The Digital Day

by Rebecca Musanga and Sharon Akinyi

No tree grows from the air to the ground, it all starts from the ground firmly anchored with roots for support. To prove this statement right, we as the Uweza Journalism members visited Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) on 30th August 2012 to get a better understanding of one of the oldest media houses in Kenya.

In the bus on the way to KBC studios

Before changing their name to KBC it was previously known as (VOK) Voice Of Kenya. VOK was the first broadcasting station in Kenya under the state. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed and taken through the different departments and stations. First we went to the radio station called KBC Radio Taifa where we met Asha Juma who is a radio presenter doing what she does best as she explained to us more about being a presenter. She had three computers in front of her desk.  “One is for research, another for airing the station’s commercials and the last one for backing up information just in case we have failures with our system,” noted Asha Juma.She uses a fader machine to either go on or off air.

Club members with Teacher Thomas (left) inside Radio Taifa

Next was the control apparatus room where we met Engineer Philip Chamdani who helps with operating the machines that transmit signals to other parts of the country. Signals from the studio go through a transmitter to receiver through a machine called audio monitor. He showed us how to connect to their other local radio stations e.g. Kitwek, Mayenga and the English and Kiswahili services. He used VU meters to measure signal transmission.

We visited the KBC TV station, one of the largest studios I have ever seen in Kenya. It was decorated with huge lights and news cameras. We were shocked to know that some local TV programs e.g. Vioja Mahakamani were normally shot in that same studio. It is only a matter of set design and all goes well.

Club member learning how to record voice overs

Lastly we visited the control room, where all signals from the studio are channeled to be broadcasted worldwide. In the CR, the audio and video are dealt with separately but their signals sent simultaneously. Needless to say, we all had sharpened our brains on how medias operate and were encouraged to come back as CEOs of that company. After the knowledge room, we all went to a prestigious hotel where we treated our stomachs and lastly went back to the center. How else could we have described that day?

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Rebecca Musanga and Sharon Akinyi are members of the Uweza Journalism Club.

Dancing Magic

Story by Jenipher Awour

Photos by Sharon Akinyi

It’s  a Monday afternoon on the 20th of August  and I am at the Gifted Hands school compound in Kibera.  Here one can hear the sounds of drum beats coming from one of the classrooms.  This is the place where all the action is taking place this afternoon as kids participating in Uweza's new Dancing Club are practice their skills.

Preparing to dance

Uweza tutors Teacher Harriet and Teacher Apondi were here too. I did get to meet them and inquire their reason of being present, yet their tutorial program had taken some rest for this school holiday. “You see most of the kids were inspired when they heard we have dancing program slotted for this August holiday, and the majority will report earlier than even the expected time,” says Teacher Apondi.

The traditional dancing sessions are aimed to give kids with talents an opportunity to gain confidence. "You never know, perhaps we might end up with good dancers who can perform at bigger events," added Teacher Harriet.

Teacher Harriet plays the drums

In a short while I was also able to meet Fabian Owino and Anthony Juma, members of a local music group called Nairobi Drums, whom have been given the opportunity by Uweza to train dancing skills to youth from Kibera. According to Fabian Owino, their interactions with the kids  have helped them identify skills in some of them. “Already we have seen some of the kids who are fast learners while some are still learning gradually by watching others. That is normal and am sure with time they will get to be on the same level,” noted Fabian.

Students receive instructions from dancing teacher Fabian

Mr. William Moi, Uweza Country Director, told me that the aim of this program was to give kids some break from the normal school routine that is always packed with school homework and remedial classes. Jen Sapitro, Managing Director, was also present and added her sentiments that she had passed by to come and see how the sessions were going. "We have paid to rent the premises of the school since they have ample space that can accommodate all kids interested in dancing."

To conclude, I also got sentiments of some of the kids who had showed up today. Monica says she wants to nurture her talent in dancing while Quinter on the other hand notes that besides school work coming to the dancing group will refresh her mindsand also offer an opportunity to get to relax.

View a short video clip of the Dancing Club practicing for an upcoming peformance at Uweza Soccer Academy's Prizegiving ceremony here:

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The authors of this story, Jennifer and Sharon, are members of the Uweza Journalism Club.

Do you know your media?

by Rebecca Musanga and Dorcas Kirwai

Have you ever asked yourself how the news and different programs we see on TV or listen to on radio are produced? Well, people say that curiosity killed the cat but we as the Uweza Journalism Club members add to it by saying that satisfaction brought it back. On Friday 17th August 2012, we got a chance to visit Citizen TV and radio station that is under Royal Media Services. Accompanying us was Sponsorship Coordinator Mathew Muema.

Club members Lydiah and Fauzia

Unexpected drizzles kicked off the day but that did not stop our mission at all. On arrival, we were directed to a restaurant to wait for our ‘tour guide’. Everyone was a bit nervous as some shivered in the cold but nevertheless, she finally came.

Club members Nicholas and Jenipher

Before we were allowed in, we had to clean our shoes since it was muddy and hand over our cameras since we were not allowed to have them. Our tour guide, who introduced herself as Eunice, took us through the different stations as we asked her many questions.

Royal Media Services has one TV station and a total of 14 radio stations including: Bahari FM, Ramogi FM, Radio Citizen and the latest one being Radio Maa. These radio stations broadcast in different languages to reach out to as many people in Kenya.  We got a chance to meet Davis Mwambili also famously known as Mwala and Jackie famously known as Wilbroda who were also radio presenters and actors too.

Group photo

70% of citizen programs are locally produced in Kenya while the other 30% are from other countries. In the news studio, we were shown different machines used in broadcasting news e.g. the galary vision which deals with pictures to bring videos on air, master play button, a device formatted by graphics, (VTR) Video Transmission Recorder that captures motion pictures using tapes, Vision mixer which selects pictures responding to stories the news anchor reads. Indeed knowledge is power.

Lydiah, Everlyne, and Sharon enjoying their lunch

After the tour, we went to a restaurant in town where we quenched our hunger and thirst, took photos and journeyed back to Uweza Foundation Centre. If it was not a fabulous day, what else can we call it? Thanks to our journalism tutor Thomas for facilitating our media visit as a journalism club that has given us a different perspective into media operations.

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 The authors of this story, Rebecca and Dorcas, are members of the Uweza Journalism Club.

Uniting Kibera through Soccer

by Jen Sapitro

On Sunday August 19th, I paid a visit to Toi Primary to watch the Uweza Kibra league in action. The league, which brings together soccer clubs from throughout Kibera to compete in matches every Sunday at Toi Primary School, is now in it's eighth month after kicking off in January 2012 .  Uweza hosts and manages the league and provides the field, goal posts, balls, and referees.

According to League Coordinator and Uweza Under-12 coach Joash Ngaira, the league was initiated to enhance competition among young soccer players in Kibera.  Normally, players in Kibera are only able to participate in tournaments during school holidays and the league gives them the rare chance to play in competitive matches on a weekly basis.

Kibera Mtaani Girls play against Brothers FC Under-12

Players from seven different soccer clubs are currently participating in the first edition of the league.  Joash Ngaira says that the first edition was intended as a pilot project to see if there would be interest and participation among Kibera clubs.   So far, the league has been a success and there are plans to expand it's reach in the second edition, which will begin in January 2013.

Marren U-12 vs. Villa U-10

Uweza Team Manager Charles Kaindi hopes to recruit nine more clubs next year to bring the total participation to 16 Kibera clubs. A Junior League will also be started for Under-8 teams, who have been getting the occasional chance to play in the league but rarely participate in tournaments or friendly matches due to their young age.

Uweza U-8 vs KiMMta U-8 in action

To motivate the players, teams will be asked to contribute to a participation fee that will be used to make management of the league more professional and to purchase certificates, trophies, and medals to award the winners.

Uweza Team Manager Charles Kaindi adds that the league was intended to unite players, coaches, and Team Managers from throughout Kibera to improve the quality of soccer in the slum. As the league continues to grow, Uweza hopes to select players to participate in a Kibera United youth team that will represent the best in Kibera soccer in tournaments throughout Kenya and East Africa.

Some of the Uweza Kibra League players and coaches

 Final results for Sunday 19th August, 2012:

Barclays Africa (Uweza U-12) vs Brazaville (Uweza U-10) : 4-1                               
Marren U-12 vs Villa U-10 : 3-1                                              
Brothers U-12 vs KiMMta Girls: 2-0                  
Uweza Girls vs New Stars (Brothers FC) : 1-0          
Uweza U-8 vs KiMMta U-8 : 3-0            
Brothers U-8 vs Marren U-8 :1-0
Slum Soccer U-10 vs. New Stars (Brothers FC): 0-6
Slum Soccer U-12 vs. Black Stars: 2-0             

For league standings, check out: www.uweza.org/soccer/kibraleague.html. 

If you are a Kibera soccer club interested in participating in the next edition of the league, contact us at 0714371964 or uwezakenya@gmail.com.

Learning Power

by Rebecca Musanga, Phenny Nyanchama,  Jenipher Awuor, Aisha Mohamed and Ruth Ijaika

As the Bible phrases,”My people perish because they lack knowledge.” It was a knowledgeable day at Uweza Foundation Center at 4.00pm where the senior Uweza journalism club members were learning more about WordPress.com and how one can start a free blog page to post information relevant to  people they are targeting. This exercise was conducted by Mr. Thomas Bwire, our journalism trainer.

As we start our August holiday break from our normal school routine, we could not wait to join our other journalism members and get to catch up with them on how they have been doing. For some of us who have been in boarding schools, it is another opportunity to learn new skills for the journalism career in our later years.

Back to our lesson of the day, Mr. Thomas took us through the initial steps  of setting up a blog page using WordPress.com for free. The site allows one to post stories of one’s choice that can be read globally. We learned some insights on how we can write a new blog, how to preview, publish, link a story to any given blog and even edit our own blog stories.


Mr. Thomas also visited some other blogs to help us understand the different formats of how we can post our blog stories and also insert any accompanied pictures. As we were busy trying to come up with different ideas, our junior members were sharing the latest stories they encountered or witnessed during the week. As they were still discussing, Mr. Thomas came in to assist them so that they may finalize on our upcoming media  first ever visit  this coming week to Royal Media Services, one of the local broadcasting media houses with Television and Radio.

After the learning session, we went through the previous blogs that were posted by some of our members and got more ideas on how to write interesting stories.  We all look forward to start writing our own blogs and in the coming weeks.

After a long afternoon, we were treated to a cup of porridge, known as uji in Swahili, as we assembled together so as to share more about the visit and also the next meeting.

This is our first ever blog piece written by five people and we are happy that you read it and got to know the kind of skills we are gaining gradually.

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Rebecca, Phenny,  Jenipher, Aisha and Ruth are members of the Uweza Journalism Club.  They will be starting their own blog in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

Press conference in Kibera

by Thomas Bwire

The weather is cool today and in the outdoor courtyard of the Uweza center, journalism club members are having their session.  Seated on the brown benches and listening attentively are some of the members as they watch representatives of their groups engaging in a press conference exercise.

Today's session includes 32 participants. As part of their learning experience, the session is aimed at enhancing their skills as journalists in the near future and providing an example of what they can undergo should they find themselves in a media press conference.

Journalism Instructor Thomas gives instructions to a team of reporters

First they got to know what a press conference is: press conference is a media event in which news makers invite journalists to hear them speak and, most often, ask questions depending on the topic at hand.

Our press conference was held by club members acting as researchers.  Club members were divided into groups acting as journalists and each group chose representatives tasked with asking questions. The exercise required maximum participation for each group to earn points. The researchers played the role of explaining in detail their research findings on a controversial topic at hand touching on the social aspect of life. This topic was: “Annoying habits that women dislike in men.”

The press conference set up

Prior to the exercise, everyone had an opportunity to read through newspaper cuttings on the topic and get an idea of what the press conference was all about. Once this was accomplished in 20 minutes, each reporter armed questions challenged the researchers to explain their point of view.  The exercise turned out to be like a real media event as some of the reporters proved their interview skills as they kept questions coming on board.

A team of reporters follows through the presentations

Strong points emerging from the press conference were some of the major reasons women don’t like in men like heavy drinking and abandoning children, among many other issues. It was truly an eye opener as all the students had a hands on experience at the end of the session on what it takes to prepare for a press conference, should they find themselves in such a situation.

Champions for an HIV-Free Generation

by Thomas Bwire

The Kibera community today played a key role in hosting key former African Presidents from three African countries, who caught the attention of the locals upon their arrivals at KICOSHEP Primary School in Kichinjio village. Today their mission was not just to come and see the slum, but as champions for a HIV–free generation.

 His Excellency Kenneth Kaunda, former head of state of  Zambia, His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa, former head of state of Tanzania,His Excellency Festus Mogae, former head of state of Botswana, Zambia and Professor Miriam Were

His Excellency Festus Mogae, former head of state of Botswana, His Excellency Kenneth Kaunda, former head of state of Zambia and His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa, former head of state of Tanzania and Professor Miriam Were drew the attention of the locals here upon their arrival.  His Excellency Festus Mogae had the opportunity to inspect the guard of honour mounted by the scouts of the school who stood neatly dressed in their scout’s uniform.

Guard of honor

AIDS represents one of the greatest leadership challenges of our time. Champions for an HIV Free Generation, a group of former African presidents and other influential personalities, have agreed to meet this challenge by advocating for a renewed and revitalized response from regional leaders, with a focus on proven HIV prevention measures in countries they visit.

KICOSHEP is one of the founders of HIV/AIDS support care in Kibera as it works with persons living with HIV virus and aims to ensure they receive good care despite their status.  According to the Executive Director of KICOSHEP, Dr. Anne Owiti Awour, their aim is to help the community fight against stigma and discrimination which is a major contributing factor among people living positively especially in informal settlements.

His Excellency Festus Mogae, Chair of Champions for an HIV Free Generation

Present guests were also treated to an entertainment, from Kibera children dressed in lessos.  In his address speech, His Excellency Festus Mogae and also the chair of the group noted that they were here as they visit African countries to plead with African leaders to give priority to HIV/AIDS in their budgetary allocations to help its citizens who are engaged in helping all those who are sick and orphaned.

Entertainment provided by Kibera youth

Their core mission is to lobby political leadership of the African countries, in fighting stigma and spreading treatment and care, especially giving a priority to community health workers in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

His closing remarks ended with a call, “please to our African leaders, please do more in helping our people overcome HIV/AIDS and together in the whole world we can and together as Kenyans we can.”

Discipline counts in what you do in life

She is busy and very keen when with the girls on the pitch as she gives instructions during her soccer training. As a female coach, she has the determination to nurture talent among the Uweza girls soccer teams.

Meet Coach Joyce Khoyi who has come a long way in matters of soccer on the pitch. Just last month she was selected to be the Team Manager for a girls team representing Nairobi Province in the nationwide Copa Coca Cola tournament. She had the privilege of travelling to the coastal region and leading the team against girls teams from throughout Kenya. Two of the soccer girls from Uweza Foundation were also selected to travel with her to Mombasa to represent Nairobi province. Though they lost to Mombasa province in the finals of the tournament, this did not deter them from keeping their focus.

Coach Joyce leads all age categories of girls teams for Uweza

How has she found herself in love with the ball on the pitch? Her inspiration was realized from her father who was a strong soccer player with one of the local clubs. She used to escort her father to matches, and noticed that most of the coaches were male and kept thinking to herself whether one day she can also make a name as a female coach in the country. Her love with the ball started when she worked as a coach volunteer an organization known as Vepa in Dagoretti.  Here she stayed for a period of 4 months before being taken for a course to gain more skills as a coach. There on she formed her own girl’s soccer team in the Dagoretti area.

Besides coaching, Coach Joyce also participates as a coordinator and in involved in coordinating senior teams within Dagoretti.  During our interview I did pose a question to her, “how she came about to join Uweza Foundation?”   “I joined Uweza last year in April 2011 and got myself a chance to train girls under 16 years of age,” she notes. One outstanding thing I noticed during her training session is that she starts with prayers, before anything else.

Joyce leading the girls in a prayer

“I want to empower girls and besides coaching them on how to play soccer, I also incorporate life skills in my coaching. Life in Kibera can be very challenging and there are many challenges that girls do face and if they cannot get someone they can trust to guide them right, then they will really struggle in life,” says Coach Joyce.

Instructing the girls

Her advice to girls, “discipline counts above anything else, do not be cheated because of your talent, and end up wasting your God given talents, have an objective in life and be principled in whatever you do, and remember to always thank God for your being alive.”