Amani Kibera is a youth-led, community-based organisation which has worked in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi since 2007. It focuses on helping young people participate in peacebuidling, conflict management, and health awareness through sport, cultural and educational projects. They work to encourage community integration and a better understanding of conflict issues in the area.
Kibera interacts with communities through mentoring, exchange, and direct intervention networks.
Major achievements
Soccer tournament
The Amani Kibera soccer tournament provides an opportunity for young boys and girls to realise and enhance their sporting and cultural talents, using it as a tool for community mobilisation and awareness of health, education, peace and nonviolence. Starting in 2008, the tournament has attracted teams of different age groups and from different gender, ethnic and religious backgrounds. It has gained a highly accepted status in the community, becoming an annual event with around 100 community teams participating every year.
Youth camps
Preceding the tournament each year is a series of youth camps. Lecture series are given and forums on local and global issues held, including challenges such as HIV/AIDs, drug and substance abuse, peace building, conflict resolution, culture, sustainability and social inequality. The participants are drawn from several teams within Kibera, with each participant expected to be a peace ambassador for their team and for Kibera. These ambassadors pass on their skills and knowledge to other members and those who are not able to make it to the camp.
Resource centre
Another important pillar of Amani Kibera's work is its library and resource centre for youths in Kibera. This provides a free library service and support for schoolwork, and helps raise funds, for students unable to pay their school fees.
The resource centre consists of a technical room of 20 tailoring machines and a room for beadwork activities, which provide young people with employable skills.