Koinonia Newsletter 2014

8/10/2019 Koinonia Newsletter 2014

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KO INON NE SIA W

We belong to each other Volume 1, Issue 4 December 2014

Koinonia Newsletter 2014

Published by the Koinonia

Media Centre.

Koinonia is a lay ChristianCommunity with acommitment to the plight ofmarginalized members of thesociety, especially streetchildren, women and youngpeople from deprivedbackgrounds.

Our initiatives are found in

Kenya, Zambia and the Nuba

Mountains of Sudan.

St Daniel Comboni Road,P. O. Box 21255, 00505Nairobi, Kenya.

Koinonia CommunityShalom House

www.koinoniacommunity.org

Inside this issue

here were emotions and

Tapplause on the night ofNovember 24 at theRossetti theatre in Vasto for the

show done by young acrobats from

Kivuli Centre in Nairobi (Follow

link for original story in

Italian). Young Kenyans on stage,

with the youngest being six and a

half years and the eldest being 21,

all boys that Father Renato Kizito

Sesana rescued from the streets

and returned to a life of dignity.

And today the youngsters go

around the world bringing their

message of peace and solidarity.

The appointment at Vasto was

o r g a n i z e d t h a n k s t o t h e

collaboration between the Adriatic

association for immigrants,

C a r i t a s D i o c e s a n a , T h e

I n t e r r e l i g i o u s t a b l e a n d t h e

municipality of Vasto . After the

opening words of Hamid Hafdi , Don

Gianfranco Travaglini and Anna

Suriani, Father Kizito projected a

video and spoke briey about life in

Nairobi where so many people live in

extreme poverty and maybe about 150

thousand children live on the streets .

Koinonia Community has as its main

purpose to rescue those children from

the streets and give them, after a

rehabilitation process, the opportunity

to return to responsible citizenship.

Then, on the frenetic rhythms from the

drums, which never stopped during

the show, the youngsters demonstrated

their abilities in dancing, singing,

miming, and above all in acrobatics,

which left the spectators at Rossetti

astonished. To close the evening, the

boys took on stage some members

of the public engaging them in a

traditional African dance. At the

very end the boys sung their own

Swahili version of the Our Father,

accompanied at the drums by one

of them, who at 13 years of age is

already a master drummer .

Among them are Catholics ,

Christians of other churches as

well as Muslims explained

Father Kizito- but they think

these word expresses the common

vision of human brotherhood, and

never want to close a show

without it.

S e e m o r e a t :

http://koinoniacommunity.org

/street-stage-bringing-world-

m e s s a g e -

peace#sthash.9AIUqtok.dpuf

From the Street tothe Stage, Bringing

to the World a Message

of Peace

rom the Street to the Stage, Bringing

o the World a Message of Peace.....................1

agore's Breathof Fresh Air...................2

vuli Boys Mark the Internaonal

ay of the African Child................................2

vuli Boys Shine at Jesus Cu p Tournament...2

dugu Mdogo New Entrants Make Debu t

all at August House.....................................3

oinionia Children Celebrate Internaonal Day

or Street Children............................................. 5

nita Girls Parcipate in Heart to Heart Run..... 6

ldest Koinonia Member Awarded

Doctorate in Italy........................................... 6

pcoming Projects.............................................7

ew Faces of Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Centre......8

aving the African urchins................................10

aolos Home First Graduaon........................ 10

amily to Family Retreat.................................. 10 .....rums of Kibera...............................................12

oinonia Community Staff Team Building........14

dugu Mdogo Art Visitors Come Calling..........14

alama Art Centre at Shalom House................14

oinonia Organizes Forum to Evaluate

eintegraon....................................................15


2/17

Kivuli: Kenyans Vote in Historic Polls

he inhabi tants of

TDagoretti North andSouth sub counties ofairobi City County in Kenya,

re waking up to a new dawn.

dawn that bring in breath of

esh air and ushers in waves

f social change. Imparting

ommunities at the grassroot

level is the dagoretti's rst

community radio station,

Mtaani radio.Mtaani is a

swahili word for Community.

In various expressions,

Mtaani Radio is dedicated to

bring together all the styles,

and disseminates objective

information defending thev a l u e s o f f r e e d o m ,

democracy, cul ture and

respect for human rights in

tandem with the spirit of the

people of Dagoretti North

and South.

- S e e m o r e a t :

http://koinoniacommunity.or

g/dagorettis-breath-fresh-

Dagoretti'sBreathof Fresh Air

n the 16 of june 2014,

OBoys from Kivuli centreg a t h e r e d a tKawangware Grounds together

with other children from various

institutions to mark the day of the

Africa Child. The children were

awash with enthusiasm as they

staged various performances to the

audience. Several care institutions

and schools around Dagoreti

participated in the event. Catch a

glimpse in the video below..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=anzb7hH2igI

S e e m o r e a t :

http://koinoniacommunity.org / k i v u l i - b o y s - m a r k -

international-day-african-

child#sthash.s4bIpMl1.dpuf

Kivuli Boys Mark the International Day of the African Child

oys from Kivuli

Bcentre participatedin this year's JesusCup Tournament held

annually at Don Bosco

Kuwinda in Karen from

1-22 February 2014. The

Kivuli team scooped 3

top awards from the 3

games the participated

in. The senior and junior

soccer team reached the

finals and settled for the

top price. The basketball

team emerged the top in

its category.

About 10 child care

centres participated in this

tournament as part of their

rehabilitation process.

More details check website

Kivuli Boys Shine at Jesus Cup Tournament


3/17


4/17


5/17

he street children day

Twas marked on 12thApril 2014 in Kiberabringing various organizations.

Koinonia Community, Amnestynternational, Pillars of Kibera,

Consolation East Africa, Shofco,

De-Paul Home Olympic, faith

based organizations representing

he var ious mosques and

hurches i n K ibe ra ) and

takeholders interested on the

plight of these children. 17

primary schools of Kibera were

part of the celebrations. Tone la

Maji and Consolation East AfricaCEA) among the local civil

o c i e t y , f a i t h b a s e d

organizations, schools and

government departments with

pecial respect to the children's

ofce provided the leadership for

hese efforts. This event went on

oncurrently with other activities

arried out in different parts of

he country in honour of the street

hildren.

The event started with a match at

Karanja Road that ended at

Ndugu Mdogo home. The guest

of honour at the event was the

Deputy Count Commissioner for

Kibra. The event was graced by

va r ious ch i l d r en a r t i s t i c

p r e s e n t a t i o n s . T h e r s t

presentation being a poem that

highlighted on the life of street

hildren. It underlined vividly

public stigma directed to these

hildren, neglect and the life of

ear . The second presentation

Koinionia Children Celebrate International Dayfor Street Children

painted a picture on the lives of

orphans, illustrating social

alienation that leads them to street

life. The children were encouraged

to see themselves as not being

alone because God is their

constant companion and will

never leave them uncared for.

Various artistes were present,

notable among them being the Mr.

seed who sang and danced

together with the children. The

civil society and faith based

organizations, used the occasion to

lobby with the government for

more efforts to empower street andpoor fami li es and fo r be tt er

services for the street children not

only in Kibra but the entire

country.

During the event, a speech was

presented on the status of the street

children in Kenya. This speech

was followed by a presentation of

an on-going study on reintegration

challenges experienced by young

adults once they leave charitable

institutions of care (CCIs). The

study is conducted by KARDS in

assoc ia t ion wi th Koinonia

Community, Kenya Society of

Care-leavers (KESCA) and

Koinonia Beneciaries Welfare

Association (KOBWA).

The study exposes dysfunctional

and poverty ridden backgrounds

characterizing the street children

phenomenon in Kenya. It also

exp lo red o the r ch i l dhood

experiences such as exposure to

violence, rejection at an early age,

hunger, malnutrition and disease.

These ext reme exper iences

including peer pressure may act as

push f ac tor s t o s t ree t l i f e .

Appropriate measures are always

needed to effect reintegration at an

early opportunity. Where this is not

possible, the charitable children

institutions (CCIs) could come in

handy to save children from severe

negative consequences of street

life. There are however a myriad

challenges experienced when the

reintegrat ion process is not

successful. First the young adultsare expected to become instant

adults, fending for themselves and

assuming adult responsibilities.

Secondly the weak family ties by

these children exposes them to all

manner of possible exploitation

including human trafcking.

Thirdly, the children may end up

be co mi ng t ee nag e pa ren ts ,

criminals or commercial sex

workers. Lastly, there are always

dangers that the young adults may

relapse back to the streets. The

government could play a role in

reintegration through easing the

procedure of issuing identity cards

for the former street youth and

provide opportunities for work

integration. The study is ongoing

and will probably be nished in

August 2014.

This presentation was followed by

the launch of an illustrated booklet

on the rights of the child. The

booklet was distributed to all the

children in attendance during the

day.

The area Chief then introduced

the government ofcers who had

graced t he occas ion . He

explained that the government

appreciates civil societies and

other stakeholders working to

assist the street children of

Kibera. He then invited the

deputy County commissioner for

Kibera who after acknowledging

the work done by the civil society

in rescuing children responded to

the request that had been raisedby various stakeholders urging

sub-county ofcers to be

cons idera te when i ssu ing

identity cards to street children.

Lastly, he expressed concerns

about the recent radicalization of

youth by some civil societies and

urged that children and young

people need to be taught how to

love their country and become

harbingers of peace. Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch

?v=tMq4LDcXdvk



g / k o i n i o n i a - c h i l d r e n -

celebrate-international-day-

s t r e e t -

children#sthash.gEv9x2ah.dp

uf


6/17


7/17


8/17

group of smiling

Achildren play in thef r o n t y a r d o fNduguMdogo Rescue Centre

while others prepare lunch with

the help of their caretakers.

The centre's manager Jack

Matika who also doubles up as

the caretaker with the help of

his assistant John Ng'ang'a say,the chi ldren are a New

addition to the bigger family.

This is a fresh team of 18 kids

aged between nine and 15

years, but we take in as younger

as 5 year-olds, says Jack.

Jack grew up at Kivuli Boys'

Centre in Kabiria-Riruta,

Dagoretti South, another of

many projects by Koinonia and

has worked with the centre for

10 years as a street educator

before rising through the ranks

to his current position.

Jack takes us through the

procedures and how things are

taken care of at the shelter.

We pick kids with all kinds of

problems in the st reets of

Nairobi, regardless of their

religion or tribe, he says. A

child is a child and they need all

the help and support they can

get to make it in life.

The children are brought to

NduguMdogo Shelter for a one

year rigorous rehabilitation

programme before they are

ready to be re-integrated into the

society.

We also send some of them,

who are total orphans to homes

run by Koinonia after the

process of rehabilitation, he

says.

George Odhiambo, 14 is a happy

boy. Despite being abandoned

by his parents to fend for himself

in the cruel streets of Nairobi, he

feels that something good came

o u t o f h i s

misfortunes,NduguMdogo

Rescue Centre.

When I got here, I was cleaned,

clothed, fed and I'm receiving

basic education through home

tuition so as to catch up with

others, he says.

Brian, 12, from Mukuru Kayaba

slums has horrifying tales of

street life, from snifng glue to

doing hard drugs such as bang

and heroine to pick pocketing,

maiming and bludgeoning

residents just to survive another

day.

I had to do horrible things just to get

something to eat, he says sadly.

But now, he has come to realization

that he can grow up like any other

privileged child, as he gets to engage

in activities that include playing

drums, dance, music, drama and

soccer to improve his social and

communication skills.

Sam Musa, 13, was rescued from the

harsh reality of Kibra slum, Line Saba

area, where stealing and stabbing

others was a way of life.

Sam never got the opportunity to

know his parents and he had to fend

for himself rummaging through the

garbage and the occasional help of

neighbors.

Unlike many of the children at the

shelter, George was a Standard Six

pupil at Ofafa Jericho primary School

in Uhuru Estate before he dropped out

into the streets due to poverty and

poor parenting.

I was in Class Six; Mathematics and

Science were my favorite subjects as I

found them easy to understand, he

quips.

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of

his idol and mentor, the Kenyan

Groove Award gospel artiste of the

year 2014, Kevin Bahati, who is a

close friend.

Criteria for selection

NduguMdogo has a work plan,

which helps settle on the number

of children that the home can

accommodate at a time before

carrying out street identication

process.

Street educators and volunteers

undergo training on how to handle

these children and how to engage

them in their comfort zone, which

normally is a dingy dirty place,

says Jack. By doing so, we create

a rapport with them before we

proceed to the next step.

S t r ee t Educa t i on i nc ludes

a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s s o c c e r

tournaments between these

children, athletics, drama and

singing.

Afterwards, we share a meal with

the street kids as a sign of

solidarity between the kids and

educators, says Jack.

The programme focuses on urgent-

critical cases, where the potential

child for rescue is in serious need.

We try to get the most vulnerable

of the children.

New Faces of Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Centre


9/17


10/17

Saving the African urchinsatch GBS one of

WKenyas televisionn e t w o r k w h oourneyed with Jack Matika -

Ndugu mdogo Rescue Centre

Project manager on the street ofNgong town to air the plight od

street children and nally had an

interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch

?v=b6c426RtQb4



g / s a v i n g - a f r i c a n -

urchins#sthash.X8LRtp0c.dp

uf

n Saturday July 11, 2014

O

Paolos home organised

their rst ever graduation

ceremony of 8 children who hadundergone physiotherapy and

counselling at the new day care

centre set up by koinonia

community. The day care program

has been in existance for a period

the last one year as a centre to take

care of the children living with

disabilities and needed counseling

and physiotherapy session ......

Check the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

RP4cs1gDZ5Y

Paolos Home First Graduation

oinonia Children who

Kwere recentlyreintergrated to theirfamilies participated in this years

families to families retreat held at

bull's eye Kajiado county. The one

week activity is part of koinonia's

annual events which targets

reintegarted children to share theirlife experience outside the centre

and future endevours. Check the

video below...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=yuETFxGjoo8

Family to Family Retreat 2014


11/17

KARDS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTSP.O. Box 16139- 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Tel. +254720 812 638 0R +254710839719

Email:[email protected] [email protected]: www.kards.or.ke

KARDS PROFILE

A Specialized Consultancyfor Civil Society, Non Protsand Community Based

Organizations

BackgroundKoinonia Advisory and Development Services ( KARDS) was founded in 2002 as an

empowerment resource for community transformation in Africa. Since its establishment it has

had much impact in imparting leadership and sound managerial skills to the various actors of

the Civil Society and the Third Sector including Faith Based Organizations, Community

Based Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Cooperatives and Micro Finance

institutions amongst others.

Mission

KARDS is committed to providing quality services aimed at promoting sustainable and

equitable development for socio-economic development of individuals, organizations and

communities

Goals

KARDS works to enable community actorsacquire leadership and sound managerial skills in

order to:

Alleviate poverty

Promote sustainable development.

Objectives

Facilitating social action for community based transformation

Enhancing popular education to strengthen grassroots initiatives

Mobilizing skills and resources to promote sustainable development

Collaborating with like-minded partners in addressing the poverty problem

Our Services

Trainings

Research

Consultancy and

Resource Mobilization


12/17

5 boys from Koinonia

1c h i l d r e n t e a m , aperforming arts groupfrom Koinonia community

charitable instuons (Tone la

maji and Kivuli centre) visited

Denmark from 9th - 23th June.

They went to stage various

arsc performances at the

famous Holstebro Festuge

Fesval held occasionally in

Denmark.

Holstebro Fesval was held for

the ninth me since 1989.

Under the tle The Future

Faces, ranng and ficons

contributes more than 80

cultural and other instuons,

s c h o o l s , a s s o c i a o n s ,

communies and individuals

from around Holstebro.

This year it was in collaboraon with

150 foreign actors, dancers,

musicians - most of whom are

children and young people between

5 and 25 years - from Bali, Italy,

Kenya, Brazil, India and Puerto Rico

who created more than 200 unusual,

funny, creepy, haunng and

thoughul events.

Drums of Kibera

The fesval was coordinated by

Odin Theatre.

S e e m o r e a t :

http://koinoniacommunity.org/

d r u m s -

kibera#sthash.ZU2NlIC4.dpuf

atch a glimpse of a

Cmoving video story ofa 14 year old Girl whowas rescued f rom ear ly

marriage at taken to our girls

Centre - Anita Home in Ngong.

https://www.youtube.com/wat

ch?v=-h-3woeC9bY

Fourteen-year-old Teenage Girl saved from earlymarriage and Taken to Anita Home


13/17


14/17

n December 11 Koinonia

OCommmunity staff from theIncome generating activities(IGA's) merged together to end the year

in style with a number of eld activities

aimed at strengthening the staff unity at

work and relationships. The Koinonia

social projects in the month of

sep t ember a l so had an equa l

opportunity to come together. It was the

rst of its kind this year and plans are

underway to have more of it in the

coming year 2015 where all the projects

will have a collective team building.


http://koinoniacommunity.org/koin

onia -communi ty-s ta f f - t eam-

b u i l d i n g -

2014#sthash.MfhVfdzA.dpuf

Koinonia Community Staff Team Building 2014

he Danish Art Students

Thad a wonderful timewith Ndugu MdogoChildren on October 26 2014,

earning from each other different

variety of art. The students

commonly visit the centre

annually to share love with the

treet children through art. Check

video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=x4ERJPgkUB4

See more at:

http://koinoniacommunity.org/n

dugu-mdogo-art-visitors-come-

calling#sthash.xx6XI3H3.dpuf

Ndugu Mdogo Art Visitors Come Calling

he video in the link

Tbelow was taken duringan Art exhibition athalom House on 23 and 24

October 2014. Salama Art Centre

n initiative of KoinoniaCommunity was present and this

s what they had to say....

ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?

=seYRjuwgazY

Salama Art Centre at Shalom House


15/17


16/17


17/17

www.koinoniacommunity.org

Our websites are getting richer with news, pictures and short videos. You can always nd out the latest activities and developments onour website.

VISIT ALSO

Father Kizito's blogShalom HouseKoinonia on Wikipedia

Follow Our News Online

@koinocommunity

koinocommunity

webmasterkoinonia

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