... they continue blossoming despite living in harsh environmental conditions
The Mathare Maji Mazuri teen’s talent program is a young people’s initiative aged between 7 to 13 years of age. Most of them are from head start primary school which is under Maji Mazuri Centre International. The group meets every Saturday as from 2 to 4 pm for their weekly assessments and activities under the leadership of their two teachers, Mr. Edward Kimuyu and Mrs. Judith Odero. There are about 50 to 70 members who all are involved in different activities in the group.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the teen’s talent program are to nurture teen’s talents and hidden potential. In as much as we encourage academic excellence, we also emphasize on sporting and field activities. This has improved their self-esteem and relationship with others.
To improve teens leadership skills and mould them to become responsible persons in the society and become role models to the other children.
To equip them with information on child rights and reproductive health through topical discussions and/or role plays for better co existence and overcome their day to day challenges.
To create a sense of togetherness where teens can meet and share ideas on issues affecting their lives and come up with ways of solving problems.
ACHIEVEMENT
DANCING: The teens are privileged to have a dancing trainer who introduced new dancing skills to the group. The trainer who was also a youth member recently graduated in IT and secured a job and hence not able to continue with the teens. We are in the process of searching for another one.
TOPICS: The group has been able to discuss many topics since the year started. This includes; Drugs abuse and substance, Environmental awareness, capacity and team building, Adolescence and reproductive health, Debates on topical issues, RC and peer counseling, self esteem and confidence, HIV/AIDS, life’s skills etc.
TALENTS: The teen’s group has been a good platform to realize many talents through play acting, routine dances, recitations of poems, traditional dances, swimming, football, debating etc. The members have been able to realize their hidden potential with the help of their 2 dedicated teachers and supportive members who are caring and ready to listen to one another.
The activities are enhanced by the good social network in the community where every teen is his/her brother’s keeper and have a swift way of communicating information to one another across Mathare valley slums and its environs.
The teen’s program has for years inspired many children in Mathare and restored hope in situations where children were confined to an ever -narrowing prison of negligence, child abuse, sexual harassment, denied education, forced marriage, child labor just to mention but a few.
The program also brought a sigh of relieve to many parents who are bringing up their children under very hard situation and harsh environmental challenges which are addressed in the teens talent program. Parents shy off from some of the topics covered due to cultural barriers e.g. Sex education and hence the program becomes very helpful in tackling these challenges. Since its inception in 2004, more than 300 teens have gone through the program and still are.
Incorporation of educational tours and other outdoor activities have strengthened the group and motivated members to be committed to each and every activity in the program. This has improved and widened their scope since they can now see beyond Mathare. It has also acted as an opportunity for the teens to change the environment and share ideas with the outside world.
