Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Western Endeavour - Issue No.: 1116 Issue Date: 21 Apr, 2024

Our presentation this week was by Kizito Gamba from Korogocha (Nairobi, Kenya) as well as Joan Peters from Be Kids. Be Kids had sponsored Kizito to be trained to be a cameraman and documentary maker.

Joan explained that on the 15th November 2005 (yes, that accurate), when she was in Nairobi, that she met a priest who directed her to see Sister Lucy who was developing a school in Korogocha, a slum area of Nairobi. Korogocha has nearly 200,000 people in an area of 1.5 square kilometres and is one of 4 slum areas located within Nairobi. Sister Lucy said the children were traumatised and often sexually assaulted and were not receiving an education. Joan with her personality of being stubborn and having no fear decided she was going to do something to change the lives of the children in Korogocha and other similar situations. This was the start of Be Kids (Australia Inc. www.bekids.org). Their vision is that "Be Kids works to improve the social and economic lives of children. The organisation is dedicated to helping communities overcome poverty and disease through programs that encourage self-reliance and empowerment. Their projects provide essential needs such as food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, education and employment".   Be Kidss has the moto "Be Safe Be Strong Be Happy". Be Kids is 100% volunteers so all funds raised are put towards their projects.

Kizito then presented his story. His English was excellent considering it is his second language. His story started when he was in high school at Korogocha. The land at Korogocha was empty and owned by the Government when it became the home for the very poor. There are many different ethnic groups who call Korogocha home and there are a large number of languages spoken. Their houses are essentially pieces of corrugated tin which are roughly put together and are tightly packed against each other. It also the biggest dumping ground for rubbish generated in Nairobi. Kizito says Korogocha is not safe to live in and has extensive violence and sexual crimes.

Different government agencies tried to help improve the situation in Korogocha. Be Kids then tried to help and wanted to have a project to help the people. Be Kids wanted to initiate giving back to the community rather than run away. The opportunity that Be Kids gave the children was to have an education. Without education they will not be able to improve their situation. Kizito said he was taught to be a photographer and film director and this has allowed the children of Korogocha to tell their story. This has empowered the children and they can now earn money which can even help their parents. Kizito also told the story of how children used to travel long distances to be educated in better schools in richer areas. They pretended to be from other towns, but after traveling on several buses arrived in Korogocha which was relatively close to those schools.  

Kizito said that In 2008 he joined the high school, where he engaged in the journalism club, writing news articles to be presented at the school assembly. At the end of 2009 he was elected as the chief editor and the chairperson of journalism club until he completed high school. In 2010 he was among the group that was selected to represent his school in a two-week exchange program in Sweden, where he was exposed to and trained in camera work and its use in story telling. After high school, he completed six months training at K-Youth Media, a project co-funded by Be Kids Australia Inc, where he did different projects in and around Korogocho, including recording the demonstration after the homicide of a prominent community leader, which resulted in his detention at the police camp. In the same year he worked on a peace project that was screened in Nairobi, to advocate for peace during and after general election.

With a scholarship from Be Kids Australia Inc, he was able to further his tertiary education at Jamuhuri Film and Television, currently known as Africa Digital Media institute for a Diploma in Film and Television. Kizito has been involved in major projects including Safaricom Juzz and Aljazeera Television doing documentary photography. 
 

Kizito has been recognised by the UN for his photography and directing - a marvelous achievement! 

Kizito will be traveling to Canberra and Sydney as part of his education while in Australia for 3 months.  

People of Korogocha now have pride from where they come from and now wear it as a badge of honor! .

One of Kizito's films can be viewed on YouTube:  https://youtube/sj49gyLwAzQ

To view the video you need to have a Google Account.