The past couple of weeks an idea has been formulating in my mind. It involves an artistic project which, mentally, I have named "The Invisible People of Kibera".
The name stems from the ludicrous fact that the Kenyan government has, on several occassions, tried to deny the very existence of Kibera. Anyone who has ever laid eyes on the sprawling slum, which dominates the outskirts of Nairobi, will know how absurd this denial is. However, many of Kibera's residents are not registered citizens and therefore, in theory, as the government claims, do not exist. As a result they have no rights.
The name ‘Kibera’ is a Nubian word for ‘forest.’ The original settlers were Sudanese soldiers who settled there after fighting for the British in World War One.
Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and the second largest slum in the world. It is home to an estimated population of 1 million, housing more than one quarter of Nairobi's population. Despite this, it is just one square mile. There are no residential buildings over a single storey. The average home size in Kibera is 3 meters by 3 meters, with an average of five persons per dwelling.
Urban services such as water or sanitation are minimal. There is an average of one pit latrine for every 50 to 500 people. Drinking water is pumped through plastic pipes, alongside sewage trenches, to standpipes. These trenches carry refuse and human waste to the river at the base of the valley. The river then runs into Nairobi Dam. Both the river and the dam are used for recreation (e.g. swimming) and resource (e.g. bathing; clothes washing). The plastic pipes are brittle and exposed, often breaking, to be repaired with little care for sanitation. That is, these pipes are jammed or taped back together often without being cleaned, creating a suitable habitat for water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid.
Health Services and Sexual Education are minimal. Fifty-Four percent of people living in urban areas in Kenya are either HIV positive or have AIDS.
However, despite the demanding lifestyles which the people of Kibera face, they have created their own community which is sound and functioning. Stereotypical images of Africa which are portrayed in Western media are the basis of many people's perception of what life is like for "poor Africans". We have all seen charity adverts which show malnourished children drinking dirty water and suffering severe illnesses. But is this an accurate portrayal?
Through my project, "The Invisible People of Kibera", I want to use creative methods such as drama, photography, film and song to give the people of Kibera their own voice. I want them, in their own ways and means, to tell the western world what life is like for them. These people are individuals, not statistics and I want them to be able to say, "This is my existance. This is my life." I want them to capture the good, the bad, the ugly; their friends and families; their homes; their work; their faith; what makes them happy and in turn what makes them sad; what gives them hope; what are they thankful for; what would make life better.
The potential results of this project are not only allowing people to see a more realistic, all rounded portrayal of everyday life in an African slum, but to increase confidence, enhance communication and improve community spirit within the slums itself. People in the slums have live material possessions but the majority treasure their pride and their faith. Projects like mine, help to nurture both and play an important role in the sustainable development of the slums which involves people becoming the instigators of their own success.
I am currently in the process of drafting a letter to companies who manufacture digital cameras as I'd like to have a few to take out with me. My own personal interest in drama and my academic qualifications in this area will aid me in this project and I hope to seek advice from a friend who is studying film production at university.
This is a project I'm really excited about and determined to do through the charities I will be working with or on an independent basis. Hopefully you will see the results on this site in the coming months!!
To end with, I'm going to post a video I found on YouTube which shows some more typical images of Kibera.
As the grey and dismal weather drags on here in England, I eagerly await the blue skies of Kenya. Things have been relatively peaceful the past couple of months, with defeated ODM candidate Raila Odinga being sworn in as Prime Minister in accordance with the power sharing coalition. Read the story here.
Here in Chorley, I have been endeavouring to save towards the cost of my project and have been applying to grant making trusts. Thankyou to Vista Print for printing my business cards free of charge and to my Auntie Cass for buying me a large supply of postage stamps! My sincere thanks to The Lawson Bursary, Roger Penny, The Kenneth Biggs Charitable Trust, Peter Hill and the Chorley Lions Club Charitable Trust for their donations and support.
Just before Easter I held a quiz night in order to raise funds for my project. Thankyou to all who helped and came along on the night. I raised £75 which I was very happy with and I hope a good time was had by all.
As for the sponsored walk... still pending dependant on weather! But if you would like to sponsor me, get in touch or use the "Donate" link on the homepage.
That's all for now :o)
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