Digital Storytelling Project

This blog is written by a student involved with a Digital Storytelling Project run by the Undugu Society of Kenya.

The Undugu Society of Kenya is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization based in Nairobi that works to empower vulnerable children and youth from poor and marginalized communities in the country. This blog is a part of a project that USK began in June 2008 as a way to empower marginalized children and youth in Nairobi and advocate for and with the children for their rights. This Digital Storytelling Project is teaching some of USK’s beneficiaries how to take photographs and write blogs to express themselves to the world.

This project has three main goals: to change negative stereotypes of these children and youth, influence policies that enrich their lives and to teach the students new skills. Ultimately, it is hoped that their productions will aid USK in advocating for a better life for other children like the participants and for a better future for all Kenyan children and youth.

June to August 2008 is the first stage of this project, teaching 17 students that come from three USK programs. Of these students, 8 are members of USK Street Associations, which are groups of children and youth living or working on the streets of Nairobi. Five students are from the Undugu Basic Education Programme (UBEP), which provides free, non-formal education to children that cannot attend formal public primary school. The remaining four students (as well as 2 from the street associations) are from the Informal Skills Training Programme, which teaches children and youth practical skills so that they can attain sustainable livelihoods through employment or start their own businesses in trades such as mechanics, dressmaking and hairdressing. See below for links to all their blogs and photographs.

Amina is 19 years old and is a student at USK’s non-formal school in Pumwani.
www.aminakombo.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/aminakombo

Dominic is 20 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association.
www.dominicmuia.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/dominicmuia

Eliud is 18 years old and is involved with USK’s informal skills training program. He is learning mechanics.
www.eliudkinyanjuichege.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/eliudchege

Elvis is 16 years old and is involved with USK’s informal skills training program. He is learning spray painting.
www.elvisjamesmajani.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/elvismajani

Grivinson is 15 years old and is a student at USK’s non-formal school in Pumwani.
www.grivinsonmagomere.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/grivinsonmagomere

Harrison is 18 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association.
www.harrisonnjoroge.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/harrisonnjoroge

John is 18 years old and is a student at USK’s non-formal school in Pumwani.
www.johnkioko.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/johnkioko

Joseph is 18 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association.
www.josephgachira.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/josephgachira

Martin is 21 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association.
www.martinndugu.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/martinndugu

Mavish is 15 years old and is involved with USK’s informal skills training program. She is learning hairdressing.
www.mavishjepkemboi.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/mavishjepkemboi

Nancy is 14 years old and is a student at USK’s non-formal school in Pumwani.
www.nancyanyango.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/nancyanyango

Patrick is 22 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association.
www.patrickmwema.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmwema

Peter is 20 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association and is involved with USK’s informal skills training program. He is learning hairdressing.
www.petermwatha.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/petermwatha

Piliphan is 14 years old and is a student at USK’s non-formal school in Pumwani.
www.piliphankanana.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/piliphankanana

Raphael is 18 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association and is involved with USK’s informal skills training program. He is learning mechanics.
www.raphaelngugi.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/raphaelngugi

Rispar is 16 years old and is involved with USK’s informal skills training program. She is learning dressmaking.
www.risparrusimbu.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/risparrusimbu

Robinson is 20 years old and is a member of a USK Street Association.
www.robinsonmunene.wordpress.com
www.flickr.com/photos/robinsonmunene