While you scroll, listen to "Dzoka Uyamwe" by Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi
The initial Harambee Arts groups were held in Nairobi in 2008 and have been ongoing since that time. Originally we were approached by the Kenya Institute of Education to work with children with special needs at the City Primary School. Since 2017, the program moved to the Mathare Special Training Centre in the Mathare slum. We work with more than 120 children each week.
Also in 2008, the Langata Women’s Prison requested a week long “body mapping” workshop. The workshop was so successful that they asked us to continue to facilitate a bi-monthly support group.
The Kibera KIDS4PEACE group in Kibera was born as a partnership with young local artists who reside in the slum. Every Saturday, during the post election violence period, we brought large tins of paint and 60 + children to paint murals along a whitewashed wall in Kibera. The program soon grew as a leadership and mentoring project and still continues. We currently serve more than 200 children every Saturday in Kibera.
At Langata Women’s Prison we’ve created a support group for women inmates—most of whom are imprisoned for petty crimes. By making art, dancing and sharing stories, the women experience joy and hope even in their highly restricted prison environment. Harambee Arts groups provide a moment of feeling normal. The women are not seen as criminals, but rather as capable, powerful and strong. Their strengths are emphasized and acknowledged. Some of the women in our group have been arrested for murder, most commonly of the girlfriend of their husband. One said, “I walked into the house and they were together in the family bed. I grabbed a pipe and couldn’t control myself.” Those women are the “condemned and they wear a different color uniform from the others—grey. They are not allowed to do common chores such as sweeping or cleaning. The opportunity to attend the Harambee Arts group is a life-line for women who are constantly harassed, made to stand most of the day, don’t get proper nutrition and live empty lives.
The mission of the Edmund Rice Center is to restore dignity and enhance the quality of life for the most vulnerable households, those raising children with disabilities. Through advocacy, special education, and holistic family support, the Center addresses both immediate needs and long-term well-being. Their vision is an empowered and transformed society in which every individual can experience the fullness of life. In partnership with this work, Harambee Arts brings weekly art sessions grounded in a child-centered approach, providing abundant art materials and a safe space for creative expression. Children who often face severe stigma are met with acceptance and encouragement, responding with joy, openness, and a deep sense of belonging. Through these sessions, children are able to express themselves freely and experience being part of a supportive community. This has led to noticeable improvements in their focus, confidence, and overall attitude. The positivity cultivated within these gatherings is profound. What began as a simple offering of art has evolved into a shared journey of growth—impacting not only the children, but also staff, teachers, and parents alike.
In Kibera, Africa’s largest slum, we host a healing arts program for children who live in squalid conditions. Within an environment of rivalry, crime and conflict, children of different tribes learn to collaborate and express their dreams, joys and fears.
What really stands out about the children of Kibera is their openness, warmth and enormous spirit. “How are you, how are you?” will echo down the alleys, repeated hundreds of times. The children invent games with a piece of dusty plastic, an old tire or some sticks and they entertain themselves for hours—laughing loudly. The goal for most is to collect enough money to purchase a school uniform, a pencil and small notebook and to pay school fees. The opportunity to attend school is an enormously sought after privilege.
Our staff of 16 currently includes four adults who were children in the program. We hire young people with leadership potential as junior staff and they receive a small stipend to assist with school fees.
During the Spring of 2023, with a new president in Kenya, life for those who were already living in poverty became unbearable. New taxations on most food products and fuel made it even more difficult for people to feed their families. Harambee Arts initiated a Feeding Program for our children in the Kibera slum. After painting and playing games, the children are offered a nutritious meal of rice and beans and fruit, all lovingly prepared by our own staff. They are asked to bring a container with them to hold the food and often they carry some of it home for the rest of the family. Every single child is given a plate, and so mothers sometimes wait outside of the hall, and at the right time they give babies to the older siblings. That way they qualify to receive more food. We are happy to offer it.
Angel’s Home serves as both a school and an orphanage, supporting over 100 children within a small, under-resourced structure—some of whom live on the premises. Located in the Mathare slum, the environment is unimaginably challenging. Learners face daily hardships including lack of basic necessities, poor sanitation, inadequate toilet facilities, insufficient bedding, and food insecurity. Drug addiction is widespread in the surrounding community, further impacting the wellbeing and stability of the children. Harambee Arts responds to these realities through a compassionate, non-directive approach. We offer weekly expressive arts sessions alongside the provision of food, creating moments of nourishment for both body and spirit. Through painting, storytelling, movement, and play, children and youth express their full range of emotions in a supportive environment. With every brushstroke and shared moment, participants begin to release stress, process difficult experiences, and reconnect with a sense of joy. The program is often described by learners as their favorite extracurricular activity. Many share that these sessions bring relief and help them better manage the pressures they face each day. At the heart of this work is the creation of a space where every child feels seen, heard, and loved. This process nurtures emerging talents, strengthens self-confidence, and builds trust. As emotional wellbeing grows, so too does the capacity for learning. With increased mental stability, children are better able to engage in their education and move forward in their personal lives with greater resilience and hope.
In a community where most families live hand-to-mouth, adults are under constant pressure to meet basic needs. Parents and grandparents caring for children rarely have time for themselves. Many elderly individuals are left isolated, confined indoors, and burdened by stress, loneliness, and a growing sense of invisibility. In response to this reality, we launched the Caregivers Program in 2023 — a safe, welcoming space where caregivers can come together to connect, share, and restore their sense of wellbeing. Groups of 20–22 participants — primarily women — gather for a two-month cycle of support sessions. At the end of each cycle, a new group is welcomed, allowing the program’s impact to continue expanding throughout the community. These sessions are deeply enriching. Participants build meaningful relationships, experience relief from stress, and rediscover joy. Many speak of feeling seen and supported for the first time in years. The program has helped them smile again, rebuild confidence, and find renewed motivation in their daily lives. Demand continues to grow, with participation consistently exceeding expectations and a long waiting list of those eager to join. Many grandmothers arrive hesitant, having never held a paintbrush or pen before. Yet, through gentle encouragement and a nurturing environment, they begin to create — and in doing so, they flourish. What starts as uncertainty transforms into pride, self-expression, and a profound sense of accomplishment. The therapy is in the sharing of the stories in community. Each cycle concludes with a certificate ceremony, offering participants something many have never experienced: recognition. This moment of acknowledgment is deeply meaningful, affirming their worth and contributions. The program’s impact extends even further. Two grandmothers have been hired to join our staff — a powerful testament to their growth and capability. With pride, they walk through the community wearing their staff T-shirts, embodying possibility and inspiring others. The Caregivers Program is more than a support group. It is a space of dignity, connection, and transformation — where those who spend their lives caring for others are, finally, cared for.
The impact and beauty of the work we do across the community has not gone unnoticed — especially by the youth in Kibera. Surrounded by poverty, hopelessness, drug use and addiction, sexual violence, and a lack of basic needs, many young people are living in environments shaped by fear and uncertainty. Suicide among youth in Kenya has reached alarming levels, reflecting the urgent need for safe, supportive spaces. In response, the youth themselves came forward with a request: a place where they could speak openly about their struggles, be heard without judgment, and support one another. At Harambee Arts, we listen deeply to the community. In the spirit of “Harambee” — pulling together — we created the Teen Group as a space rooted in trust, creativity, and connection. Here, young people gather regularly to paint, share their experiences, and engage in honest conversations about the challenges they face. The sessions are a balance of depth and lightness — moments of vulnerability alongside laughter, creativity, and joy. Through this process, participants begin to build resilience, trust, and a sense of belonging. With the guidance of Harambee Arts staff, the teens are now developing a mental health workbook designed to support their peers, younger children, and the wider community. This initiative empowers them not only as participants, but as leaders and change-makers — using their voices and creativity to help others express their emotions and regain stability. We have witnessed remarkable growth. Participants are gaining confidence, developing emotional awareness, and forming a strong, supportive community that feels like family. Feedback from the group consistently highlights feelings of relief, relaxation, and the value of being part of a healthy support system. Many also express excitement about learning new coping and relaxation techniques — and a strong desire for the program to continue. It is deeply moving to see these young people uplift one another with compassion and courage. We are honored to walk alongside them on this journey and remain committed to supporting their growth, their voices, and their vision for a stronger, more hopeful future.
Your 100% tax deductible gift to Harambee Arts: Let’s Pull Together TM directly helps provide art programs for vulnerable children in an environment that fosters their sense of joy, creativity and exuberance.
