We're All in this Together!

Sam Mutisya, Bruno Soucey, Patty & Malcolm Card, Aaron & Erica Kenny and Centre director, Ehud Gachugu, at the Eastleigh Community Centre.

As far as cheezy movies go High School Musical has got to be at the head of the class. Despite this, there is a great line from the movie's theme song that both Tristan and Emma love to sing... "We're all in this together!" This has also been a chord that was repeated throughout our conversation today with the Eastleigh Community Centre and our collegues from the Sharing Way.

Beyond the immediate work of the centre in caring for 73 displaced children affected by Kenya's post-election violence, the centre is actively equipping youth and young adults against the messages of hatred and tribalism often used to insight Kenyans to violence as political pawns. "We continually remind them of our common humanity," explained Ehud, the centre's director. Rather than being drawn into disputes over tribe or religion, the centre is tireless in drawing people together as neighbours and persons of intrinsic value. The centre hopes that the youth they are training will carry this message into Eastleigh and Mathare Valley as "custodians of their own community". Perhaps this aspect of building acceptance, forgiveness and cooperation will be as important as the many other efforts being spent in helping Kenya recover.

Sam Mutisya, The Sharing Way coordinator for Africa, enjoying some time with displaced children staying at the Eastleigh centre.

A group of boys proudly showing us the classroom where many of them have been living for nearly a month. In the mornings, they stack their matresses and blankets up against the walls so that the tables can be returned for class time. It is interesting to note that these boys are from many different tribal backgrounds.