Volunteering with KGSA

Hello KGSA family and community! I am Claire Raether, the first volunteer for Kibera Girls Soccer Acadamy. I studies Economics and African Studies in college and want to work with women in Africa. I came to KGSA to get that experience and try to understand women's issues within the context of urban poverty. I have been at KGSA for one month now, getting to know Kibera, the school and the girls. So far it has been a pretty amazing experience.

One of the project I have been focusing on is the micro-credit program for parents and relatives of the students. During my first week here, I attended the Africa-Middle East Micro-credit summit. Muhammad Yunnus, President Kibaki, and the Queen of Spain among others all spoke. It was crazy! I was fifty feet away as Kibaki stumbled over his speech, attempting to praise the work of microfinancing in Kenya! After the grandiose event focusing on rhetoric and the accomplishments of self-aggrandizing people within the field, I was actually able to see our micro-credit project work at a very grassroots level. Attending the meetings and watching people participate in their own form of poverty alleviation is really much more tangible and effective then the talking of "important" people. One of the greatest experiences has been going on home visits with Farida, the staff member in charge of the micro-credit program. Walking through the tortuous alleyways, through muddy paths, over trash, dead cats and seeing life thriving and dwindling in Kibera has been an amazing experience. To be challenged by these extreme difference between my life and the lives of others has been eye-opening and inspiring.

Another project I am lucky enough to be a part of is a poetry workshop held for twelve of the students at KGSA. We are working with Imani Woomera, a local spoken word artist, to develop not only writing and performing skills but working to develop confidence and self-awareness among the girls. It is great to watch the girls express their feelings and desires in poetic form. For me personally, it has been a great way to get to know some of the students and get their perspective on life, love and politics. One of the reasons I came to KGSA was to bond with the students and really get a greater understanding of daily life in Kibera. I can't think of a better way to bond with the girls then listening to them express themselves through rhythm and imagery!

It has been difficult adjusting to life in Nairobi, with its constant chaos, a bombardment of noise from cars and various animals, quixotic looks from people and engulfing clouds of exhaust and confusion. Yet within the new and different, I have felt so at home working with KGSA. The staff has been so welcoming and excited to work with me. I feel so lucky that I am able to be part of the KGSA family and hope to make a impact on the lives the citizens of KGSA!

Our First Kenyan Fundraiser!

Last night, with the help from Imani and Slam Africa, KGSA had its first fundraiser in Kenya to help fund a series of poetry workshops for a group of KGSA students which will be led by Imani herself. Between the 80,000 shillings that we raised, an incredible line-up of performances, over 150 people in attendance, and the injera and dorowot, it was a successful night! I was overwhelmed with the amount of support last night, and once again, was reminded why I feel so drawn to the artist community... in Minneapolis, Madison, Nairobi, everywhere. We are indeed changing the world we live in.

Two of the KGSA students - Salma, and Claire, came to the event and performed as well. They were able to get outside of Kibera and see other communities that support the school and that support them. Their performances were both received with huge applauses and several people shouted, "We want more!" Salma told me that after she heard that, she was starting to write another piece for later that night.

Not only did people love their poems, but two graduate school students studying journalism wanted to interview them and write an article about the school and the girls. This made their night! In addition, we were approached by a graffiti artist that was interested in setting up a project with the school and two individuals from US AID approached me about certain grants that are in the works over the next year and they would like to work with the school. We saw last night how art brings people together, it inspired, it creates hope, and it continues to grow and strengthen.

I still get stuck sometimes with events like this thinking about where we were 4 years ago and how I never thought that KGSA would be this established and bringing our girls to Westlands for performances. But here we are rocking the mic, spreading awareness, making change.



Information on the workshops & performance:

There will be a series of 8 writing workshops leading up to a final performance in June of this year. Imani will be holding her final show in Kenya and the girls will open for her at this performance. In addition, we are trying to film a documentary on this entire process so if you know anyone that is willing to contribute financially to such a project, please contact myself or Imani via email, any support is greatly appreciated.

Ryan Sarafolean: rmsarafolean@gmail.com
Imani Woomera: imani.woomera@gmail.com



Below is a poem that Claire performed at the fundraiser. Enjoy!

We tend to plan for our future everyday,
Desperately we strive to pave the way,
We save every little bit of time we can find
And to the people who can help achieve we are kind

If there is anything we want so bad, we are willing to fight
For a future filled with happiness and so bright
I really hate though to fill everyone’s heart with sorrow
But remember dear, our future is not tomorrow

It is not rudeness indiscipline or fame that will get us ahead
But the number of times we read our books, that is what will make our future
Our future imaginably great
So! Let us wake up and take control of our lives

Tomorrow is not the future you should be planning for,
But the day you will be enjoying your success
The day you will be remembering your toilings, hardships at home, and school

Remember dears, if you do good, you do good to yourself
And if you do bad, you do bad to yourself
Falling down does not make you a failure
But staying down makes you a failure
Watch out!

Hi, Kenya is wonderful, beautiful and has social people, I really love being in Kenya.

It is wonderful to live in Kibera, I really appreciate every time I spend my life in Kibera. Everybody is friendly and that makes it a very wonderful place to live in.

Like Yesterday, I had a wonderful time with friend who we worship together in church. We were going to another church to worship with them. I tell you I laughed the whole way.

We chatted and share stories. To be honest, I felt like I wanna spend the rest of my life in Kibera. As they say, never judge a book by its cover, even if you go to different parts of the world, home is the best.

-Lynn Seru

lovely time

For   the past few days the form four   students at kibera Girls ' soccer   academy had a rough time looking for   birth certificate for   Registration of K.C.S.E examination,but now the stresses have gone out .

Last Weekend I had a wonderful time selling the shedders magazine .I met acouple of friends who bought the magazine and interacted on the journalism skills .

Yesterday I was Really touched by the way somebody handle himself by the wonderful thing he did.

This weekend will be more funnier as I will be selling the magazines because,I love traveling and interacting with new  fiends. 

KCSE Results

In roughly one hour, the Kenya Certificates of Secondary Education (KCSE) results will come in. As you walk into Kibera and arrive at the school, you can feel how everyone is anxious for the results... the energy is in the air today. It is a monumental day for KGSA as we have our first graduating class receiving their results.

Obviously there are a lot of questions that are being asked today... Did we do a good enough job? What are we going to do now once we get their scores? Will we have the resources to provide for future schooling for the girls that are graduating?

These questions are good to ask, and will continue to be asked. But today, I want to tell both Abdul and Teka, that no matter what the results are, I want to thank you both for the commitment you have shown to these girls and this community over the past four years (and more). You have sacrificed so much over the years and it is slowly paying off. To think that the girls now have their own magazine, or to think that we now have a science laboratory and a library on the way is incredible! You two are inspiring many people, me included, all around the world and I really hope you know that. You have changed my life & will remain my brothers forever.

with love,

Ryan

I have always liked socializing with people especially the many visitors who come to our school. I have always liked spanish but I don't know it very well but always trying.

As a girl living in Kibera I see different kind of issues and things every time I walk on the streets. Some are positive while others are negative.

Let me not put you into much stories of Kibera. Yesterday I had a wonderful day but later on we were given a lot of homework, so I had to do my mathematics calculations before going home which is 2km away from the school and I finished the homework at8:00pm which was already late. After my chores at home I had to continue with my homework until 1:00am then sleep for at least 2 hours then wake up to do my studies again.

-Lynn Seru

Here are some photos of the recent teacher trainings where Abdul and the staff had to work together and build a lego structure matching the one outside. Only one person at a time could go outside and take a look at the figure for one minute. They had 10 minutes in total to create a replica. Also, photos of Lynn blogging in the new library!