KENYA

The name Nairobi is derived from Maasai and means ‘a place of cool waters’. This refers to the Nairobi River that flows through the city. Many of the interventions Dreamtown has supported in Kenya in 2022 have been located along this river. Our key focus has been to transform the riverbanks into green and recreational public spaces. To support this vision, we have deepened the collaboration with our long-term partner Public Space Network across the three communities of Korogocho, Dandora and Kamukunji. We have also embarked on a brand-new partnership with Mathare Social Justice Centre, which is a youth driven organisation working in Mathare. Below is an overview of our biggest achievements in Nairobi for 2022.

In Kamukunji we have supported the rehabilitation of Kamukunji Park. Despite the park is considered a national heritage site, and one of the few largescale parks in Nairobi, the park had fallen into disuse and become a hotspot for crime. In 2022 we have supported a large network of youth groups to join forces and transform the park into a green and safe haven in the buzzing downtown. A space where children from the surrounding communities can have fun, and the vendors from the nearby market can take a break and relax in the cool shade of a tree.

In Korogocho an amazing youth group called Komb Green is on a mission to clean up the Nairobi River, remove the mountains of garbage on the riverbanks, and create a river front park that connects all the riverine communities of Nairobi. In 2022 we have supported Komb Green to further their dream. This includes extending their park up the river, and mobilising youth groups from neighbouring communities downstream to also embark on transforming the riverbanks.

In Dandora children and young people have very few spaces to play. One of the few open spaces that exists is the power leave-way. This land was gradually being grabbed by private interest. In 2022 we have supported the community to access and develop this land. The space is now being transformed into a massive recreational park with sports facilities.

While our work in Mathare has just started, our dreams are big. In 2022 we have established a new partnership with Mathare Social Justice Centre, mobilised youth groups from across the community, and identified 4 spaces along the river, that will be transformed into green parks. We can wait to see these green dreams come alive in 2023.

Wanjira Mzalendo is one of the leading members of Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC) - a youth driven initiative promoting a Mathare free of human rights violations. Mathare is one of the oldest informal settlements in Nairobi. Dreamtown and MSJC started a new partnership in 2022, focused on ecological justice in Mathare. In the year to come the dream is to develop 4 green parks spread across the community.

Spotlight The Urban Space Makers Of Dandora

The work Dreamtown supports in Kenya is done directly by powerful young people who live in the communities where we work. In 2022 we have produced several small films which shows the amazing work they do. We would like to put the spotlight on two of these change makers from Dandora. Meet Mercy Wanjiru and Evans Otien.

Like many other youths from Dandora, Evans has lived a life in crime. One day he decided he was going to change things. For Evans the environment is a medicine to the community. If you meet Evans he will show you the amazing courtyard he has transformed into a green oasis with rabbits, beautiful art work and an small library.

Mercy has devoted her life to the children of Dandora. Through her organisation called Sister Brother Love she has transformed a small courtyard into a safe space, where children can play, learn, feel love, be nurtured, and meet positive role models to look up to.

Artivism as a tool to tackle mental health issues. The mental health crisis among young people in Zimbabwe is massive. In the Key to the City II project together with our partners House of Arts Association in Harare and Yellow World in Bulaweyo, we facilitate sports and art events, conversation cafés and open mic sessions. These function as platforms for young people to freely express themselves in an open and inclusive environment. We are seeing changes manifesting themselves at the grassroot and community level. First, the activities pave the way for young people to get to talk about mental health and break down taboos. Second, we are engaging with key city-level and governmental stakeholders identifying gaps that exist in the system to tackle mental health issues. Third, young people are now more concerned with their mental health and are calling for referrals, so they can get counselling or join more activities.

Hatcliffe is an informal settlement and high-density suburb of Harare. The regime considers Hatcliffe to be an opposition hotspot, and the majority of young people living here are marginalised and unemployed. Here we have developed a creative space where our partner House of Arts Association has moved in and opened their office. Our vision behind the art space is to be the youth epicentre of Hatcliffe for music, dance, and art. It is open for everyone who wants to meet with peers, exchange creative ideas or just hang out. In the years to come, we plan to host larger exhibitions and concerts showcasing Zimbabwe’s vibrant youth culture.

The Tropical Storm Ana hit the Manicaland Province in eastern Zimbabwe late January 2022. At least 3.000 people were affected by heavy rains and flooding. Many lost their livelihood, people’s homes were damaged, and we saw an acute need of access to safe drinking water and basic health services. One of Dreamtown’s strategic goals is to respond to humanitarian crises in the places where we work. Together with our partners in Zimbabwe Justice for Children, Chiedza Community Welfare Trust and Nyanga Community Development Trust, we responded to this acute humanitarian crisis with the support from the Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF). We met people’s essential needs by handing out funds, livestock and agricultural inputs, while we also renovated and constructed houses, water wells, toilets and provided access to health services and legal aid.

Mutare is the capital of the Manicaland Province and the third most populous city in Zimbabwe. In the shrinking civic space context following COVID-19, there was a heightened need to strengthen young people’s societal engagement and knowledge of their constitutional rights. The project was carried out together with our partner Justice for Children. One of the key mechanisms for change in the project was to develop the capacity of 30 youth organisations through a micro grants scheme. Combined with ongoing support, trainings and mentorship, micro grants proved to be an effective catalyst for engaging with a broader audience of young people in the marginalised communities of Mutare.

Casper is an artivist and one of Harare’s leading forces in empowering the city’s youth through art, music, and creativity. He’s a member of the House of Arts Association – an organisation based on the idea that art holds a transformative power. In Harare, urban spaces are arenas of conflict controlled by the city’s dominant political and economic actors. By co-hosting festivals, art performances and concerts together with young people in some of Harare’s informal settlements such as Mbare, Hatcliffe and Epworth, House of Arts Association brings new young voices into these spaces disrupting the elitist power game.

With the Rights and Participation project in Mutare, we engaged youth actively in learning about their rights. Throughout the project, 30 youth organisations were engaged in training sessions on their basic rights, participated in a tour of constitutional institutions in Harare and in virtual public lectures on key aspects of participation. We learned that creating this knowledge base combined with ongoing mentorship and accessibility of micro grants strengthened the outreach of youth-led organisations and their capacity to foster civic participation. Through the project the youth achieved some remarkable advocacy results.

Freestone Mining stopping their planned operations at the Dangamvura Mountain: Following a call by the youth-led organisation MAYA, the planned operations of Freestone Mining at Dangamvura Mountain in Mutare was halted. Mining equipment was already on site and some preliminary works were already being carried out, since the mining company had an environmental impact assessment approved by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA). However, MAYA pointed out that there was no technical report concluding that mining was feasible at the proposed site. Failure to deliver this information meant that the mining company could not proceed with their operations.

Securing a seat at the Budget Committee of Mutare City: Through participating in a series of public consultations MAYA was invited to be part of the Budget Committee of Mutare City. This was a turning point for the organisation. It now has a mandate to represent the voice of young people in the budget negotiations at city level. The appointment sets a good example for youth participation, since the Mutare City Council has not previously been accommodative to young people in its committees.

Improving supply of water in the Dangamvura community: The leader of the youth organisation Bilha Nyabawa was nominated and elected to become the Vice Chairman of the United Mutare Residents Ratepayers Trust (UMRAT). This trust represents residents on issues of service delivery in Mutare and was behind the lobbying for Dangamvura residents to have a constant supply of water. For years the Dangamvura community has had sporadic water supplies with water being available in a few sections and sometimes only at night. Through constant advocacy water supply in Dangamvura has significantly improved. Now water is supplied during the day and areas that were previously without tapped water are now receiving water.

In Dreamtown we want to hatch the next generation of urban change makers in Denmark. We want young people in Denmark to feel the world around them, and be inspired to take action. One of the ways we do this is by connecting young people across the globe through joint action and interests. In 2022 we have connected Danish youth with young people in Sierra Leone and Uganda, through a range of inspiring activities.

Surf trip to Sierra Leone

In September 2022, Dreamtown ventured to Sierra Leone together with Surf Bunkers – a community of young Danish surfer with a love for sustainability and cutting-edge communication. The goal of the trip was to experiment with new ways of engaging Danish youth in global development by connecting Danish surfers with the surf community in Sierra Leone, through their shared love for the big wata (the big sea in the Krio language).

Our key destination for the trip was Bureh - a small fishing community located a few hours’ drive from Freetown. A true jewel located in lush rainforest, along the beautiful cost line a point where the break of the waves is perfect for surfing. At Bureh Beach, a group of young passionate surfers have come together to create a surf community in Sierra Leone and to spread the love for the sea. Cool and fearless children down to six years are riding the waves while young people and adults are easing their minds, having fun, and practicing tricks at the sea on the boards.

Back in Copenhagen, Surf Bunkers have released a film about their trip which was premiered at their local surf Shop at Nørrebro in Copenhagen.

Study trip to Uganda

In April, 2022, 16 students and 2 teachers from Copenhagen Adult Education Centre (KVUC) joined Dreamtown on a study trip to Kampala. The goal for the trip was to connect youth from Denmark and Kampala around the shared goal of exploring innovative solutions towards sustainable urban development. An intense week packed with lots of inspiring activities took place. The Danish and Ugandan youth visited communities in Kampala, learned about urban agriculture and planted vegetables, painted a mural, produced a film, visited a local skate park, produced jewellery of upcycled material, went zip-lining in the jungle and practiced a lot dancing skills.

From this trip it is our hope that the Danish students returned with a new outlook on life and maybe even a newfound interest to engage in sustainable development in the future.

Or as one of the KVUC students said: “All my new acquaintances, our absolutely amazing experiences, my outlook on life has changed after this experience, to be happy with the smallest things and to keep in mind that not everyone feels as good as oneself. That money has nothing to do with happiness and for the first time in my life I have seen what true happiness is” (KVUC student).

The World Urban Forum

MAKING THE VOICE OF YOUNG PEOPLE HEARD ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

In June 2022, the 11th World Urban Forum took place in Katowice, Poland. WUF was established by the United Nations as the key global event focused on sustainable urban development. WUF aims to provide greater insights and clarity on the future of cities based on existing trends, challenges and opportunities, as well as disruptive conditions. In 2022, more than 17000 people participated from 155 countries, including ministers, the private sector, NGOs, foundations, urban activists, and many more.

We went with one key agenda: To make sure the voices of young people were heard loud and clearly. And of course, we didn’t go alone. Our amazing partners Public Space Network from Kenya and House of Arts Association from Zimbabwe joined us. And they took the conference by storm.

Together with friends from Slum Dwellers International, we facilitated a full house event with more than 100 participants, joining us for a celebration of the work of the young urban activists in our network. The event showcased inspiring examples of how young people are using creativity to transform their urban communities. We set the stiff conference format in motion with an amazing hip hop performance, followed by inspiring presentations on how young people are transforming their communities. By using music, drama and art to engage city authorities – by creating safe and vibrant public spaces for children and youth – and by combining urban agriculture and playgrounds as ways to develop empowering public spaces.

We participated in panels with World Vision and Plan International focusing on the resilience of children and youth in vulnerable urban settings. And finally, we joined our place making and urban colleagues from all over the world in the launch of the brand-new Centre on African Public Spaces (CAPS).

The World Urban Forum is a great scene for linking up with other actors, activists, and networks that are passionate about the urban agenda. Next up, the World Urban Forum is hosted by the city of Cairo in 2024 –and we´re already excited…