These projects are:
- Mavuno Youth Preparatory Trajectory, a preparatory program to prepare youth from the most vulnerable groups in Mathare to access the Mavuno youth loan scheme.
- ‘STOP the BULLET!’, a peace promotion project initiated by the Maji Mazuri Youth and Simama Pamoja Peace Initiative (SPI) group in Mathare to promote peace in the community.
- Green Heroes is a garbage collection project initiated by the Maji Mazuri Youth group in Mathare to conduct clean ups and garbage collection and train the community on proper waste management.
The Green Heroes project has undergone two phases.
- The initial phase entailed conducting cleanups in the target area (Bondeni). This phase was done within a period of four months from February to May. Towards the start of June, a new phase was incorporated that was run in line with the cleanups. All along, the group members developed rapport with the community.
- The second phase was started in June. In this phase, plastic bags were distributed to the residents for a fee of Kshs 20/= per bag as part of the community’s commitment to the project. Garbage is collected weekly, on Saturdays.
We intend to soon start the next phase whereby we will begin sorting the garbage thereafter sell plastic, metal and bottles to recycling plants. In recent times, this is considered as a lucrative business. This is also aimed at making the project self sustainable and create employment opportunities.
The youth is also reaching out and advocating for peace through peace football tournaments and alternative to violence training.
The youth group also intends to start a community Radio station and has applied for a license from the Communication Commission of Kenya but has not been granted the license.
They are also currently fundraising for education scholarships for members who are of college age but cannot afford to pay the school fees.
The Alumni, which is the exit program for the youth has been meeting regularly, for moral support, to lay out strategic plans for the group and have also started working towards a common investment that will help them grow financially as a group.
The Alumni gives back to the youth and teens group by participating in their activities. Both younger groups have deep respect for the Alumni and now view them as mentors. This was clearly shown recently when the Alumni had a HIV/AIDS workshop for the teens. The teens and pre teens in Headstart look up to them and they in turn give them the guidance they need.
The teens have also been actively involved in the talent development program.
The transformation that these children have had is incredible. Many shy students turned into spokespeople for the school and show no hesitation to have presentations in front of an audience. Over the years, it's been incredible to watch the students stand up confidently to 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 they face, and to also inform their peers of the dangers of vices such as peer pressure, drug abuse, and HIV & AIDS. In the last Parents’ Day the teens had powerful presentations which left the parents impressed. Many expressed gratitude that their children were getting much much more than the regular school education.
