The Uweza Foundation is a non-profit organization which works to promote human development in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded in 2008 and is registered in the United States as a 501(c)3 organization.[1] It is led by actress Rooney Mara.[2]
 | |
| Predecessor | Faces of Kibera |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
Area served | Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya |
Key people | Rooney Mara |
| Website | uwezakenya |
Uweza is named after a Swahili word meaning opportunity, ability, and power.[3]
History
editUweza Foundation was founded in 2008.[4] Its founder had moved to the country and married a local man after visiting Kenya to volunteer at a children's home in the Kibera slum.[4]
In January 2011, Uweza Foundation merged with Faces of Kibera, a charity founded by Rooney Mara.[3] Faces of Kibera aimed to provide housing, food, and medical care for orphans by building an orphanage in the region.[5] The charity received fundraising support from NFL teams under Mara's leadership.[6] Mara had started the charity after she visited the area as a volunteer in 2006 and was moved to help the orphans, many of whom had lost parents to AIDS and HIV-related illnesses. She started her charity out of frustration with the growing number of nonprofits that she viewed as just business opportunities: "The people who need help aren't really getting it. So I started my own", she told Interview magazine in 2009.[7] Uweza Foundation continues to be overseen by Mara who serves as president of its board of directors.[2][5][8]
In 2022, Uweza Foundation collaborated with ROAM Gallery and Xtina Parks to showcase work by Kibera artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Massachusetts.[9]
Areas of focus
editThe foundation works to empower residents of Kibera, particularly women and youth, through educational programs with a particular focus on supporting the development of young artists and helping artists make a living by marketing their art.[4][10] The foundation has focused to empower women and girls by tackling issues facing adolescent girls in Kibara.[11] It also hosts a compound allowing students without electricity in their homes study outside of school and sponsors a youth soccer team.[12][13]
Uweza Gallery
editAs one of its activities, the foundation founded the Uweza Gallery in Olympic Estate, Kibera in 2012.[14] The gallery features art by local talent and also incubates local emerging talents. It has allowed young artists to fund their education through art.[15] The gallery was originally located in an old shipping container but moved in January 2019.[14][16][17][18]
Coronavirus pandemic
editDuring the Coronavirus pandemic, Uweza cooperated with private-sector partners to form an initiative to promote sanitation in informal settlements such as Kibera and provide free artistic masks to residents designed by a local artist.[19][20] The foundation also worked with artists from the Uweza Gallery to create informational murals to create awareness during the pandemic.[21][22]
References
edit- ^ "Financials". Uweza Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ a b Ma, Julie (2013-05-31). "Rooney Mara and Mom, Hair Twins". The Cut. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ a b Mottram, James (December 17, 2011). "Rooney Mara on reinventing Lisbeth Salander for Hollywood". Herald Scotland. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ a b c "In Nairobi, Naperville native Jennifer Sapitro helps Kenyans fulfill their artistic dreams". Chicago Sun-Times. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ a b Serico, Chris (August 16, 2010). "Meet Rooney Mara, she's not just following in her sister's footsteps Archived February 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine". The Journal News. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Steelers, Giants memorabilia auctioned to help Kenyan orphans". December 11, 2008. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
- ^ Martin, Michael. "Rooney Mara". Interview. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
- ^ "Rooney Mara – Voguepedia". Vogue. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
- ^ Eagle, The Berkshire (2022-05-26). "5 gallery shows to see in the Berkshires over Memorial Day weekend". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Rutou, Joy. "Young artists turn passion into income". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "Kenya Election Results: Empowering Kenyan Girls is the Next Step For a Peaceful Kenya". Mic. 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ KABERIA, JUDIE (2015-09-15). "Kibera pupils jam study centre as teachers' strike bites". Capital News. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "Uweza Soccer Academy are the winners of the thirteenth edition of the Annual Ramadhan Cup". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ a b Gacheru, Margaretta (2022-06-20). "Finding a ten-year-old art gallery in Kibera". Business Daily. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Uweza Art Gallery - Positive Community Impact by Kibera Youth, Uzalendo News, September 3, 2019, retrieved 2024-03-04
- ^ ""The Cure Is Us": Kibera artists take on the pandemic | Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance". www.gavi.org. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "I am out to create a new image of Kibera, using paint and brush". Nation. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "Instagram post by @uwezakenya". Instagram. Uweza Foundation. January 31, 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-04 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Strive Masiyiwa, Dangote Group, Safaricom… Africa's private sector leads the fight against Covid". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Lee, Alicia (2020-05-10). "In 2020, masks aren't just for protection – they're being used to make a statement". CNN. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ "Mural art: Coronavirus pandemic inspires global graffiti artists". gulfnews.com. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Nunoo, Ama (2020-03-30). "Artists in Kenya's Kibera slum are kicking out coronavirus with these eye-popping murals". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 2024-03-04.