High School Scholars Go to Safari Walk

CoKF Holiday Bash

On Friday, December 11th Children of Kibera Foundation held a holiday bash for all the students and teachers. It was a great end to the school year and the special two week camps that were held for Red Rose students and sponsored boarding school students. Students and teachers alike danced to popular tunes and enjoyed each other's company. Students ate candy and biscuits, had dancing competitions (see video below), and enjoyed pilau and soda for lunch. It was a great way to end the year and kick of the holiday season!


Japheth enjoying the microphone


Some students eating pilau


Dancing!

Friends from class three join together in celebration!

Even the teachers were dancing!

A very talented competetor in the girl's dancing competition.

December Camp for High School Scholars

Children of Kibera's high school scholars spent the last two weeks participating in their December break camp, organized and facilitated by CoKF interns, Jackie Espana and Joscelyn Truitt. On the first day, the fourteen students elected to cover a variety of topics, all of which interest and inspire them at home and at school. The group agreed to discuss self-esteem, peer pressure, time management, healthy relationships, drugs and sex, and health issues that plague Kibera, such as HIV/AIDS. Throughout the two-week camp, run from 9 AM to 1 PM daily, the students participated in fun activities, discussions, and art projects. The first week introduced topics such as self-esteem and self-awareness. The group practiced assertive language to combat peer pressure, debated the influence of media messages on young people, and talked about decision making. Students composed self-awareness collages and participated in a positive poster making contest, to determine the most creative poster with the most positive message for Kibera's youth. The facilitators organized a self-esteem photo shoot, where each student had the opportunity to organize and design a photo shoot set representing a positive self-image. The photos were printed and distributed on the last day of camp.
Below: Students work on their self-awareness collages.
Lynette and Lowry design their positive message posters.


The second week introduced a different set of topics, immediately set off by heated talks about gender roles perpetuated by societal beliefs and customs. Students shared emotional coping methods pertaining to common but complex emotional reactions. They discussed relationship issues and the boys shed light on teenage male behavior for the girls, and vice versa. The group even touched on the cultural beliefs and emotional effects of female circumcision. The talks shifted to sexual behavior as the group intensely explored HIV/AIDS. Two days consumed discussions about biological and behavioral causes and effects, thoughts about stigma, and society's and the individual's role in the spreading the disease. The students read personal accounts of individuals living with the virus (from Stephanie Nolen's 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa) and explored the political stakeholders and major players in the AIDS epidemic in Africa (from Helen Epstein's The Invisible Cure: Why We Are Losing the Fight Against AIDS in Africa). The final days introduced straightforward information on sexually transmitted infections, safe sex practices, and the effects of various drugs on the individual. As official camp came to a close, Jackie, Joscelyn, and Jeff treated the students to a day at Nairobi's Safari Walk, where they watched lions groom themselves up-close and cheetahs pose in the tall grass far away. As a final treat, the scholars and facilitators attended the Red Rose Holiday Party, where everyone danced to popular music and ate biscuits and pilau. All in all, the camp was a success and the students demonstrated impressive insight and clarity on issues that can be so difficult for young people to discuss.
Left: Hassan and Fred create their positive message poster.
Below: Conso, Zeinab, and Yasmin work on the design for their positive poster campaign.

Above: The boys and Conso pose for their self-esteem photo shoots.

Below: Kevin shares his self-awareness collage piece.

Above: Starting off the day with yoga and stretching.

Above: Students participate in "A Pat on the Back", where each writes positive qualities on the back of each student.

Above: The girls form falling trust circles.

Angels - Holiday Greetings from CoKF

Lutheran Primary Receives Computer Lab

The Children of Kibera Foundation (CoKF) and the Lutheran Primary School celebrated the official opening of a newly-donated computer lab on Wednesday December 2, 2009. The computer lab, the third under CoKF's KiberaOnline Schools project, is equipped with nine computers, tables and chairs.

The ceremony was graced by Elizabeth Penniman, visiting parent and donor from the Potomac School in McLean, VA. Ms. Penniman travels to Africa frequently as the Vice President of Global Advocacy, Public Policy, and Communications for the Elizabeth Glasier AIDS Foundation. Bishop Walter Obare of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya and other members of the local church and school leadership also attended the ceremony.

Around 9 AM, the guests, Lutheran Primary staff, and Children of Kibera sponsored boarding school students, who are home for break, watched as Ken Okoth and Ms. Penniman cut the blue ribbon revealing the brand new computer lab. All the guests filed past the balloons and into the lab and stood by as Ken said a few words about the importance of computer education. Ken also reflected on his own experiences coming from Kibera, a rather inspiring story for each scholar present. Ms. Penniman expressed her pride in and gratitude towards CoKF and towards Ken, who taught her own daughter back in the US. She personally greeted each scholar, encouraging them to continue their educations and pursue their goals. A few other Lutheran staff members expressed their appreciation and excitement for the lab to start running regularly and recognized the responsibility that comes with such a donation.

Following the reception, guests signed the guest book and Ken presented Ms. Penniman with a CoKF T-shirt. CoKF is very excited to contribute to the rebuilding and refurbishing of the Lutheran School and Springs of Life Church community, especially after their church was badly damaged during the 2007 violence. The lab will serve not only the children at the primary school, but the church youth group and other members that come from the far reaches of the Kibera slums. Please click on this link for an album with more photos from the celebration.

December in Photos

Introducing the Graduates!

Angel, a proud PreUnit graduate, proudly shows off her cap and gown while lining up to begin the festivities.

On Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the Red Rose Nursery and Children's Center held a graduation ceremony for all eight classes- Baby to Class 5. The Pre-Unit students, taught by Teacher Sophia, were the first to march in to announce the commencement of the ceremony, dressed in purple caps, gowns, and face glitter. Although all classes celebrated the "moving up" to the next class, it is the Pre-Unit class that is officially graduating into primary school.

After introductions were made, the each class either recited a poem, performed a play, or sang a song for the fifty-some parents and guests present. Classes 4 & 5 composed a fantastic series of dances and songs, each representing a different tribe. Following the presentations, Principal Bulouma said a few words about the importance of education and parent involvement, and gave thanks to the volunteers and to Children of Kibera for our on-going support to the school. The mother of Ken Okoth gave an address to the parents, reminding them of their important role in the education of their children. Members of the board and Red Rose teachers were introduced to the audience and each said a few words about their roles at the school.

Finally, each student received a small gift from his or her teacher, and the school awarded special gifts for outstanding students: Most Punctual, Best English, Best Behavior, etc. The ceremony was followed by a generous meal of pilau, meat, and soda. All in all, the kids couldn't have been happier to share the occasion with their parents, friends, and teachers.

Here's some shots from graduation, click to enlarge

In this video, the PreUnits walk into the ceremony

Congratulations Red Rose!

Kibera Students telling their own stories

Ken Oloo a digital filmmaker joined our Children of Kibera Foundation project and is teaching students at Kibra Academy professional digital photography, videography and digital editing and production. Children of Kibera Foundation have chosen to tell the stories of the poor, the disenfranchised, the unseen and the forgotten. Ken has been working with a group of teenagers at Kibra, teaching them how to shoot video, write scripts, and edit. The students made a short production about the official opening of the computer lab donated to the school by CoKF and its partner Kensington Cares as their first project.

Ken Oloo
Kibra Academy Students in action.

Please click here for a picasa web album with more photos.

Luganda Dance by St. Aloysius Gonzaga School, Kibera

St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School students perform "Owuola' a Luganda Traditional Dance during the 2009 Children of Kibera Foundation Drama and Music Festival. Enjoy!

Passing of the Computer Lab Torch

On Saturday October 24th, Children of Kibera participated in the reception ceremony of Kibra Academy's new computer lab. The computer lab was established thanks to the generous donations of lap tops from Children of Kibera and desktops from Kensington Cares. The ceremony began around 11am and was attended by Children of Kibera's Project Coordinator Jeff Ochieng, former computer teacher, Tamara, and Joscelyn and myself (Jackie). Kensington Cares was represented by Andrew, his wife, Ruth, and three children, who coordinated the donations and set up of the lab. Additionally, Kibra students and parents, the teaching staff, and the school board members were present as well, and had prepared a generous ceremony thanking CoKF and Kensington Cares. The students worked all week to prepare entertainment for Saturday's guests, which included a short skit describing the importance of computer training the technological advancement of Kenyan society, a traditional Nubian dance, and traditional Luo dance. Jeff, Andrew, Ruth, and Kibra teaching staff all delivered short speeches emphasizing the importance of computer access and training for the students and the local community.

They also encouraged the students to take advantage of this opportunity to join the "information highway" to embellish their school work and education and to take good care of their new gift. The ceremony was followed by a student PowerPoint presentation on agricultural issues in third world countries in the computer lab, and a round of chai and mandaazi for the guests. Students were also involved in recording the event and demonstrated impressive camera skills in their video and photo documentation.

Kibra students and teachers were excited and grateful to receive this brand new lab, and even more excited to have the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge of computers.
Computer skills are a valuable asset to any students' resume and to access to greater opportunities in the working world. Saturday's guests strongly encouraged the students to take full advantage of this unique access to computers, epecially since it will allow them so many more chances to advance and grow. As Andrew from Kensington Cares puts it: each student is a seed, and especially with the cultivation of knowledge and skills training will each students' seed be able to grow and flower. He kindly shared the story of his own start to success, which started with one small seed of an idea and surely inspired the students' own desire to follow their dreams.

Already, a volunteer named Ken has signed on to teach the students how to do digital and video editing! Now that the lab has officially been passed over to Kibra, the students and the teachers are left to take advantage of this amazing gift. They will continue their computer classes and take good care of their new equipment.

CoKF Interns Teach Life Skills at Kibra Academy

After spending just one month in Kibera, Jackie and I are ecstatic to have become CoKF's new interns. Upon visiting the organization when we arrived in late September, we were instantly impressed by CoKF's staff and connections to Red Rose and Kibra Academy. As recently graduated social work students from New York University, we felt we could utilize our skills working with the students at both schools. Fortunately, Kibra Academy and Red Rose Primary School immediately welcomed us as Life Skills teachers. We began teaching three weeks ago, using the standard syllabus but adding a flavor of our own. The students at Kibra Academy had already begun Life Skills courses, and we were excited to hear about the ideas that the students and teachers had already established for these classes. The staff at Kibra recognized that their students are experiencing the challenges of the average teenager, in addition to the challenges of living in Kibera. They also reconized the benefits for the students to have an outsider, not a teacher, with whom to facilitate the discussions and establish a form of trust. Jackie and I strongly believe in leading class with open discussions, confidentiality, respect, and honest questions, answers, and opinions. So far, we've covered self-awareness, self-esteem, and are approaching lessions on coping with emotions and stress.

The students completed their first project, which incorporated art with self-awareness. Each student was given a traced image of a human body and collage/art materials and instructed to fill in different parts of the body with cut outs, drawings, or words.

These images served to depict their dreams and motivations, people who are important figures in their lives, where they feel they come from, and their strengths and weaknesses. In covering self-esteem, we asked students to prepare a short skit informing us of ways in which self-esteem is raised or lowered. In between lessons, we have allowed free debates and discussions; so far, we've covered male and female gender roles and inequalities that still exist in an otherwise rapidly modernizing country.

We have been so impressed with the students thus far, as they have to much to articulate about the world they're experiencing. As most of you probably know, Kibera was the epicenter of political tension during the post election violence in the 2007, and our students witnessed the traumatic events first hand. Part of our purpose here is to provide them with a safe space to talk and debate about local and national issues, and to express their feelings about their community and ways to address these problems. Tribal tension, disease, lack of government support and services, hunger and poverty, and indecent education are are all the forefront of our students' minds, and we're excited to continue exploring their views.