Elanagata Wuas, Kenya

In July 2010, Smallbean launched our MobileCAP initiative at four library locations in Kenya in conjunction with our domestic partner organization, Maria’s Libraries, and a local partner at each site location (AfricaSOMA, FASCO, SIDAREC, and the National Museum of Kenya – Lamu). Smallbean trained librarians and community volunteers at each site, establishing ongoing Citizen Archivist Projects operated out of the local library in each location. In addition to gaining computer and technology skills training, the Citizen Archivists at the Kenya site locations have thus far conducted over 148 oral history interviews in seven different languages.

Elangata Wuas, located in southern Kenya near the Tanzania border and in the heart of the Masai tribal area, was the first of the four library locations where Smallbean volunteers taught the Citizen Archivist Project in Kenya.