Collaboration through art

 I am Emmanuel Ayieko from Kibera Kenya, a good friend to Calvin Juma the founder of Future Within Community Based Organization. 

I am happy to be part of this project and I am an automotive mechanic by profession. 

With the help of our supporter Mr Luca, we are seeing a great change as our kids in Kibera are improving on their drawing talents. 

Our aim is to change the lives of poor children in Kibera and nurture their talents. We will be very happy to get more well wishers with the same passion and similar interests of transforming the world through supporting artistic expression.

Bless you all.

ART CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 Hallo everyone. My name is Becky Elizabeth. I am 11 years old and a youngest sister to Devilon Junior Omondi and I am in grade six. I am happy to take this chance to tell you how art has changed my way of life by reducing stress, anxiety and offering perspectives on the challenges that we all face in our lives. Being raised in the largest slums in Africa (Kibera), a place where no one could actually wish to live if they were given a choice, but life pushes us to that extreme end. 

As a young person hoping for a better world, I was so passionate in dancing and singing but didn't have someone to support my talent. Luckily enough Calvin started an art project with the help of his friend Luca from another world. I joined it even though I had no idea about drawing. I joined the project also because I wanted to see how it feels when drawing since schools here didn't offer art classes or even value it all. My brother and I joined the project and we could enjoy watching each other's art work even though Junior was so talented but I had the passion to learn and improve on my art work.

As time goes by, we managed to rent a public room which we use for not only arts but also to learn lifeskills and other educational trainings. The projected started growing and many kids joined us. I noticed that my skills started improving being taught by a very friendly teacher Wex Wesley. I also learnt that art requires a deep discipline something our generation lacks. I also find it helpful that I was developing my confidence and creativity. I am so thankful for other supporters who have joined us in this project. I know great things are achieved my unity and not separation. I would like also to get the opportunity to continue dancing and singing by getting someone to teach us the cultural dance. Thank you for your time.

Together for a better world.

Hello my name is Lucy Adongo from Nairobi Kibera. I am 18 years old. I like to draw, sing and dance. I recently joined this project to share my talent with young talents like me. 

I believe that everything is possible and everyone can do more than they think they can do. Everyone has a purpose in this world and that is the reason.

Ever since I joined this project, I learnt to get along with young ones which has helped in boosting my courage. 

Sharing ideas with with the younger kids has made me more creative, also thanks to our supporters for making this experience possible. 

This projected has created a room for young talents and preventing young minds from going astray. Most young people in slums  find themselves misusing their time which leads to bad practices among young people. This project has helped to prevent such kind of acts by giving a space to young people to practice art.

ABOUT THE ART PROJECT

Hi folks,  my name is Merceline Adhiambo I am 17 years old; I live in  slums together with my family. The art project has been helpful to me. I didn't know more about art as much as I know  now. I believe that art is not being the first but having fun. I have been having so much fan when drawing which has help me to cope with my daily challenges and forget about stress in my life. 

In this desperate world, these days its so hard to find people who can support talents especially arts. This is why I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn more given that there are still few people who hope for a better world and decided to support us in  this project. I feel so much comfortable being able to express my emotions when drawing than speaking my problems by word of mouth.

My wish is that this project could grow big and help inspire change not only in lives of children kibera, but also across the world.

Please follow and join us in this artistic project so we can build a better world together.

Thank you.

MY EXPERIENCE AS ART TEACHER

I am Wesley Otieno a 20 years old visual and digital art artist. I started drawing when I was young. When I got to class 3, I learned how to draw from observation and mostly I drew characters from the text book and comic books. I use art to express moods, feelings, emotions or even making stories.

I am specialized in doing cubism art that help me show different feelings, moods and emotion. Besides cubism art, I also know other types of art like landscapes, portraits using different mediums like charcoal, paints (oil or acrylic and water colours), pencils, pens and pastel (soft, oil)

When I finished highschool, I already knew how to draw and also came up with my own art ideas concerning cubism art and other types of art. I also started helping others nature their talents . Month later, I joined an organization called 'Future Within' with Calvin Juma has the founder. I helped them teach their kids how to draw and share some ideas I have concerning art.

My experience with the kids have been good because the kids are improving on their skills and they are so happy that they can draw.

My goal is to help upcoming artist and children to discover their talent and to perfect on my skills so that I can help the upcoming artist to come up with their own ideas. 

My experience with the kids have been good, the kids are improving on their skills and they are also happy that they can also draw.

I would like to thank our project manager Luca Luigi Aschieri from Italy for supporting our kids from the start and giving them a chance to nature their talents. God bless you and your family. I appreciate you for supporting us, thank you very much.

APPRECIATION TO OUR SPONSORS

 My name is Larine Akinyi, I live in slums of Kibera. I am 10years old and going to grade 6 next year. It's good that God has granted us this wonderful day although other people did not see it.

I would like to write this note for our sponsors and to people in the world to know about the activities we do.

Firstly, it is good that I was able to join this program. I am so much aware that there are some people who don't appreciate what we do.

I am so much disappointed with this kind human thinking. As one of the committed student who usually attends the arts classes and with the deep information I have gain so far about our project, I would like to say that this project is important and with good intention to help us become better people.

Secondly, I would like to appreciate our sponsors for supporting us with somethings that we do use. We appreciate you for bringing this learning section of art and culture for us children living in slums and yo bring hope to us for a better future.

It would be great if you people as our sponsors continue supporting us and giving us a room to improve our lives. In future, if all goes well, we hope and wish that this project will grow big and many people all over the world will follow and support our work. 

May God grant you with enough resources to continue spreading this good deeds to other children who may like to reach this place even for children's with special needs. Special thanks to you all.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE POWER OF ART

My name is Mary Jessica, I am twelve years old. I live in Kibera with my family. I didn't know how to draw and so my friends used to laugh at me for that and so I didn't like anything to do with drawing. I kept on one thing in my mind that everything is possible. Mr Calvin, brought me a teacher called Wesley. He taught me how to draw and encourage me that I can do it. 

Our teacher announced that there is a drawing group he wants to form and from there he taught my friends and I. 

He also asked us to call other childrens that were interested in drawing and the family grew in number since we many, Calvin, the director asked our supporter honourable Luca to help us get a space for drawing and reading.

We are all grateful and happy for getting a good space and comfortable for drawing. We don't only use the space to draw but also use it to practice singing and dancing. We also learn some life skills.

We are so happy to have another person to support us by the name Donna. She and Luca agreed to help and support our dreams. Since then, we've been getting stationeries like pens, colours, books and drawing boards which has helped us to grow bigger in art. I thank you all for helping me to discover my talent. 

 Thanks for taking your time to read my story and may the good Lord bless you all!