Walk Against Crime, the initiative designed to raise money to bring a group of young dancers over to the UK from Mathare Slum, Nairobi, Kenya has completed the first stage of its fundraising activities.
A sponsored walk, from Southport to Hornsea, via York, was successfully accomplished on Monday 6th August 2012 – all 230 miles of it!

Well done to everyone concerned, particularly Jeremy Piercy from Shared Earth and Kathleen Scanlan from The Zuri Foundation, who started on Saturday 21st July and walked every step of the way!

As a result £13,500 has been raised, meaning we are halfway to our target.

Walk Against Crime Day 4 Altrincham

IN KENYA….
Walk against Crime is working with an organisation in Nairobi called KSEEEP (Kenya Social Economic Enterprise Empowerment Program), which has a dance troupe that performs professionally in and around Nairobi, not only training young dancers but also helping them earn money – which a number use to attend school.
You can see them in the main image of this Blog post above.

The Zuri Foundation in Nairobi with students

KSEEEP is a youth project that engages young people through dance, football, education and a number of other programs.
It aims to help young people who have been involved in crime, or at risk from becoming involved in crime, or prostitution – which many young people are forced into to survive daily life in one of Kenya’s large slums.

Over 200 local youths are involved and the crime rate in the area has dropped from a staggering 80% to just 5%.

THE DANCERS….
Walk Against Crime aims to bring 10 of these teenage dancers over to the UK in August 2013 and arrange for them to perform at various events.
With this experience, it is hoped, they will be able to return to Kenya and make a permanent living, performing to tourists and at special community events and weddings.

The Zuri Foundation – Kenyan dancers in action

It also aims to support the many amazing initiatives KSEEEP run for young people in Mathare slum which include raising school funds, employment skills training, football training and of course dance training!

KSEEEP local football pitch

THE CHARITY….
The means of raising money to support these KSEEEP projects is via a small charity that has recently been set up called The Zuri Foundation.

The Zuri Foundation helps young people in Kenya break the cycle of poverty they are born into.
Working in partnership with local organisations in and around the slums of Nairobi they are helping to enable young people earn a living, get access to education and avoid or leave a life of crime many are forced into for survival.
Life in the slums is tough with access to basic needs including food, shelter, clothing and water limited.

The Zuri Foundation’s aim is simple – to enable young people to work and earn a living therefore empowering them to change their future.

The school walk in Mathare Slum, Nairobi, Kenya

THE NEXT STEPS….
In the spring and summer of 2013 there are more activities planned so that the fundraising total can be reached.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP….
If you feel that you would like to support the project and help bring young Kenyan dancers over to the UK you can sponsor a dancer or donate to the charity via the Just Giving Page.

KEEP IN TOUCH….
You can read more about Walk Against Crime in my other Blog post on the subject – Paul

Paul Wolfenden Owner of The FAIR Trade Store and Blogger