Youth Initiatives
The Africa Circle of Hope Foundation is committed to helping young people living in urban slums and rural areas to not only get an education but also to develop their technical and artistic skills, learn more about their culture and play a productive role in the social and economic development of their communities.
Kids Camp
ACOHF
launched Kids Camps in Meru at the Thiiri Center for Culture, Music and Community
Development and funded the first year of operation reaching more than 200
kids between the ages of 11 and 15 years. The program is continuing with the
support of Thiiri Center and local churches and schools. The Day Camps include
computer training, music lessons, cultural knowledge, sports and crafts. Local
elders and community leaders also talk with the young people about culture,
values and responsibilities.
Program objectives include building self-esteem and confidence related to life decisions, and encouraging critical thinking and creative problem solving. Each Camp brings together a diverse group of 25 young people. This program fills some gaps that are not often covered in the highly structured national school curriculum. Individual students are sponsored by local churches and schools. The participants of all the camps are invited to other special youth events at Thiiri including movies, performances, and discussion groups about issues that concern young people and affect their future.
Music and Culture
One
of the major programs at Thiiri Center focuses on music training for individuals
and groups. ACOHF worked with the Program Director at Thiiri to provide interactive
skill workshops, one on drumming techniques and another on creative production,
taught by professional musicians and award-winning performers from Nairobi.
Both of these workshops support the development of the musical and artistic
resources in this rural area. One of the workshop leaders also performed in
several local schools.
ACOHF was also the major sponsor for the launch of the Thiiri Center Concert series, which features young local talent in music, spoken word poetry, dance and drama. The audience at the initial Saturday afternoon concert included more than 300 students from area schools as well as other community members, local artists and musicians. We are working with Thiiri Center to establish a music and media production studio as a resource for young people in this rural area. This facility will also provide professional training and develop the media and communication skills of local youth for related job opportunities and creative entrepreneurship.
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