Youth Stepping Forward

The bloom of the Jacaranda tree...

a sure sign of Autumn in Nairobi

Youth Empowerment -- Youth Stepping Forward!

This past week, we met with a group of emerging young leaders from within the Stars of Peace youth group at the Eastleigh Community Centre. On Thursday, they visited our home for a planning meeting as we work to develop the youth empowerment project within the Iftin program. The group will be working together to carry out a baseline survey within the community over the next few months, as we discern the issues and challenges common to Muslim youth within Eastleigh and identify opportunities for change.

We were very impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of these young men and women. Please pray for us as we seek to "win the community" and become a catalyst for change in a place where most young people are idle and have lost a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life.

The men serving the women -- a step forward in itself!

Isaak, Hussein, and Abdi Aziz

We are very blessed to have Isaak, a Somali Kenyan from Northeastern Province, joining our program in Eastleigh as part of his University attachment program. He will be volunteering with the youth and children's projects for the next three months.

Abdi Aziz had to give our kids trampoline a try

The girls having a great laugh at Abdi Aziz's antics

The Power of Participation

Members of the Stars of Peace Youth Group

Aisha, Farhiya, Hani, Hussein,

Abdiaziz, and leader Laura Muema

Earlier this May, the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program hosted it's second community peace building forum with about a hundred people in attendance. One of the outcomes of this training was the creation of a community youth group for both young men and women interested in building peace among their neighbours. On June 3, a youth group was formed by 36 local youth. Together they called themselves "Stars of Peace". Today, about 25 youth continue to meet as the Stars of Peace each Thursday afternoon at the Eastleigh Community Centre, many of the young ladies are members of our Iftin literacy classes. Together they have been working on ways to improve the peace and well being of Eastleigh: this last month they completed St. John's first aid training as part of their efforts to be better neighbours. Please pray for Laura Muema as she continues to draw young men and women together and encourage them to take responsibility for improving the lives of everyone in their community.

Discussing the common challenges

and opportunities facing our community

Today we gathered with members of the Stars of Peace, as well as beneficiaries and representatives from the Iftin self help group project, literacy project, Noor jewelry project and Happy Club children's project to evaluate our current work and discuss their perception of problems and opportunities within Eastleigh. We are so thankful for the great participation and respect given by everyone involved. Please pray for us this month as we bring the feedback from small forums like this to the strategic planning meetings for the Eastleigh Community Centre. Together we are seeking God's leading in responding to the needs around us.

Members of today's focus group