Reaching out to teens in Mathare valley through drama and music
Located in Mathare valley, Maji Mazuri Headstart School whose student population is over 200, has over 35 children who are in their teenage, as well as over 20 others who are approaching that age. Having come from a community that is constantly plagued by many vices, a need was identified to create a teens program where the children can identify, develop and nurture their talents.
The teens meet every Saturday between 2 and 4pm and engage in activities mainly drama, poetry recitals, dancing, painting among other activities. The program also involves guest speakers who are role models in society, some of them being youth members from the Mathare Maji Mazuri youth group.
One of the visions of the teen’s group members is to join the Maji Mazuri youth group once they turn age 18. This is part of the Maji Mazuri’s plan in terms of the talent program where children’s talents are identified at an early age and nurtured.
The transformation that these children have had is incredible. From shy students they have over the years turned into spokespersons for the school and show no hesitation to have presentations in front of an audience and entertain as well as inform during school occasions such as parents days.
They are also using the talent program to voice the fears and challenges that they face, and to also inform their peers of the dangers of vices such as peer pressure, drug abuse, HIV & AIDS. In the last parents’ day that the school had, the teens had powerful presentations which left the parents impressed and at the same time glad that their children are getting much much more than the regular school education.
View photos related to this story at: http://www.majimazuri.org/photos/65-majimazuri-team/album?albumid=8
