Hope Library: Our Projects

OBJECTIVES
1) To initiate development projects for the youth through income generating activities, entrepreneurial and governance training.
2) To empower youth to manage their health.
3) To increase participation and interaction of youth in community via sports and recreation.
4) To promote life skills, livelihood skills and social responsibility among youth and kids.
5) To uphold gender equality and equality among the youth in all sectors of development.
6) To educate the youth on dangers of drugs, substance abuse and crime as away of reducing the rate of drug abuse and crime.
7) To improve literacy levels via THE HOPE LIBRARY and reading programs.
8) To promote leadership skills through practical skill building interaction with community- based and national leader mentoring programmes, using inter-ethnic and cross-cultural processes.
9) To promote active non-violent approaches for civic engagement through building skills for early warning systems, alternative means to resolution, mediation, advocacy and lobbying towards community empowerment.
10) To use creative-arts-based media – ie. film, theatre, printing or dance – to promote and create awareness on issues affecting youth in their role in community development.

PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

1) READING CULTURE
The club established THE HOPE LIBRARY in late 2008. Phase 1 was completed with the delivery of 1,200 books, carefully selected in the States. In Phase II, another 2,000 titles were selected for delivery in August 2009. These efforts were headed by the club's friend, Ron Reason, photographer and artist from Chicago, IL USA (ron@artwithinreason.com) and the nonprofit group American Friends of Kenya (afkinc.org). Hundreds of Kibera residents have used the library, accessing titles in history, biography, women's studies, black studies, health, many children's titles, art, poetry, spirituality, and more. The club is also dedicated to improving reading culture, and has become a pilot organization in initiating The Johnny Appleseed Project, also facilitated by American Friends of Kenya, in which children are read to aloud. This also fosters stronger adult-child relationships.

2) ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
The club has created a garbage collection project with the goal of generating small amounts of income as well as supporting the goal of a healthy, safe and clean living environment. This has resulted in reduced stockpiles of plastic waste, a menace that deviled Kibera for a long time. The club sponsors a recycling site handling solid wastes and refuse management.

3) SPORTS
The club sponsors male football teams (under 16 and 10 years), pursuing sports for social change under a program organized by Care-Kenya, Kibera Field Office. The team has also participated in several
tournaments. The organization is keen to have a formidable and skillful team and is in need of financial support. A donation of specially designed jerseys with a spiffy and ferocious “Kibera Tigers” logo (at left) is due in August 2009, along with a small shipment of footballs. It is hoped that this will provide a motivational boost to the young players.

4) SOCIAL WORK
The organization has worked in conjunction with MOYAS [Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports] peace-building and conflict resolution workshops to bring together different communities embracing the need to live peacefully in Kibera. This has enhanced peaceful cohesiveness and has reduced hatred amongst the members of the community. The club also participates in community clean-ups and programmes on drug awareness and eradication on HIV/AIDS stigma, in the form of outreaches, workshops and roadshows. Recently the club participated in a post sexual violence seminar by Medicine Sans Frontiers-Belgium focusing on immediate needs and services required after the act.

5) ICT
The club has a goal of creating an Information and Communications Technology Center, where youths and adults may be taught basic computer skills to advance their opportunities in life.

6) FEEDING
The club has offered occasional feeding to kids who turn up for the Johnny Appleseed Project, but success is limited due to financial restraints.

FUNDING
The club has received grants from MOYAS [Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports] and American Friends of Kenya. This enabled the purchase of library shelves and office furniture and to initiate a garbage collection project, now self sustaining. However the organization is in dire need of financial support from well wishers, donors, friends and the international community to help achieve their goals and objectives in improving the living standard of youth and kids. In particular, facilities procurement is our biggest challenge, for kids programs and THE HOPE LIBRARY, entering Phase 3 of its growth: the necessary procurement of permanent space. See our contact information on the reverse to inquire about how you can help, including possible tax-deductible contributions.

WE THANK OUR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS!
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports [MOYAS]
within(Reason): contemporary art and photo space
World Vision Kenya
American Friends of Kenya [AFK]
Care Kenya
City Council of Nairobi [CCN]
Kenya Community Development Programme [KCDF]
Umande Trust
Uzima Foundation
Shining Hope for Community [SHOFCO]

For more information on other needs, or how you can help on those listed above, please contact: nicofelikidsclub@gmail.com