Volunteers distribute supplies to families in Korogocho.

Young Ambassadors for Peace join national sports stars and media personalities to serve residents in Nairobi's Korogocho slum.

By 2030, an estimated 2 billion of the world’s 8.1 billion people will live in slums, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A haphazard warren of makeshift dwellings, modern slums typically lack access to safe drinking water or sanitation facilities, and residents rarely hold a secure lease or title to their properties. For most slum dwellers life is conditioned by extreme overcrowding, environmental health threats, and pervasive crime.

While South Asia has the largest slum populations in the world, Africa’s slums are the fastest growing. Nairobi’s slums are among the largest in Africa, with the Kibera slum alone having an estimated population of one million. “Life [here] is very difficult,” said one thirteen year old AIDS orphan from the Nairobi slum of Korogocho, in a British relief agency report. ”There are robberies and murders every day, and if someone is attacked it’s too dangerous to help them.”

Joining forces

Although improving conditions for Kenya’s slum dwellers seems like a daunting task, Kenya’s Young Ambassadors for Peace joined forces with sports stars, media personalities, and local celebrities in Korogocho on May 29 to bring hope, provide material aid, and encourage community building.

Life in Korogocho presents challenges in meeting basic needs.

The event was organized by Sadat Muhindi, a Young Ambassador for Peace and promoter of a recent soccer for peace initiative in Kenya’s western Matunda region; Humphrey Kayange, Kenya’s celebrated Rugby national team captain and his team-mates; and Youth Federation for World Peace-Kenya Secretary General Vincent Rapando. Also supporting the event were the Jirani Children’s Choir, the DS MAX Foundation, the Vijana Progressive Alliance (VIPA), and other Young Ambassadors for Peace.

Applying the principle that the highest standard in human relationships is to live for the sake of others, the coalition brought together more than five hundered Korogocho families, who received received supplies of flour, soap, and sanitary towels valued at U.S. $8,000. Organizers followed this service program with a community cleanup and tree-planting day on June 5, coinciding with United Nations World Environment Day.

Kayange also organized a rugby clinic for Korogocho youth as a means to transcend often degrading living conditions and affirm each individual’s inherent value as a child of God. “I am humbled to be part of this noble cause that is determined to better the lives of the the residents of this community,” Kayange said. “I wish to appeal to my peers who have excelled in their different fields and professions to make efforts to participate in these initiatives as Young Ambassadors for Peace.” Vijana Progressive Alliance Vice Chairman Ben Mulwa added that “a clean environment is synonymous to peace,” and he encouraged the youth to involve themselves in ensuring “a clean-environment for all, at all times.”

A community cleaning project builds unity across tribal divisions.

The Korogocho project, like the earlier YFWP-sponsored Young Leaders Summit at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi, (see "A Vision for African Renewal") attracted wide media coverage, with major TV, newspaper, and radio stations in Kenya, such as Nation TV Prime News, the Kenya Times, and the Nairobi Star, providing extended reports on the work.

Families are still threatened by hunger in the slums,” saidYFWP-Kenya Secretary General Vincent Rapando. “I was particularly impressed with the inspiration of our YFWP Young Ambassadors who are generously and continuously contributing to keep the Youth Summit flames burning, to support the families in Korogocho slum by giving them food and also help in cleaning up their environment.”

“It is with a heart of gratitude and appreciation that we give back to the community,” said organizer Sadat Muhindi. “Through this initiative, a unified front among the residents of Korogocho is evident despite their tribal affiliations. We wish to call upon the residents to maintain peaceful co-existence at all times as they have demonstrated today.