“It is time for funders and policymakers to recognise the legitimacy and revolutionary power of community-based leadership.”

Community-based leadership is a sentiment long held by Aidlink. Since our foundation over 35 years ago, Aidlink has worked in partnership with local communities and NGOs, through funding and capacity building, to support change makers working for the development of their own communities.

The Guardian’s Kibera: living in the slums series recognised the work of Kennedy Odede, co-founder of Shofco (Shining hope for communities) and friend of Aidlink partner organisation Amani Kibera.

Shofco are working to transform the development of slums in Kenya recognising that progress can only be achieved if changes come from within the community.

“Kenya is on the rise… those living in slums such as Kibera will only share in the progress if urban solutions come from our community.”

Amani Kibera, a youth-led, community-based organisation focused on social justice through mobilising and organising youth participation in peace building and conflict management through sport and education projects within Kibera.

In 2018, Amani Kibera participated in Aidlink’s capacity building programme for local NGOs, providing them with training and tools for strengthening, sustaining and expanding their work.

“Only when we empower slum communities to design their own large-scale projects and policies, will we stand a chance at solving the slum problem for good. Only then can we unlock the hope that makes all people shine.”

Mercy Musomi (Girl Child Network CEO), Anne Cleary (Aidlink CEO) and Ben Ooko (Amani Kibera CEO) in Kibera, February 2019

Amani Kibera programme participants in Kibera, February 2019

Read the article at the link below:

httpss://www.theguardian.com/global-development/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/i-spent-21-years-of-my-life-angry-before-i-realised-we-in-the-slums-must-lead-change

Cover Photo: Participants of Amani Kibera programmes in Kibera, February 2019