Uweza Kibra League Awards

by Sharon Akinyi

On Sunday 25th November, we went to the field as part of our Journalism Club activities.  We went to watch the Uweza Kibra League awards ceremony, which was held at Toi Primary School.  Many children attended the function in order to cheer for their team and accept their awards for the 2012 season.  The league is held annually and includes teams from throughout Kibera.

I first interviewed a coach known as Abel, who coaches Marren FC.  He told me that the team deals with players 8 years old to 15 years old.  The club has approximately 50 players. Abel told me that they had played thirty games as a part of the Uweza Kibra League and finished the season with 80 points.

Journalism Club members interviewing League Coordinator Joash Ngaira

Joash Ngaira, the league coordinator and Uweza coach for Under-12, was hoping for his team to win.  Before they played their match, I asked him what he hoped for.  He answered, "as a coach, I only expect the best and that's winning."

Uweza Under-8 played a match with Brothers Under-8 and won the match 1-0.  Henry Waweru, a young and ambitious player, scored the goal for Uweza.  Their coach Said was happy because they did not draw.  He said that Henry Waweru was one of his best players on the Under-8 team. "He has determination even though he is small.  He knows where he wants to reach and to him, not even the sky is the limit.," he told me.  The Uweza Under-8 team usually trains on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  They are almost 25 in number. 

Uweza Under-8 vs. Brothers Under-8

The opponents of Uweza were not sad.  I interviewed the Brothers FC coach, Edu, who thought the game was cool but "the minutes were very few."  I asked him who his best player was he and he told me they were two, named Diblo and Imoli.  In the next match, coach Abel's team Marren FC came head to head with coach Joash's team Uweza Under-12. Even though they played and fought tooth and nail for a victory, the match ended in a 0-0 draw.

After the match, we went to the awards ceremony.  Coach Joash encouraged all of the players to keep putting more effort into everything they do and in improving their talents in football.  The guest of honor, known as "Solo," who is a former international soccer player, told the players to set goals and play well in order to view themselves like their role models.

Uweza Team Manager Charles Kaindi addresses the players and coaches

"Solo" also told them that they had to be disciplined. "You could be doing well in everything but without discipline, you won't go anywhere."  Many prizes and awards were given to different teams. The first prize for Best Defender went to Quinter Anyango of the Uweza Queens (girls team).  Top Scorer of the Uweza Kibra League was Rashid Abdul of Marren FC, with 21 goals.   The prize for the Most Disciplined went to Juma Suleiman of Marren FC.

Slum Soka team captain accepts certificate on behalf of his team

The winning teams for Under-8 and overall categories received certificates, medals and a trophy.  Truly, all that starts well ends well.  The league for the year was over and was closed by Managing Director Jen Sapitro.  She thanked each and every one for coming and participating.  

Marren FC players with their first place trophy

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Sharon Akinyi is 14 years old and a member of the Uweza Journalism Club.

Life Skils All Ladies Should Know

by Rebecca Musanga

Life skills is next to common sense but as we know sometimes this skill is not as common among many individuals. In life, we undergo numerous and different transitions that enable us to move to the next step of success. On a bright Saturday morning, the 24th of November, Uweza Foundation organized a ladies life skills forum and the young ladies who came were from the different programs that it provides.

The main aim of the forum was to educate young ladies about the mandatory skills that they need to apply in their daily lives. Under the guidance our beloved, respected teacher Lydia, we all sat down, regardless of our age, to listen and learn more about life. Teacher Lydia dwelled mostly on the proper way of hygiene.

The major points she tackled were as follows:

• The proper way of bathing where we were advised to always have a shower at least twice in a day.
• Brushing of our teeth at least twice in a day.
• Wearing clean clothes daily.
• Always to use a white tissue when visiting the toilet and wash our hands regularly.
•  Wearing well fitting pants that should always be dry and clean to avoid getting infections.
• During the monthly period to use recommended pads and disposing them correctly.
• Get a better education and after that a career which will enable us to live a pleasing life.
• To abstain from sex until marriage since one can contract various diseases, some of which, like HIV and AIDS, don’t have any cure.
• Respect to our elders especially our parents and to the laws provided in the constitution.
• Shaving of pubic and armpit hair to avoid bad smell and other complications 
• Above all to keep our dignity through earning a good education, happiness good social and moral values and reverence for God.
  

The explanations to this session were in depth, which left us with no questions to ask but more knowledge to acquire. “Our life as ladies is like an egg, it can easily break, we are like flowers that need proper care to blossom or else we can fade anytime,” said teacher Lydia as she concluded.

We all had a great time and did not want the session to end. Everyone had a great time to enjoy the snacks that were provided as we promised to share the knowledge with the other young ladies who were absent. Truly, life skills should be a mandatory subject in all learning institutions to remind people on the good morals and ethics of life.

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Rebecca Musanga is a member of the Uweza Journalism Club.

We are on the move

by Nicholas Gisemba

Sunday the 11th of November was a day to remember as one of our new programs, the Uweza Cultural Troupe, was lucky enough to be invited to perform at a wedding outside Kibera. The group has been meeting since August to sharpen their dancing skills and recently had their first performance at Uweza Soccer Academy's Prize Giving day. The group meets every Sunday and brings together youth from throughout Kibera to learn dances from different Kenyan cultures.

The wedding was held along Thika road at St. Bernard Catholic Parish, where the bride and the groom were having the best day of their lives. The service went well with the parish priest giving word of encouragement to the newlyweds. Time came for the Uweza dancing group, wearing their new dancing costumes and shoes, to perform and everyone was impressed by their dancing styles.

For sure their performance was not a disappointment as wedding guests were treated to lively moves and were very impressed. According to their trainer Mr. Antony Juma, his task has been to train the youngsters in dancing skills, since it’s also like a sport to relax one’s mind and also enjoy oneself.  The Cultural Troupe was able to participate in wedding festivities and enjoyed a meal of rice, chapati, and meat as appreciation for their performing.  The group returned back to Kibera at night, after a day of enjoyment.

The wedding guests were so happy with the performance that one of the guests made an approach to the club if they can also perform in another wedding, which took place today. Antony’s vision for the group is to see them continue to perform at many events outside of Kibera to bring more exposure for Kibera youth outside of Kibera, to showcase their talents, and to gain sponsorship for the program.

Watch a video clip of the performance below and contact us at info@uweza.org or 0706823283 to book the Uweza Cultural Troupe to perform at your event!

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Nicholas Gisemba is a member of the Uweza Journalism Club. 

My Story: Uweza Sponsorship House

My Story" gives beneficiaries of Uweza programs the opportunity to tell their own story about their experience with Uweza. Today's story comes from five Kibera adolescents who have moved into a house together that is paid for by Uweza.  In Kibera, most adolescent boys are considered adults and are expected to find a place to sleep outside of their family homes.  The authors of today's story are high school students who had particularly difficult living situations, which prompted Uweza to intervene.

by Ali Juma, Charles Omondi, Erick Ondimu, Michael Kubasu, and Steven Okello

Opportunities are very rare to find. This is because, nowhere in this planet earth, will you find someone who sacrifices to guarantee all your requirements such as paying your school fees, providing a shelter for you, and lastly ensuring that you get food.  We are boldly appreciating for all that Uweza Foundation has provided us with. The opportunity that you have given to us is a wonderful and visionary idea that has enabled us to focus ahead.  We thank you for everything.

Before we entered this house, most of us went through a lot of challenges in life such as lack of school fees, food problems, housing problems, and lastly difficulty learning.  Learning was the most serious problem that most of us had.  First, we lacked resources such as textbooks.  The place to study was a major problem.  Time management was a serious issue.  Most of us could also be influenced by friends that were negative influences.

Erick Ondimu and Charles Omondi

 The house is located opposite K.A.G. near Ceno Grounds in Kibera.  The house is cemented from inside to outside. The floor and the walls are cemented wonderfully. The walls are painted in a white color which makes it look deliberately good.  The iron-sheet is well built in that leaking problems during raining are minimal.

Uweza Foundation has provided us with facilities such as beds that have made us sleep comfortable without worries.  We have, enough food that has made us to be so energetic whereby from our past appearance we looked thin but now we have changed a lot.  When you look at us, we look much more healthy than those past days.

Michael Kubasu

 We also have a place to study whereby we are able to read well without any disturbance and also we can manage our time appropriately. We have been provided with books that have enabled us to improve our academic performance.  And lastly, you have provided a house that enables us to live better.

The house has helped us live peacefully and in harmony and has brought unity between all of us.  We are all coming from different backgrounds but it is the house that Uweza has provided for us that has brought us together without looking closely at who we are and where we came from.

 With our ending remarks, we would like to appreciate Uweza Foundation for what they have done to us.  All of us have set targets/goals that are going to bear much fruit.  We promise that we are going to work hard and pass our exams well because we have all that requires a student to pass. We will pass with flying colors.  We believe that one day, we will come to surprise many with our achievements and progress.

Lastly, we will not forget the blessings and love of God that has enabled Uweza to do all of this because of us. Please continue having the same spirit of assisting people that are in need and for sure God will not forsake you but He will reward you  more.  Thank you very much and may the Almighty God bless you (Uweza) all the time.

From left: Steven Okello, Erick Ondimu, Ali Juma, Charles Omondi, and Michael Kubasu

Today's Entrepreneurs

by Rebecca Musanga and Thomas Bwire

Have you ever wondered why some businesses thrive and end up being big companies? And have you ever asked yourself why some big companies end up to their downfall? Well the answer to a better managed business entity is through proper planning, undertaking a market research to understand its need.

November 3rd 2012 was a day set aside by Barclays bank staff that came all the way to Kibera to undertake a community service among the children of Uweza Foundation.  Their mission was to teach and mentor youths aged between ages 12-23 on life skills, financial skills, and entrepreneurship skills. Despite the chilly and rainy muddy day, all the participants both from the Barclay’s team and Uweza had the energy to go all the way. Sessions were organized for different age groups in some of the classes at Toi Primary School.

Uweza youth ages 12-14 received mentorship on life skills from Barclays staff members

The older youth were taken through the fundamentals of growing a small business with as little capital as 1,000 Kenyan Shillings and the major points that are essential for business growth.  One of the major factors one should consider in starting a business is the demand of product. Second is the package, available market and quality of the product. These factors play a big role because many people consciously or unconsciously buy things not because they need them but because they saw them and were attracted to them.

To become a good entrepreneur, one needs to be bold and good in negotiating skills, social, persuasive, determined and goal oriented. At the end, the greatest investment one can ever make is in the people themselves and not in the machines. With the help of some of the facilitators like Ramesh Kavil, Charity Kimathi and Francis Mwango, the group of older youths were now able to understand how things work in the real business world.

Ramesh Kayil of Barclays leads a lesson to Uweza youth ages 19-23

An in-depth interview with the Barclays Africa, Chief Operating Officer (BA, COO) Mr. Eric Modave noted that Africa is still the best place for market investment opportunities that can easily target the youth. “Youth comprise of a bigger population though we see many disparities among them, and that’s why Barclays is here to support youth ideas and possible ways of creating new jobs for them” noted Eric. 

Eric Modave teaching youth ages 15-18 about Africa's potential for entrepreneurship growth

 The Chief Operating Officer also added the need to embrace technology advancement in this area since most youths own mobile handsets that can hasten use of mobile banking, call centers, and internet use.  To put all the theories taught into practice, a section of the youths were divided into groups of three and each given a Ksh.1000 to purchase some clothes at the nearby Toi Market with an aim of selling to make profit. This had to be done within a time frame of 1 hour.

Organizing their goods purchased at the market

Upon their return to the event, some shops were opened and business took center stage as Barclays staff members bought some of the clothes displayed and gifted them to younger kids who had emerged winners in a dancing competition that was held.

Dancing competition winners with their new clothing donations

“I feel much different now, and I am thinking of possible ways I can start a small business one day,” were Ali Juma's sentiments.  While Dennis Odhiambo, age 19, also appreciates the few learned entrepreneurship skills that he had never given a thought to before.  Thank you to Barclays for their support in making this great day possible!

Always aim higher

by Mathew Muema

Last Saturday’s weather proved many of us wrong, as the chilly temperature were not friendly to what we are used here. In most cases our weather is warmer, but today was rains pouring at intervals. Anyway, that didn’t deter me from accomplishing  my mission for the day as planned trip to Meru was still on. The journey takes around 5hours for a distance of more than 200 kilometers. This is one of the counties in Kenya that boosts of growing plenty of coffee and tea due to the high attitude and famously known to export khat (miraa).

My destination was St Lucy High School, a boarding school for the visually impaired, to pay a school visit of one our sponsored student Cyrus Renji. The journey went well without any hitches and upon arrival at the school, Cyrus was there to welcome me.

My visit ended up to sharing experiences of how Cyrus has been managing while at the school four years down the line after he became blind. He still remembers the experience and that has not pulled him down but has been an inspiration for him to work hard in his studies.

 Cyrus notes, with a smile,  that was it not for Uweza, then his life would have taken another twist. “I still value important people who came into my life at that time like Mark (Cyrus' sponsor),  Jen (Uweza Managing Director) and you Mathew for being like a big brother and helping me to get everything I need. This support has changed my perspective and I feel okay till today, ” Cyrus tells me.

He still has some challenges that he has had to cope, which he opened up to me about. " I used to enjoy playing and watching soccer but right now I can’t do any of that.  I am also an athlete but if I wish to run right now I need a guide to run. But swimming I can still do it the same way. The other challenge I am experiencing at the moment is that I am still learning how to use Braille. My speed is low but with time hopefully I will manage, “notes Cyrus.

From left: Uweza Sponsorship Coordinator Mathew Muema, Cyrus Renji, and Cyrus' class teacher Mr. Kinoti

Cyrus class teacher really appreciates his hard work considering that he was not born with the disability and that it just caught up with him as a growing student. He can do well and he has commendable discipline while at school.

As the day came to an end, I must say I had a good day in the company of Cyrus, who is a story teller.  One can never get bored in his company. His still thankful and thoughtful of the person who is assisting to paying his school fees and will continue to devote all is energy to doing well in his studies.

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Mathew Muema is Uweza's wonderful Sponsorship Coordinator who regularly travels to all ends of Kenya to make sure that our sponsored students are well taken care of.

Empowering today's generation

by Thomas Bwire

“Teacher! teacher! I know the answer,” is what I get to hear as I arrive in one of the classroom hosting the pupils undertaking their evening remedial classes. The session is on and one of the teachers, Isaiah Apondi is carrying our some revision on one of the taught subjects science.

Today’s session is about the environment, things that surround us where we all live. “Yes I need someone to tell me what the definition of the word environment is?" asks teacher Isaiah to his participating pupils in his class. At this point I see almost the whole class raise their hands hoping they will be picked to answer the asked question.

A section of the pupils participating in the lesson

Teacher Isaiah is one of the teachers working for Uweza and he teaches primary children different school taught subjects. Session are carried out during the week after the normal school program, where pupils come from different respective schools and engage one to one with the teachers.  The goal is to help pupils to have an understanding of  the subjects taught while at school and also as a supplement to their academic work.

Checking over students books

A discussion with teacher Isaiah reveals that he tries to help all the pupils come to the same level in terms of what they learn while in school, since they all come from different respective local schools around. His passion is to see pupils do well in school and that more emphasis is invested in their end of the term exams.

Pupils keenly following the lesson

“Here we give an opportunity for each child to approach the teacher with any need and we supplement by assisting so that by the end of the day, they can do well in their studies. We act as a bridge between their schools just by supplementing what might have been left out,” notes teacher Isaiah.

His parting shot is that being a teacher is a calling.  He would like to encourage anyone willing to get into the teaching industry that a teacher’s fulfillment is to share knowledge to the generations and see them prosper into young responsible citizens once they ae through with their academic studies. And with that, I was done with teacher Isaiah and stole a few moments to get good photos of him interacting with his class.