Kicking AIDS Out of Kibera slum - Nairobi, Kenya

The end of November meant it was time for the annual “CFK Day” in Kibera. The main objective of this day is to recognize and reward all of the committed teams, groups and individuals who dedicate their time to CFK activities throughout the year.

This year’s celebration was attended by more than 5000 youth representing each CFK program as well as many other organizations and initiatives within in the slum. Throughout the week, peer educators were able to recruit 114 young people for VCT services through individual talks and group sessions at the soccer fields. On the actual day, the youth of the Sports Program held a procession through the slum with banners reading “Tuliza Amani Mtaani,” or “We Want Peace in Kibera.” Over 1000 youth made the 4km hike as part of the parade!

The Kicking Aids Out groups have been conducting regular outreaches in the community on the weekends, visiting a Kibera village, and normally a football field where matches are taking place, rounding up a group of young people and playing a few games with them, which demonstrate sports skills, and then relating those sports skills to life skills.

In addition to KAO’s own community forum this quarter, CFK also held a community forum through “CFK Day” in which youth from all programs participated in the reading of poems and narratives as well as the performance of dances and skits. Throughout the day youth were rewarded with uniforms, balls and other soccer equipment, as well as school uniforms, books and pens. Finally, CFK also conducted an awards ceremony in which Provost Leadership Awards were awarded to emerging young leaders within the community.

According to our Executive Director, “it was a day of fun that went from 7am to 9pm”!

As always, we welcome your comments and feedback. On behalf of the youth, staff, and volunteers of Carolina for Kibera, thank you all for your support! Without your generosity, our work would not be possible.

The post-election violence that has engulfed Kenya since December 30, 2007 has led to massive loses and destruction for residents of Kibera. Many families have lost their loved ones through killings perpetrated, in some cases, by people known to them. That neighbour has turned against neighbour and friend against friend has astounded many, leading to destruction of the fabric of community that held people from diverse backgrounds together for many years since independence.

Carolina for Kibera (CFK) has taken a step to intervene in the post election crisis through the use of sport based games to discuss issues of tribalism, violence, discrimination and identity. The youth have been organizing friendly soccer matches at the internally displaced camps, youth forums on violence and are hosting a Peace and Reconciliation Tournament to bring together the various ethnic groups represented in the Kiberan community through sport.

Links:

• Check out a short film by and about Kicking AIDS Out Kibera

The post-election violence that has engulfed Kenya since December 30, 2007 has led to massive loses and destruction for residents of Kibera. Many families have lost their loved ones through killings perpetrated, in some cases, by people known to them. That neighbour has turned against neighbour and friend against friend has astounded many, leading to destruction of the fabric of community that held people from diverse backgrounds together for many years since independence.

Carolina for Kibera (CFK) has taken a step to intervene in the post election crisis through the use of sport based games to discuss issues of tribalism, violence, discrimination and identity. The youth have been organizing friendly soccer matches at the internally displaced camps, youth forums on violence and are hosting a Peace and Reconciliation Tournament to bring together the various ethnic groups represented in the Kiberan community through sport.

Links:

• Check out a short film by and about Kicking AIDS Out Kibera