Slum scenes and innovations – theme year ambassadors in Kenya

Diandra and Hossni Boudali, Finnish ambassadors of the European Year for Development, travelled to Kenya in early March to learn more about development cooperation.  The places visited ranged from a modern innovation centre to the pulsating Dandora slum located on the edge of a landfill. 

Photo: Alex Kamweru/Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland 

In Dandora, Juliani, a hip-hop artist, presented the building to be renovated into a youth club to Tume and to European Year for Development ambassadors, Hossni Boudali and Diandra.

This year the European Union countries are celebrating the European Year for Development, the aim of which is to get young people in particular interested in development issues. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs took two well-known musicians, Diandra and Hossni Boudali to Kenya so that as ambassadors they can tell young people about their experiences after the trip.

Tume, a vlogger followed by young people, also went along to Kenya and made a video of the trip.

One of the most memorable places visited in Nairobi was Dandora slum, which is located on the edge of a landfill. There, pigs and goats walk between the houses and in the landfill debris. In late afternoon the streets fill up with women preparing food and children romping in school uniforms.

Change is possible

Waiting for the guests in Dandora was the famous hip-hop artist Juliani, who wanted to show the Finnish guests the community project called Hiphop City. The aim of the project, supported by Juliani, is to boost the self-esteem of the slum’s children and young people. Those active in the project are renovating the building which is being converted into a multipurpose building for making music, attracting especially the children and young people of the area. The plans for the building include the local radio.

“Young people living in Dandora don’t believe that they have possibilities to succeed in life. We want to give them self-confidence by doing, to show that change is possible,” Juliani explains.

“Don’t give up! When you engage the community in your project, the community will reward you with good cheer, a feeling that goes to the heart,” theme year ambassador Hossni Boudali says.

A dance school operating in the slums of Nairobi also strives to strengthen children’s self-esteem and provide meaningful activities. The ambassadors had the chance to follow the skilful performances of children’s and young adults’ dance groups. The dance school teachers are volunteers who have graduated from the dance school maintained by an organisation called Ghetto Exposed. This year Ghetto Exposed is cooperating with dancer Tero Saarinen, who has been granted cultural support by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to be used for the realisation of a dance production in Kenya.

 Photo: Alex Kamweru/ Ministry for Foreing Affairs of Finland

 (Linkki toiselle web-sivustolle.)Prosperity through business ideas

Kenya is known for its innovativeness in the use of mobile technologies. An example of this is the mobile phone service Mpesa used by Kenyans to pay bills and transfer money. How do these business ideas, which have also spread widely to other countries, originate?

The Lavington district of Nairobi has several innovation centres. Led by community assistant Dennis Mokaya Orina, the theme year ambassadors’ group learned about the activities of iHub innovation centre. Last year Finland supported the trip of an iHub representative to the Slush event for entrepreneurs and investors.

iHub innovation centre provides networking and educational opportunities for those interested in setting up a technology company. Through the innovation centre, a young entrepreneur gets ideas and support from more experienced members of the community as well as the opportunity to present the business idea to financiers. Both Kenyans and investors from other countries make regular visits to screen new business ideas.

Finland supports the development of democracy

In Kenya, the increase in prosperity is not evenly distributed and corruption is a major problem. Rigging of elections, such as buying votes, takes place. The implementation of reforms has been hampered by the competition for power between tribes.

A new Constitution for Kenya was approved by referendum in 2010. As part of the Constitution, power was decentralized to 47 counties whose residents choose their respective county’s decision-makers through elections.

Finland finances the Uraia Trust, an NGO that together with its cooperation partners teaches Kenyan about civic participation and provides information about legislation and the rights it grants.

Finland also supports Inuka Kenya, an organisation that strives to create a common identity for Kenyans in place of tribal allegiances. The aim of the organisation’s Ni Sisi mass movement is to make the voice of citizens better heard in decision-making, especially at local government level. In their meetings with NGOs, the ambassadors were told that the influence of tribes is decreasing with urbanisation.

Photo: Alex Kamweru/ Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Mathare Special Training Centre prepares intellectually disabled young people for an occupation. Finland has supported the school through the Ojansuu Foundation.

Development cooperation results made an impression                      De

What stuck in the ambassadors’ minds about their four-day trip?

“I remember Kenya for its cheerful people who help one another. The most delightful moments were those when I got to talk with young children,” theme year ambassador Diandra says. 

“I also noticed how much good has been achieved through development cooperation. For example, the water project has benefited the whole village and slum children have been helped through a number of projects,” Diandra continues.

Hanna Päivärinta

The writer works as a communications officer at the Department for Communications of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.