Gift DreamAfrica to Utawala
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To donate in Kenya send donation to our MPESA number 0704-978-561
My name is Franco Abott. I grew up in Kenya where I went to Utawala Academy. I later went to Alliance High School after which I won a scholarship to go to Lafayette College in the US.
On my flight there I wondered who I would meet and what they would think of me, considering the one story about Africa of disease, poverty and flies. Would they believe my own story of Africa full of pride, love and aspiration?
Before even the first day of school, I was anticipating my experience in college so I decided to talk walk around college to get familiar to my new home for the next four years. As I was walking, I saw this stranger walking towards me. I looked up, figured it was just another American until this stranger suddenly stopped looked at me and said "Vipi Bana!". And all my Kenya people go "Whaaaaaaaat?!". For everyone else, here is an opportunity to learn some cool slang to suprise your next unexpecting Kenyan. "Vipi Bana" is Swahili equivalent of saying "Whatsup" in the coolest Kenyan way possible. And how did this stranger happen to learn this Kenyan sheng (slang in Swahili)? He happens to be the most curious and adventurous person I know. Meet Torin Perez.
Torin, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, got a chance to visit South Africa as a freshman in college after also winning a scholarship to Lafayette College. This trip broke many of the perceptions he had about Africa. He became an agent of changing the story about the continent. A great way to start was to learn as much as he could about African people. Driven by his curiosity he connected with a few Kenyan's who happened to be at Lafayette. Before long he could not speak some cool Swahili but knew a number of popular music and could if guess who might be from Kenya from their looks. So when Torin saw me, he took his chances and there it was, the begining of a long friendship.
Today, Torin and I work together at DreamAfrica along with many other inspiring team members and supporters. DreamAfrica is a multimedia destination of engaging African stories for kids. Our vision is African people owning their story, starting with the young generation. Through ebooks, audiobooks and video animations kids in Africa and beyond will be able to share stories. We dream of a reality where instant connections between people of different backgrounds is the norm and not the exception. We are bringing this dream to reality through DreamAfrica.
We have visited schools in New York and Nairobi. One such school is Utawala Academy where despite having a computer lab, lack stories that their parents grew up with as kids. Through your support, we can deliver engaging stories to kids at Utawala. $2750 gives the 700 kids at Utawala a year's access to a living breathing library of engaging African stories. We built the app and got it approved through the Kenyan government and through your support kids at Utawala can enjoy stories when schools open.
www.wedreamafrica.com
My name is Franco Abott. I grew up in Kenya where I went to Utawala Academy. I later went to Alliance High School after which I won a scholarship to go to Lafayette College in the US.
On my flight there I wondered who I would meet and what they would think of me, considering the one story about Africa of disease, poverty and flies. Would they believe my own story of Africa full of pride, love and aspiration?
Before even the first day of school, I was anticipating my experience in college so I decided to talk walk around college to get familiar to my new home for the next four years. As I was walking, I saw this stranger walking towards me. I looked up, figured it was just another American until this stranger suddenly stopped looked at me and said "Vipi Bana!". And all my Kenya people go "Whaaaaaaaat?!". For everyone else, here is an opportunity to learn some cool slang to suprise your next unexpecting Kenyan. "Vipi Bana" is Swahili equivalent of saying "Whatsup" in the coolest Kenyan way possible. And how did this stranger happen to learn this Kenyan sheng (slang in Swahili)? He happens to be the most curious and adventurous person I know. Meet Torin Perez.
Torin, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, got a chance to visit South Africa as a freshman in college after also winning a scholarship to Lafayette College. This trip broke many of the perceptions he had about Africa. He became an agent of changing the story about the continent. A great way to start was to learn as much as he could about African people. Driven by his curiosity he connected with a few Kenyan's who happened to be at Lafayette. Before long he could not speak some cool Swahili but knew a number of popular music and could if guess who might be from Kenya from their looks. So when Torin saw me, he took his chances and there it was, the begining of a long friendship.
Today, Torin and I work together at DreamAfrica along with many other inspiring team members and supporters. DreamAfrica is a multimedia destination of engaging African stories for kids. Our vision is African people owning their story, starting with the young generation. Through ebooks, audiobooks and video animations kids in Africa and beyond will be able to share stories. We dream of a reality where instant connections between people of different backgrounds is the norm and not the exception. We are bringing this dream to reality through DreamAfrica.
We have visited schools in New York and Nairobi. One such school is Utawala Academy where despite having a computer lab, lack stories that their parents grew up with as kids. Through your support, we can deliver engaging stories to kids at Utawala. $2750 gives the 700 kids at Utawala a year's access to a living breathing library of engaging African stories. We built the app and got it approved through the Kenyan government and through your support kids at Utawala can enjoy stories when schools open.
www.wedreamafrica.com
Organizer
Franco Eugene Abott
Organizer
Parkville, MD