Monday, June 06, 2011

Building Just Communities

Over two hundred participants joined us for the Building Just Communities Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in mid May. This year the Conference featured six different tracks focusing on advocacy training for pastors and community leaders in informal settlements and slums around the city. Here's a snap from the final day of the conference. See if you can spot Dave:




Ha. . .just kidding. I'm not in this photo. . .



Inspiration in an Unlikely Place

Inspiration Centre reaches out to at risk youth in Nairobi's Mathare Slum. Notorious as a hideout for gangsters, Mathare is becoming home to some of the hottest artists in Kenya. With a little creativity and a lot of love, Inspiration Centre is helping many young people find their voices and advocate for social justice.

Recently we did a short documentary for Inspiration Centre. During our visit to Mathare a street boy entertained us with a song in Kikamba and showed us the sites of Mathare:


Check out the documentary below (In English and Swahili. Music by Kevin McLeod):





Inspiration in an Unlikely Place - Mathare, Nairobi from Church Army Africa on Vimeo.

A Journey with Giraffes





Recently the Chaves family visited a centre for the endangered Rothschild Giraffe, one of four main types of giraffes found in Kenya. Josh was thrilled to pet and feed the long-necked creatures.


Saying Hi to the Camera



Joshua Chaves at 10.5 months:

Fighting for a Place to Call Home

While political leaders grab land and misuse public funds, residents of Kiambiu Slum are fighting for a place to call home. Watch this short video filmed on location in Nairobi's, Kiambiu Slum (in Swahili and English):




Fighting for A Place to Call Home - Kiambiu Slum from Church Army Africa on Vimeo.


(Music by Kevin McLeod)

A Voice for the Voiceless in Gatwikira

Pastor Muganda was one of the victims of the 2007-2008 Post-Election Violence. Rather than becoming bitter, Muganda has become an agent of change in the Gatwikira region of Kibera. By starting a secondary school for displaced youth, Pastor Muganda has been able to reach many young people in the community.

Here's a group photo with Pastor Muganda, friends from CUM, and leaders of Lyahuka Church:



Check out the video we filmed recently with Muganda in Kibera(in Swahili and English):






A Voice for the Voiceless from Church Army Africa on Vimeo.

Kibera Youth Network



Recently I had the privilege of being part of the launch of the Kibera Anglican Youth Network. Historically, the mainline churches have failed to reach out to residents of Africa's largest slums. Within the fourteen villages of Kibera, there are few, viable mainline churches working for social change. At the first KAYN meeting, members shared their aspirations for reaching out to address the many challenges facing young people within Kibera. Concerns were raised about ethnic and political tensions as well as joblessness and lack of educational opportunities. The young members of KAYN represent six Anglican churches within Kibera and are eager to serve their communities to offer the hope of the gospel.