KURUKA MAISHA SCHOOL OF ART OUT TO GIVE HOPE TO STREET CHILDREN

Konnichiwa, Shulehei Fukunyama, salutes: Morning. Shuhei is one of the volunteers from Japan at the Kuruka Maisha, school of arts for the street children at The GoDown Arts Centre, out to give street children kainos (a new quality life), in Hebrew via art.

Kuruka Maisha: The name of the school summaries the mission and vision of the art school: It's out to transform street children and the less fortunate, who are at times unvalued, unloved, and taken for granted, into noble citizens; with fortified and horned talents, to make a decent future, as the Director of the school Nicholas Balongo says.

Sofi, a wife of an expatriate and Isaac Ooko were the brain child behind this rehabilitation school in 2002: To give street children a hope by tapping their huge potential that is wrapped in the rugs of born as prodigals.

Through this incentive 17 graduates from the school have found a footing at the international stage as entertainers, dancers and acrobats, who are magnetizing audiences in Spain. Yes, Wycliffe Chakala, the gentleman cleaning a bicycle in the YU advert, and Denis Kariuki who has made a mark in Europe and America as a performing artist went through this school of art.

Unfortunately, come 2006, Sofi left the country and Ooko secured a job with Medical Science Frontiers (MSF). Kuruka Maisha melted from the want of directorship and funds. The dark cloud once a gain engulfed the beneficiaries of this school.

Balongo, a long time social worker previously with The Daraja Rescue Project, made a timely dive to rescue this capsizing boat as a captain – winning the confidence of donors to revive the school.

Kuruka maisha is a tapestry of professionals from diverse background who are seamed neatly by the threat of passion in performing arts: juggling,capoeira, drama, acrobatics, dance, music,and visual arts. Shuhei is Mathematics - high school teacher at his home land country, Japan, pursuing International Law at Weseda University. All the teachers are professional performing artist coming, too, from other disciplines backgrounds says Jesse Ng'ang'a a tutor.

Indeed it's amazing how some of the young peoples future horizon is clearly demarcated, beyond expectation. Abraham Oloo Ochieng', 11 years old, is a standard 5 pupil at St. Elizabeth Academy, “the worst position I have ever taken is 2,” he says, “I'm aspiring to become an Engineer.” Last term he scored 409 marks albeit joining the troupe in November last year. The maverick, Oching' says that he started performing at the age of 5.

Denis Kioko, 10, is in standard Four, joined the troupe in November; he is eying to be a pilot. He was position seven last term. Peter Njoroge, 13, in standard Seven, has been the top in his class – he is too aspiring to be an applied scientist, an Engineer.

The boys says that the school of art is a great help to them as it ensures their schooling is smooth, food provided, shelter's secure and transport means from their various station of stay to the school are taken care of. Indeed, they're “united by common hopes and common dreams.”

During holidays “the school is overstretched as many students join for training,” Balongo says, “space, transportation and shortage of teachers, who are only 6, are some the major challenges,” he adds. They settled for The GoDown Arts Centre because of its facilities and location in Nairobi, being at the central point - as the students in the school comes from Kibera, Soweto, Runga Runga, Mkuru wa Njenga, and Mathare. “Transportation is logically a nightmare,” the director points out.

Africalia – Belgium, Changa Moto Art Trust, churches, social group and some individuals are the financial engine behind the running of the school: with a realization that “you will never be what you what to be until they (others) are what they ought to be,” said Marthin Luther Jr.

Balongo says that being part of these young people is humbling and a blessing as Barack Obama whose painting welcomes you to the centre, said, while working in such neighborhood: “I received the best education I ever had, and where I learned the meaning of my Christian faith.”

The director says that consistency for training till one is able to realize fruits is not easy. He says that they have to go extra miles “till the trainers attach personal value to the training.”

The school reviews their teaching and training content to meet the dynamic needs of the students and market demand. Thus they are working with Srathmore University, AIESEC program, to source volunteer teachers from across the world to disseminate some of the evolving performing art programs; and China's Wuqiao Acrobatic Arts School for exchange program.

Strathmore University is handy in mentorship, to inspire the trainers to have hope amidst despair, turn their hardship to advantage, have a bigger perspective on fluid background, and the zoom of their lens to focus beyond their immediate obstacles. Yes, financial management, counseling sessions, group therapies (harmonious development) are some of the precious ingredients the trainers partake from the school.

The university too will be involved computers training. The Red Cross will be training them on First Aid skills, to be apt in taking care of emergences.

The school has never blinked to be an answer to the problems facing the society, our nation. They were among the chosen participant along side Hot Sun Foundation, Mwelu Foundation, Slum TV Foundation, by the USA embassy in bring healing and reconciliation after the post election violence via the Goethe Institute.

Kuruka Maisha has been selected to participate in the Born Free Program that is ambitious for the preservation of Lions that are among the endured wildlife. “We're accorded with the responsibility of painting the lion that is going to be used for exhibition during this campaign,” says Balongo.

During the gone UNEP environmental awareness, they took part in painting the buses that were the face of the end objective of the exercise.

Come October, circus training will commence with the help of experts from USA and UK. The training will introduce the trainers on new skills in using aerial and cycling equipments, using of Chinese balls, adaptation of African acrobatics and dance choreography. All the equipments that will be used will be exported, says the director, “at the moment we've met half of the budget demand.”

At the sun set of this year the school is looking forward to march across the country to let their light illuminate those engulfed in the darkness of despair to brave the cold to size a new beginning, redeem innate talents.