TARA, together with the Abasuba Community Peace Museum, organised a community workshop from 28-30 January, 2008 on Mfangano island, in Suba District. This was the first of four workshops to be held for the Tourism Trust Fund (TTF) funded project "Promotion of Rock Art Tourism in Kenya".

The overall objective of the workshop was to create awareness on the heritage of the Abasuba among selected 'engagers', who are community representatives from the various divisions within Suba district.

This was a forum for both facilitators and participants to learn, compare and share experiences hence the concept of 'engaging', and not training as is standard in such workshops. Twenty participants from Mfangano, Gwasi, Rusinga, and Kaksingri Divisions, as well as three community representatives from Kakapel (western Kenya) attended the workshop. Also participating was Jack Obonyo, Founding Curator of the Abasuba Museum. Facilitators included:

	Mwadime Wazwa, Assistant Director, Regional Museums, Sites and Monuments (Western region), National Museums of Kenya
	Terry Little, TARA Chief Operations Officer
	Gladys Nyasuna-Wanga, TARA Programme Manager
	Gloria Borona, TARA Project Officer
	Lorna Abungu, Museum/cultural heritage consultant, Okello Abungu Heritage Consultants

On 31 January, the Abasuba community and distinguished guests witnessed the historic ground-breaking ceremony for the Abasuba Community Peace Museum. Among the guests included Representatives of the Provincial Government and local Administration, Safaricom Foundation Officer (Mildred Otsieno), members of TARA's international Executive Board, the Abasuba Council of Elders, workshop participants and facilitators, the Museum board members and community members.

This colourful ceremony was characterised by song and dance, as well as a reinactment of an Abasuba 'blessing ceremony', traditionally done before the construction of a home. The architect for the project, Philip Okello of Urban Design Associates (Nairobi) presented the museum drawings and unveiled a model of the new museum. TARA Chairman, David Coulson, laid the foundation stone. Alongside the stone was buried a 'Peace Pot', blessed by the Dalai Lama, which was presented by TARA Board member, Alec Campbell of Botswana.

This project is assisted by funding from the European Development Fund provided through the Tourism Trust Fund. The TTF is an initiative of the European Union and the Government of Kenya.