The Mwelu Foundation is a registered TRUST operating in the Mathare Valley slum of Nairobi. We are working with a group of approximately 40 ambitious, positive and talented young people to help them realize their potential through photography, film production and the building of life skills. The Mwelu Foundation was founded by born-and-raised Mathare resident Julius Mwelu. Julius continues to run the organization with help from other local people who also are determined to make a positive change within their own community. Vision and Mission Our vision is of a peaceful world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that provide hope, opportunity and respect. Our mission is to nurture the talent of children in the poorest communities of Nairobi by providing training in creative arts and essential life skills. By providing children with a voice and promoting education we hope to break the cycle of poverty and violence that Our Programmes Our primary activities center around photography, film production and journalism but also include other creative arts such as poetry and music. We carry out community work in the form of environmental clean-ups and visits to other vulnerable community groups. Recently we have started a livelihoods programme in the areas of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS awareness, computer literacy and language training. History The group’s founder, Julius Mwelu, grew up in Mathare himself. At the age of 12, Julius became involved in the “Shootback” project which taught photographic skills to a group of 31 children in the slum. Through photography Julius has managed to educate countless people around the world about what life in a slum is really like. The skills and experience that he has gained over the years are now being passed down to the next group of potential professional photographers.
