Situated 10km away from the city of Nairobi, Mukuru is the second largest slum in Kenya with a population approximately 400,000 people. Life in Mukuru is not so smooth with the thought of lack of infrastructure, lack of sanitation, lack of clean drinking water, lack of electricity, poor housing among others. Despite all these there is still a lot of potential among the slum dwellers especially the young people. They are full of energy, very innovative and always ready to try out new things that can help improve their lives and make them better persons.
It is at this that one thinks on what can be the best gift to such a community that lacks almost all the basic needs in life, yet the people there are full of life, ready to help themselves when given an opportunity and always optimistic about life. Why not a Community Based Organization that can empower and improve their living standards?
‘Mwenge’ is a Swahili word for ‘light’. Mwenge wa Vijana group aims at giving hope and light to the young people from Mukuru community by encouraging them to be the change they would like to see in the society. This will be through empowering them, tapping and making use of their talents, helping them realize who they are and what they are capable of. This way, coming up with innovative projects that will sustain and improve their lives will be easier and will entirely be outsourced from the young people and run by them.
As Mother Teresa used to say “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone person to person.”
It is our hope that Mwenge wa Vijana group will lead by example by being in the forefront to bring change in the community and above all be a leading light to better future for many.
Mwenge wa Vijana is a registered Community Based Organization in Mukuru wa Reuben, Nairobi Kenya.
PROJECTS
Scholarship Funds
The Scholarship fund is intended to assist young people in Mukuru Kwa Reuben to further their education. The fund will mainly cater for tuition fees for high school students who will have benefited from the extra tuition program conducted by one of our members who is a social worker in the area. We will also extend scholarships to identified members in the community who will have performed exceptionally well in their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. Extra tuition is already being conducted through the community library that we have already set in the area which young boys and girls make use of to improve their grades. This way we are guaranteed to assist students who are promising academically and who have greater vision for the community.
The Library
The target of the library is to tap on English literacy, computer skills and a mentorship program for young people. Although the
setting will be private, its intention is to serve the public, targeting pupils in primary schools and students in high schools. We are developing partnership with individuals, private and national schools to develop and furnish it The library has a strong collection of English language reading materials and textbooks appropriate for school age children. We also hope to provide computers to allow children hands on experience with technology in the near future.
Thank you for supporting my education
I am writing to appreciate your support to me. You are generous and a cheerful giver for those people who need your help. You made my life better since I had nobody to pay my fees when my parents were unable. Thank you for helping children like us who really struggle to achieve our goals and have a better future.
Secondly, thank you for putting up a slum library since we had no library in Mukuru kwa Rueben. It has really helped us during the long holidays.
Lastly, I will try my level best to make use of this golden chance in school. I will uplift your organization now and in the future. You are God sent and like an angel to us who are needy in the slum. My parent have really appreciated your support and they are eager to meet you face to face and appreciate your assistance.
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I pray God showers you with more belssings and more knowledge in your life.
Thank you once more for being generous to me and the needy students.
Yours sincerely
Wilter Sarange
Form Two Student - Mua Hills Girl's High SchoolFootball and Music Clubs
This project is aimed at identifying the unique aptitudes and gifts among the young people. Considering there is very little to enjoy about in the slum there is a need to create a fun time moment for the group. Each child comes into this world fifted with one or more talents. When nurtured and developed these talents can really help the child shine and become a gifted individual in their field of interest. As we continue to ponder on the best way to improve the living standards of young people in the slum, it is important to work with what they already have and nurture it further to make it beneficial to them.
The football club targets both young girls and boys between 9 – 17 years. The age group is divided further into two that is 9-14 years and 15-17years. The main objective is to mold responsible, focused and upright young leaders and at the same time continue nurturing their talents. Different tournaments are organized within and outside the community for further exposure.
The Music club comprises of the same age group of both boys and girls who focus on poetry, modern and traditional dances. Besides nurturing talents and molding responsible young leaders, it is our hope that this group can generate revenue for the group by performing in different functions.
