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The Uweza Foundation is a Kenyan non-profit organization operating primarily in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded in 2008.[1]
The foundation works to empower residents of the slum, particularly children and youth, through educational programs with a particular focus on supporting the development of young artists and women's empowerment.[2] Uweza is a Swahili word meaning opportunity, ability, and power.[3]
History
In January 2011, Uweza Foundation merged with Faces of Kibera, a charity founded by Rooney Mara.[3] She had founded Faces of Kibera, which aimed to provide housing, food, and medical care for orphans by building an orphanage in the region, for which 6 acres of land have been purchased.[4] The charity had auctioned memorabilia from the Steelers and Giants, as well as training camp events on eBay to raise money.[5]
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 in 2009.[6] Mara later found it challenging to balance her charity work and acting career. "I need to do both; I can't just do acting," she stated to The Journal News.[4] Mara continues to serve as the president of the Uweza Foundation board of directors.[7]
In 2022, Uweza Foundation collaborated with ROAM Gallery and Xtina Parks to showcase work by Kibera artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art.[8]
Uweza Gallery
As one of its activities, the foundation founded the Uweza Gallery in Olympic Estate, Kibera in 2012.[9] The gallery features art by local talent and also incubates local emerging talents. It has allowed young artists to fund their education through art.[10] The gallery was originally located in an old shipping container but moved in January 2019.[9][11][12][13]
Coronavirus pandemic
During the Coronavirus pandemic, Uweza cooperated with private-sector partners to form an initiative to promote sanitation in informal settlements such as Kibera and provide free artistic masks to residents designed by a local artist.[14][15][16] The foundation also worked with artists from the Uweza Gallery to create informational murals to create awareness during the pandemic.[17][18]
References
- ^ "In Nairobi, Naperville native Jennifer Sapitro helps Kenyans fulfill their artistic dreams". Chicago Sun-Times. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Rutou, Joy. "Young artists turn passion into income". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ a b Mottram, James (December 17, 2011). "Rooney Mara on reinventing Lisbeth Salander for Hollywood". Herald Scotland. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ a b Serico, Chris (August 16, 2010). "Meet Rooney Mara, she's not just following in her sister's footsteps Archived February 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine". The Journal News. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Steelers, Giants memorabilia auctioned to help Kenyan orphans". December 11, 2008. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
- ^ Martin, Michael. "Rooney Mara". Interview. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
- ^ "Rooney Mara – Voguepedia". Vogue. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
- ^ Eagle, The Berkshire (2022-05-26). "5 gallery shows to see in the Berkshires over Memorial Day weekend". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ a b Gacheru, Margaretta (2022-06-20). "Finding a ten-year-old art gallery in Kibera". Business Daily. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Uweza Art Gallery - Positive Community Impact by Kibera Youth, Uzalendo News, September 3, 2019, retrieved 2024-03-04
- ^ ""The Cure Is Us": Kibera artists take on the pandemic | Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance". www.gavi.org. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "I am out to create a new image of Kibera, using paint and brush". Nation. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "Instagram post by @uwezakenya". Instagram. Uweza Foundation. January 31, 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Strive Masiyiwa, Dangote Group, Safaricom… Africa's private sector leads the fight against Covid". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Lee, Alicia (2020-05-10). "In 2020, masks aren't just for protection – they're being used to make a statement". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Lee, Alicia (2020-05-10). "In 2020, masks aren't just for protection – they're being used to make a statement". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "Mural art: Coronavirus pandemic inspires global graffiti artists". gulfnews.com. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Nunoo, Ama (2020-03-30). "Artists in Kenya's Kibera slum are kicking out coronavirus with these eye-popping murals". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 2024-03-04.