Uweza Shop Look-a-likes

Two times in the past month, I have spotted items in the store that are very similar to jewelry that we are selling through our Uweza shop. But of course each of our pieces is handmade by woman from Kibera, one-of-a-kind and much more reasonably priced!

Store brand

Much better Uweza shop version!

Store brand

Uweza shop version!

Please visit the Uweza shop: http://uweza.org/shop.html to purchase jewelry made by HIV positive women. 100% of proceeds will go toward direct assistance and program development to sustainably support these women.

New weekly blog feature: Kenya and Kibera Current Issues Series

This week is the first in a new blog series that will be guest written by Amy Auguston. Amy first volunteered in Kenya in 2007. That year, she organized and financed weekly soccer lessons for the boys at Tunza Children's Center in Kibera and this project was later incorporated into Uweza to become our soccer league. She has also sponsored a student through our sponsorship program. She recently finished an 18-month stint managing a development project in Dodoma, Tanzania. She has an MSc in Development Studies and has worked on Africa-related issues with organizations including Human Rights Watch, EngenderHealth, the African Human Rights Consortium, and The Rory Peck Trust.

Below is her first blog post and she will continue to write a weekly post to keep us educated and informed about current issues affecting Kibera and Kenya.
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First introduced in 2000, the UN Millennium Development Goals (or MDGs) outline a comprehensive and ambitious vision for social and economic development in the world’s poorest regions. The MDGs provide obtainable guidelines to reduce worldwide poverty by 2015. Last week in New York, leaders from around the globe gathered at the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals to evaluate and discuss the progress made so far as well as what needs to be accomplished in the next five years.

Below you’ll find some MDG-related coverage of issues facing Kenya and the rest of the developing world:

• Kenya’s top newspaper Daily Nation assembled a detailed round-up of Kenya’s progress—or lack thereof—towards achieving the MDGs. While Kenya has made significant strides towards some goals, there has been insufficient progress in other areas, including child mortality, maternal mortality, and HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

• “The lack of African voices at the MDG summit was both notable and troubling. Learn more about efforts by Africans to address African issues here .

• What happens if the MDGs aren’t reached in 2015? As one development expert asks, “If we miss the goals, who is going to punish us?” Read more about accountability for the MDGs here.

• Kenya’s own Wangari Maathai, who is the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, published an impassioned editorial about the importance of involving women and girls in issues of environmental sustainability (MDG #7).

• MDG # 5 aims to reduce maternal mortality and to improve maternal health in general. Obstetric fistula is one of the common—and most devastating—childbirth injures in Africa. In a recent report, Human Rights Watch spotlights the plight of Kenyan women with fistula and the failure of the Kenya’s health system to prevent and repair this condition.

• A recent World Health Organization study reminds us that the fight against HIV/AIDS (or MDG #6) is far from over. The target for universal access to ARV treatment in the world’s poorest countries has still not been reached.

East Africa Cup Tournament Results

Last month, three of our teams participated in a three-day tournament with teams from throughout East Africa.

Each team played in 4 matches. The Under-12 team won one match and lost three. The Under-14 team also one one match and lost three. The Under-18 team won one match, drew one match, and lost two.

Although they were not victorious, the boys did their best and all had a great time and it was a really good experience for them to interact with players from throughout Kenya and all of East Africa. When they weren't playing, most of the boys spent the whole day at the tournament watching other teams play. We provided all of the boys lunch every day as well.



A photo gallery of the tournament has been posted on our photo page: http://www.uweza.org/framephoto.html

We recently bought new sets of uniforms for the teams, including a set of pink uniforms for a new girls team so check back for more info and pictures soon!

Bar Mitzvah for Uweza

Recently, we were fortunate enough to be chosen as the recipient for a Bar Mitzvah Project coordinated by a young man named Nathan Lee and his family. Nathan celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in June and asked attendants, family and friends to donate to Uweza as part of the celebration.

Following the Bar Mitzvah, the family traveled to Africa for an eight week trip, starting in June. They visited and worked with members of the Samburu tribe, who reside in a rural area of Kenya north of Nairobi. They are working with members of the community to help gain education for their children.






It's really inspiring to see someone Nathan's age already giving back to those in need and we are honored and grateful to him and his family for letting us be a part of their efforts.

Counseling Retreat and August Report

On August 30, our counselors, Collins and Becky, organized a counseling retreat for the kids at Tunza Children's Center in City Park in Nairobi.

From their August report:

"We managed to take 56 kids plus one helper (Mike) and Mama Tunza to the Nairobi City Park. We got a 62 seater passenger bus for transport from Kibiko to the park and back conveniently. We also managed to pay for the park fees and we had enough snacks and drinks for the kids.

Moreover, we had a beautiful programme for the day. In the morning sessions up to lunch hour we divided the kids into two groups with the help of two other professional counsellors (Susan and Anne). The topics for the morning sessions were: Relationships (family relationships, requirements for healthy family relationships, boy/girl relationships, what values to embrace to pursue purity of life, creating relationship boundaries), Self Confidence (self esteem and believing in self and its advantages), Self Management and Self Control (controlling the minds, what to watch and time management).

In the afternoon, the programme included: Team building activities and sporting activities where the kids were exposed to competing games and awards given for the winner as well as the kid who participated in many games was awarded with a book. The games were meant to compliment the morning sessions topics. We also enhanced the essence of unity and brotherhood in the team building activities.

We culminated the day with in house rules on the way forward as we look forward for another moment like that. The kids were very happy and appreciated the sponsorship and made a request to have such events at least every holiday if possible. Thank you very much for your continued support we would not have made it without your support."

Read the entire August Counseling report here.

Pictures of the retreat have been posted in the photo gallery on our website: http://uweza.org/framephoto.html

"A Small Act"

"When Hilde Back sponsored a young, rural Kenyan student, she thought nothing of it. She certainly never expected to hear from him, but years later she does. Now a Harvard graduate and a Human Rights Lawyer for the United Nations, Chris Mburu decides to find the stranger that changed his life. Inspired by her generosity, he starts a scholarship program of his own and names it for his former benefactor.

Using a strong narrative, the film interweaves seemingly separate lives into a cohesive whole. With clarity and grace, A SMALL ACT, bears witness to the ripple effect a single action can create."

Trailer:



A Small Act can be viewed now on HBO on Demand and there are screenings throughout the US starting on October 14. It will be available on DVD in the fall. To learn more, visit the website: http://www.asmallact.com/index.php.

Ligi Ndogo East Africa Cup Soccer Tournament

Today, our soccer teams will be participating in a tournament with 60 other teams from throughout East Africa, including Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. Uweza has three teams participating in the tournament, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-20. The teams will be playing in multiple matches per day until the tournament ends on Sunday.

Both the players and coaches have been training overtime for the past few week in order to prepare for the tournament. They have had practice every day, sometimes twice a day and are really excited about getting the opportunity to participate in such a big event. Our coaches plan to use bicycles so they can quickly rotate between matches, which will be occurring simultaneously throughout Kibera and surrounding areas.

This week, we purchased new balls, first aid supplies, and 20 new pairs of shoes for our Under 12 team.



We wish them the best of luck in their matches today and will post again soon with the results!

Interviewing our Soccer Players

In May, we interviewed some of the players in our soccer program about why they like playing on the Uweza teams. Their responses surprised us and speak to the impact the program is having on their lives.

10 Ways You Can Help Uweza on World Humanitarian Day

Today is World Humanitarian Day and you may find yourself wondering how you can be a good humanitarian and make a difference today. Well look no further than the Uweza blog!

Here are some suggestions of things you can do to celebrate:

1. Donate! Just $10 can pay one of our soccer coaches for a three training sessions or send a child to school for two months. A little bit goes a long way in Kenya. Seriously.
2. "Like" our Facebook page, suggest it to your friends, and even share this blog post if you are feeling particularly ambitious.
3. Visit the Uweza shop and purchase some Kenyan-made jewelry for yourself, your mom, your friend, your sister, and your grandma.
4. Follow us on Twitter.
5. Watch some (or all) of the videos on our video page to learn more about Uweza and where we work.
6. Gather soccer supplies. We are always in need of shoes, practice jerseys, and socks. Email us at info@uweza.org for more information.
7. Join our mailing list.
8. Hold an Uweza fundraiser. Email us for more details.
9. Employer donation matching. If you are a frequent donor (or a one-time donor. or a prospective donor!), check to see if your employer will match your donation to Uweza.
10. Follow this blog! Click "Follow" on the sidebar to the right.

July Counseling Report

Click HERE to read the most recent report from our counselors.