Community Development

Maji Mazuri Maji Mazuri has deep roots in Mathare Valley, a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. Less than 2 miles from the centre of Nairobi – a bustling city of over 3 million people - the Mathare Valley is 'home' to between 400,000 and 500,00 people (no one really knows how many), living in some of the most deprived conditions in the world. The 'homes' are shanties built of scrap metal, bits of wood and cardboard with no electricity, no clean water and no toilets.

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Mathare Valley Mathare is a daunting place. People live in abject poverty with no functional utilities; no clean water, no sewage system or electricity. They live in shacks made of mud, bits and cardboard and rusty corrugated iron. Crime is rampant and the streets are permeated with drugs, prostitution and a lethal brew of illegal alcohol called Chang'aa. Over 90% of the households are headed by single women, many of whom have been in abusive relationships and now engage in these illicit activities to survive.

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The New Community Site Maji Mazuri has put together a new Web site. We are forming an online community to share our experiences, connect with people around the world and build cross-continental awareness. Our team of contributors and volunteers will discuss their thoughts, challenges and successes with people who are interested in getting involved in Maji Mazuri’s quest to bring more transformational opportunities to those in the impoverished slums of Mathare Valley and beyond. Want to write, connect with us, volunteer, submit news and correspond?
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Community Centre We have made a great start towards achieving our goal of $2 million to build and equip a 30,000 square foot building which will house all of our existing programs – the Head Start school, with space for 350 children, the micro-business loan program, the teens program and the youth group. The community center will also include a new clinic, community hall, library, and an Internet café. Major contributors to the fund so far include the Duara organization in the Netherlands, the Highbury Foundation in Canada, and the Maji Mazuri USA Board.

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Community Development

Community Development

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The post-election violence in January 2008 that scorched Mathare Valley, destroyed homes and businesses and took many lives opened the eyes of many. The unthinkable had happened and the need to prevent the emergence of future conflicts is critically urgent. Many youth in Mathare Valley were involved in the violence as perpetrators, or as victims, or as both. Youth involved with Maji Mazuri did not engage in violence and instead initiated activities to promote peace and community cohesion during and right after the conflict erupted.

Maji Mazuri faciliates

these youth members with financial support, guidance and expertise. We are convinced that it is essential to base the design and the implementation of peace promotion projects on the ideas, strategies and vision of the youth themselves. In the end, this will create widespread ownership of the peace initiative among youth in the whole community. Maji Mazuri youth are role models, community leaders and initiators and have the capacity to reach out to the youth who were involved in the violence.

The danger of violence is still present as the 2012 General Elections loom at the horizon. Maji Mazuri is currently stepping up its effort to support its youth members in organizing peace promotion activities by training the youth to be advocates of human rights and peace ambassadors. This is done through organizing human rights awareness campaigns, peace rallies, marches and walks, training on strategies to enlighten the community on subjects such as child abuse and neglect, gender violence and offering conflict resolution skills.

A special initiative in this context is the Mabatini Peace Network, named after the part of Mathare Valley in which it operates. This unique organization links together some 12 youth groups with a combined membership of over 500 youth from all over Mathare Valley.

The network is responsible for the organisation of peace activities that bring together rival slum villages. This cooperation among the different slum communities makes it possible to get early warning of emerging tensions and respond quickly to eruptions of violence by communicating with each other and seeking resolution.

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Team Blog Posts

Background
I took a year off from school in between graduating from my undergraduate program and commencing law school. I had always wanted to travel, to experience another culture, and to help others, for I have lived and continue to live a very blessed life, indeed. I met with Kevin Corcoran,…

Written on Saturday, 26 December 2009 22:52 in Taylor Harper
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A Lesson in the Sunset
A crimson hue melted across the western sky as the cool, crisp evening breeze grazed the back of my neck. Graciously, I moved a little closer to the fire. Martha, the school cook, was preparing the evening meal for the students of the Upper Matasia School. A young girl approached…

Written on Saturday, 26 December 2009 22:45 in Taylor Harper
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The projects...
While appreciating the growth in each of the projects since then, of key note is Maji Mazuri Children’s Centre, Kasarani. We have watched as the children have transited from one level to the other, with enduring encouragement from the staff ...one example is a young man who came to the…

Written on Saturday, 26 December 2009 22:44 in Janet Wambui
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How it all started...
On 5th January 2006 I walked into the Maji Mazuri Head office as a volunteer after responding to an ad in one of the local dailies... four years later, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I ever made... I have watched Maji Mazuri grow under…

Written on Saturday, 26 December 2009 22:41 in Janet Wambui
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Did You Know

Global Priorities: Reproductive health for all women $12 Billion, Perfumes in Europe and the US $12 Billion.

Global Priorities: Water and sanitation for all $9 Billion, Alcoholic drinks in Europe $105 Billion.

Global Priorities: Basic Education for all $6 Billion, Military spending in the world $780 Billion.

Progress in education slowed during the period of globalization.

The new poverty line of $1.25 a day was announced by the World Bank in 2008. For years before that it had been $1 a day. The $1 a day used then would be $1.45 a day now if inflation was accounted for.

Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished.

In 1960, the 20% of the world’s people in the richest countries had 30 times the income of the poorest 20% — in 1997, 74 times as much.

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty.

About 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school in 2005; 57 per cent of them were girls.

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.

Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000. It didn’t happen.

443 million school days are lost each year from water-related illness.

Sub-Saharan Africa loses about 5% of GDP ($28.4 billion annually), in health spending,productivity losses and labour diversions due to sanitation deficits. This exceeded total aid and debt relief to the region in 2003.

1.4 million children die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.

Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.

15 million children are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS(similar to the total children population in Germany or United Kingdom).

The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.

The poorest 10% accounted for just 0.5% and the wealthiest 10% accounted for 59% of all the consumption.

Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%.

In 2005, the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted for 76.6% of total private consumption. The poorest fifth just 1.5%.

More than 660 million people live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day.

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty.

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