossing points and also burning of the pastures on their routes to stop them coming. But all in vain to stop the mission and their vision that every year must be a reality.

Another obstacle is the predators targeting to celebrate the feast, but less cared by the population of 1.3 million wildebeests, 250,000 Thomsons Gazelles and 200,000 Common Zebras.
latest videos from the field
Maasai Mara Predators

Tunapanda Team Building in Ngong Hills

After a successful two days team building, we went for a hike in Ngong Hills Kajiado county the peak is 2460 metres above sea level.
Ngong is a Maasai phrase means Engong emuny Rhinoceros Spring this name derives from a spring located near Ngong town.

Our team of thirty IT trainers with same goal to conquer the hills bear the fruits, when we all reach at the peak of the hills with the led of our professional safari guides who have locally knowledge and rich in fauna and flora experience.

At the peak of Ngong Hills

It was not an easy task as obstacles like fog making most of the people shivering as we take time to accustomed by performing some warm up practices. Another obstacle is forest soldiers nick name in our hiking as juzi juzi those are Safari ants that attacked us while walking a long the steep hills.
We spotted the Bush buck, lots of birds for instance the Augur Buzzard and Rock Python at the edge of thick Sickle Acacia trees.
We all make it and successfully conquers and went back to our Kisame Giraffe Camp located in the Rift valley.

Ngong Hills view at Kisame Dam

Rock climbing for funs

Humanitarian OpenStreetMapping

When I started contributing to OpenStreet mapping community. I volunteered to map my local area and make the invisible visible. By tracing and place schools, buildings and villages onto a global world map, this is one of the achievement I did to give back to the community.

Volunteers from Tunapanda Institute and Map Kibera in Nairobi Kenya

On May 2016, we started joining the Humanitarian OpenStreetMapping community when the task of mapping Tanzania development trust in Serengeti district begun. Where we contributed with them to map the mugumo localities.

Joining HOT Tanzania Mapping Project.

On July 2016, we have also participated project #1988 task for Milange district of Mozambique with Purpose to help indoor residual malaria spraying programs.

Data created from this mapping effort, will help Indoor Residual Spraying programs in Mozambique plan for the upcoming spray campaign. On completion of the base map by remote mappers, Peace Corps Volunteers in Zambezia Province will work with their Mozambican counterparts to complete Field Papers in key villages and towns then add local knowledge to OSM.

Mozambique Project for eradicating Malaria.

Ololchurra is one of the areas in Maasai Mara that before the Openstreet map, Schools and villages were no where to be seen in global maps but thanks to the OSM community for not restricting who and where can volunteers be to contribute to Humanitarians OpenStreet Mapping tasks (HOT).

Mapping My local Area in Maasai Mara.

Nairobi National Park

The day in search of the rare Bongo antelope species in The wetland and forest ecosystem. We started early morning in the Nairobi safari walk where we found the Bongo in a devasting state. But has received treatment from the Kenya wildlife service veterinaries. Nairobi National Park established in 1946 has been a home to the endangered black Rhinos due to the rich ecosystem as they fed on the mega fauna found in the park.
Rare Bongo inhabited forested places in the Aberdares ranges and other forested areas in the country. More effort and a combine conservation consent between the communities living around forested areas and the Kenya Wildlife Service has been a key to survival of the Bongo species.


On our safari we stop as we clarify that what done by our president on 30th April 2016 in the Ivory burning has a mark and legacy in our conservation of our heritage.
The ashes is what welcome us to the site, where 105 tons of Ivories which worth much before turning to Ivories from Tusks in our magnificent Elephants.