If we want to make the world a better, a more sustainable one, we have to to start from where the people are and to understand their needs first. This means in community based countries as Kenya to understand the community structures, too!

Community plays a central role in the Kenyan social fabric, influencing various aspects of daily life, including support systems, decision-making, and cultural practices. The sense of community is particularly evident in rural and underserved urban areas where communal bonds are strong, and people often rely on each other for support and cooperation.

We, the System changer network Kenya focus on empowering underserved communities. How?

First of all, we invest in relationship building and building trust – because without trust and relationships our activities and programs for more health, better education and environment will not reach them. Secondly, we run and combine across our network a lot of concrete activities on the ground while making sure we do this right from the beginning with, not for the communities.
An exciting example are the libraries and schooling places we create to attract young people.

“Here at VICCO in Mukuru slums in Nairobi we have offer safe places to the youth, in the middle of the slum – to do the evening studies at our “Catch them young library”. We make sure here is light available and Internet access. It is also the place where they can share with each other and find a lot of inspirational input, get in contact with a different way on how to look at life ”, says Shakur, one of our SCN Core NGO leaders.
Youth programs are happening in all our 9 centers – from Nairobi to Homabay, from Webuye to Eldoret. There are also concrete exchanges and events among the several youth activities and centers such as common sport events – which make the library place to stay” even more attractive.

Interested to collaborate with us in building up more opportunities through systemic change? Please contact!