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Uweza Foundation was founded by an Illinois native who had traveled to Kenya to volunteer at a children's home.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-06 |title=In Nairobi, Naperville native Jennifer Sapitro helps Kenyans fulfill their artistic dreams |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/1/6/23516603/nairobi-kenya-jennifer-sapitro-uweza-foundation-kibera |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> She moved to the country and married a Kenyan man before founding the charity in 2008.<ref name=":2" />
In January 2011, Uweza Foundation merged with Faces of Kibera, a charity founded by [[Rooney Mara]].<ref name=":1" /> She had founded Faces of Kibera, which aimed to provide housing, food, and medical care for orphans by building an orphanage in the region, on 6 acres of land have been purchased.<ref name="JournalNews">Serico, Chris (August 16, 2010). "[http://www.lohud.com/article/20100816/ENTERTAINMENT/100816004/1164/entertainment/Meet%20Rooney%20Mara+,%20she+'s%20not%20just%20following%20in%20her%20sister+'s%20footsteps Meet Rooney Mara, she's not just following in her sister's footsteps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205045609/http://www.lohud.com/article/20100816/ENTERTAINMENT/100816004/1164/entertainment/Meet%20Rooney%20Mara+,%20she+'s%20not%20just%20following%20in%20her%20sister+'s%20footsteps|date=February 5, 2015}}". ''[[The Journal News]]''. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref> The charity hadreceived auctionedfundraising memorabiliasupport from theNFL [[Pittsburghteams Steelers|Steelers]]under andMara's [[New York Giants|Giants]], as well as training camp events on [[eBay]] to raise moneyleadership.<ref name="Post-Gazette">"[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08346/934457-66.stm Steelers, Giants memorabilia auctioned to help Kenyan orphans]". December 11, 2008. ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]''. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.</ref> Mara had started the charity after she visited the area as a volunteer in 2006 and was moved to help the orphans, many of whom lost parents to AIDS and HIV-related illnesses and her frustration with the growing number of nonprofits that are just business opportunities. "The people who need help aren't really getting it. So I started my own", she told ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]'' magazine in 2009.<ref name="InterviewMag">Martin, Michael. "[http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/rooney-mara/ Rooney Mara]". ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]''. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.</ref> Mara later found it challenging to balance her charity work and acting career; Uweza Foundation continues to be overseen by Mara who serves as president of its board of directors.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ma |first=Julie |date=2013-05-31 |title=Rooney Mara and Mom, Hair Twins |url=https://www.thecut.com/2013/05/rooney-mara-and-mom-hair-twins.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Cut |language=en}}</ref><ref name="JournalNews" /><ref name=":02">{{cite magazine |title=Rooney Mara – Voguepedia |url=http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Rooney_Mara |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107003939/http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Rooney_Mara |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |access-date=November 15, 2011 |magazine=Vogue |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Mara had started the charity after she visited the area as a volunteer in 2006 and was moved to help the orphans, many of whom lost parents to AIDS and HIV-related illnesses and her frustration with the growing number of nonprofits that are just business opportunities. "The people who need help aren't really getting it. So I started my own", she told ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]'' magazine in 2009.<ref name="InterviewMag">Martin, Michael. "[http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/rooney-mara/ Rooney Mara]". ''[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]''. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.</ref> Mara later found it challenging to balance her charity work and acting career.<ref name="JournalNews" /> Uweza Foundation continues to be overseen by Mara who serves as president of its board of directors.<ref name=":02">{{cite magazine |title=Rooney Mara – Voguepedia |url=http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Rooney_Mara |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107003939/http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Rooney_Mara |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |access-date=November 15, 2011 |magazine=Vogue |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ma |first=Julie |date=2013-05-31 |title=Rooney Mara and Mom, Hair Twins |url=https://www.thecut.com/2013/05/rooney-mara-and-mom-hair-twins.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Cut |language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, Uweza Foundation collaborated with ROAM Gallery and Xtina Parks to showcase work by Kibera artists at the [[Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art|Museum of Contemporary Art]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eagle |first=The Berkshire |date=2022-05-26 |title=5 gallery shows to see in the Berkshires over Memorial Day weekend |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/arts-theater/5-gallery-shows-berkshires-memorial-day-weekend/article_a263f9a4-dc3b-11ec-a5e8-97e53c37766e.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Berkshire Eagle |language=en}}</ref>
== Areas of focus ==
The foundation works to empower residents of KiberiKibera, particularly children and youth, through educational programs with a particular focus on supporting the development of young artists and helping artists make a living by marketing their art.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rutou |first=Joy |title=Young artists turn passion into income |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001447094/young-artists-turn-passion-into-income |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> The foundation has focused to empower women and girls by tackling issues facing adolescent girls in Kibara.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-10 |title=Kenya Election Results: Empowering Kenyan Girls is the Next Step For a Peaceful Kenya |url=https://www.mic.com/articles/33919/kenya-election-results-empowering-kenyan-girls-is-the-next-step-for-a-peaceful-kenya |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Mic |language=en}}</ref> It also hosts a compound allowing students without electricity in their homes study outside of school and sponsors a youth soccer team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=KABERIA |first=JUDIE |date=2015-09-15 |title=Kibera pupils jam study centre as teachers' strike bites |url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2015/09/kibera-pupils-jam-study-centre-as-teachers-strike-bites/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Capital News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Uweza Soccer Academy are the winners of the thirteenth edition of the Annual Ramadhan Cup |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktnnews/checkpoint/video/2000095746/uweza-soccer-academy-are-the-winners-of-the-thirteenth-edition-of-the-annual-ramadhan-cup |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>
== Uweza Gallery ==
As one of its activities, the foundation founded the Uweza Gallery in Olympic Estate, Kibera in 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gacheru |first=Margaretta |date=2022-06-20 |title=Finding a ten-year-old art gallery in Kibera |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/art/finding-a-ten-year-old-art-gallery-in-kibera-3854076 |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref> The gallery features art by local talent and also incubates local emerging talents. It has allowed young artists to fund their education through art.<ref>{{Citation |title=Uweza Art Gallery - Positive Community Impact by Kibera Youth |date=September 3, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T8JbKc3H0M |access-date=2024-03-04 |publisher=Uzalendo News |language=en}}</ref> The gallery was originally located in an old shipping container but moved in January 2019.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=“The Cure Is Us”: Kibera artists take on the pandemic {{!}} Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance |url=https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/cure-us-kibera-artists-take-pandemic |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.gavi.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title=I am out to create a new image of Kibera, using paint and brush |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/mynetwork/i-am-out-to-create-a-new-image-of-kibera-using-paint-and-brush-3782438 |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Nation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2021 |title=Instagram post by @uwezakenya |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CKuYP-UJCMh/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Instagram |publisher=Uweza Foundation |via=Instagram}}</ref>
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