Youth Group

The youth program developed naturally out of the Maji Mazuri micro-business finance initiative in 1988. Parents in income generating activities began getting worried about their teenage children who were increasingly getting involved in peddling drugs, prostitution, alcohol abuse and petty theft. It was therefore found necessary to provide counseling services to such children, some of whom were already ex-prison convicts. The goal of the project was to help the youth improve the quality of their lives by working with each other, and with counselors, to acquire skills and primary and secondary education.

Today more than 300 children and youth are in the Maji Mazuri Education and Talent program in Mathare. Over the years, the youth have developed a number of activities designed to help rehabilitate ghetto teenagers. The activities include primary and secondary education, college scholarships, drama, (peer) counseling, mentoring, education tours/camps, sports, ghetto clean ups, Information Communication Technology (ICT) education, life skill training, exchange programs and income generating activities.

Members of the program have been out of the country on several occasions to make drama presentations and attend conferences on community development work. They have participated in sports competitions and have on several occasions won soccer competitions in various categories.

The youth members have shown so far that they are inspirational role models to younger youth in the ghetto and true leaders in their communities who are anxious for opportunities to develop their potential.

For more information: please check out Facebook ‘Maji Mazuri Youth Group’