‘PAMOJA TUNAWEZA’
THE LAUNCH OF A BIG DREAM

By Oluoch Japheth* and Father Daniel Moschetti

The sky was calm and peaceful but for a few birds which played happily, engaged in what looked like an early celebration. Below them, huge chunks of smoke from the infamous Dandora Dumping site threatened to destroy their party. Lorries arrived, emptied their poisonous content and left. A few metres away from the largest dumping site in Nairobi, the notorious quarry lay dangerously, bushes of water hyacinth hiding the spirit of tens of souls who had died their.

At the St. John Catholic Church that borders both the murderous dumping site and quarry, long posts announced the peace flags. Rays of victory, love and excitement decorated the faces of visitors who were arriving from different corners of the city and the world. Ordinary Korogocho residents were arriving in their hundreds, all with one aim: To welcome the birth of the big dream. ‘PAMOJA TUNAWEZA!’ A large banner confidently promised as it hang victoriously at the entrance of St. John Catholic Church, the venue of St. John Sports Society (SSS) launch.

Not even the dust or smoke from the dumping site adjacent to the venue could cough off the commitment of the members of the SSS to triumphantly welcome the arrival of the dream. For several years, they had been participating in Sports but they had no structure such as the SSS. When they thought about the idea of the society, it was like an expectant mother who knows not the kind of a child she is expecting but strongly believes that she will have a child after all. The dream of the society had been around for about two years. For several weeks, the nine teams which have so far joined the society worked tirelessly to make the launch a huge success. The society compound was painted in yellow and green, the society’s colours. Uniforms were purchased for the teams which they proudly put on. The captains were clad in their track suits. The nine teams include: Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Netball, Boxing, Taekwondo, Karate, Weightlifting and Athletics.

The launching activities began by amass held at the St. John Catholic Church. The mass was celebrated by Father Mariano Tibaldo, the new Provincial (head) of Comboni Missionaries in Kenya. The sport teams animated the marathon . Non-Catholics who are member of the society also joined the mass. Though the society is based at St. John Catholic, the membership is open to all the youths of the slum. The SSS is a home where all the youths in the slum are welcome irrespective of their backgrounds.

The launch of the St John Sports Society could not have come at a better time. The new millennium has seen a rethinking of the place of Sports in the Society. In the past, Sports was seen only as a leisure activity that some people had used to generate wealth. It never went beyond the stadium. But Sports is increasingly playing a more fundamental role in integrating societies. Institutions that had little commitment for sports are now introducing sport programmes as awareness tools to fulfill their objectives. The United Nation says in a report, “Sport can cut a cross barriers that divide societies, making it a powerful tool to support conflict preventions and peace-building efforts.” This position is fully supported by the minister for Sports, Mr. Achilo Ayacko. In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Social Services, Mr. Mwakio Righa, during the SSS launch, the Minister noted; “a part from Sports providing enjoyment and helping people use their leisure time better, it also promotes peace, unity and understanding among our societies.”

The community therefore is a major target of the SS S. The SSS constitution that recognizes it as a charitable, non-political and non-profit making organization, lists the objectives which would enable the society reach the community:
“The SS is established to:

- To create opportunities for physical, personal and community developments for the Youth in St John and neighbouring areas.
- Help in human maturity and community development,
- Organize and support activities and community service projects by members
- Promote and support gender equality”.

According to Fr Daniel Moschetti, the father -in -charge of St John Catholic Church and the architect of the SSS, the SSS is not just sports. It integrates sports with other social development activities and community service to improve the welfare of the people of Korogocho. The Catholic priest who lives with the people of Korogocho, one of the largest slums in Kenya, says that it is the responsibility of everybody living in Korogocho to contribute towards repainting the face and the name of Korogocho. He notes with disappointment:

“We need to change the face of Korogocho. Many of the youths, while out there, do not reveal that they come from Korogocho. They fear being associated with all kinds of crimes”.

This fear is however not an accident. Many residents of Korogocho carry with them a heavy load of misconception and being misrepresented. There exists a culture of criminalizing those who live in the slums. The youth, for instance, make the highest percentage of the more than 100,000 residents of Korogocho. They bear the burden of arbitrary police harassment, unemployment, and mistrust. They are the major targets of politicians who hire them to counter the activities of their opponents, drug and alcohol dealers who use them to supply the drugs and also to reach their fellow youths, a major market. Young girls have not been spared too. Men take advantage of their poverty to exploit them sexually. Hence the over whelming incidence of child mothers in the slums. The SSS operates in this awkward environment to show the world that in spite of all these challenges, Korogocho is not a preserve of crimes and other illegal activities. There are many people who have committed their lives to do goods things and improve the image of our community. These good people however do not get the limelight. Few people recognize the good. The SSS is aware that negativity sells like hot cakes and that is why it gets more access to the press than “positivity.” In a society that is cultured to consume negativity, it is an uphill task to market ‘positivity’ and change the trends. We need to collectively repackage the positive aspects of the slums and call upon the media to play her role. According to Mr. Faruk Tebbal of UNHABIT, The SSS must work with others to make it possible for the world to change. He says that the media must speak on our behalf. Speakers at the launch however felt that the media has given the slums a very raw deal. “The media in Kenya is about big business, big politics and big money. The media only come where ‘big people’ are in attendance. Perhaps what we are doing here does not sell,” commented one of the speakers.

The St. John Sports Society (SSS) has been started by a few people who conceived a dream, carried it for two years and delivered it. Like young babies, this society needs to be fed and clothed to make it sustainable. The launch brought together representatives from the government, sports legends led by Joe Kadenge, local counsellor, member of parliament, the UNHABIT, learning institutions heads, NGO representatives and visitors from abroad. Each one of those who spoke promised to contribute towards the success of the society. All in all, the real dignified guests were the ordinary residents of Korogocho and other thousands of people who braved the scotching sun, dust and smoke from the dumping site to support the nine teams that participated during the launch. To them, the future of St John Sports Society (SSS) lies.

Pamoja Tunaweza! Together we can!

* Japheth is a youth leader living in Korogocho
* Father Daniel is a priest at St John Catholic Korogocho