Relief Fund for Kibera Social Arts

Victor Onyango established the Kenya based NGO, Kibera Social Arts (KSA), as a community resource to support youth in the Kibera slum in response to the 2007 post-election violence. KSA’s mission is to promote peaceful coexistence, positivity, therapeutic healing, and life skills among youth in Kibera. They carry this mission out through their flagship program – Slum Dance Africa –  which offers free breakdance classes to youth in the community. Slum Dance Africa  has become an important cultural institution throughout East Africa, connecting dancers from Uganda; Tanzania; Rwanda; Congo; Ethiopia and Kenya. Kibera is one among numerous “slum” communities in Nairobi that is culturally rich and economically poor. An estimated one million people reside in the community where basic resources are limited. Slum Dance Africa has transformed the lives of numerous youths in Kibera by offering a community space where they can transcend the hardships of day to day life through disciplined training and the joy of dance and celebration.

There are numerous issues that youth in this community face including molestation, drug abuse, rape and other forms of violence … the purpose of our program is to give youth in Kibera the opportunity to express themselves creatively and even talk about their experiences when they’re able to do so.

-       Victor Onyango, Executive Director of Kibera Social Arts


For the past three years I have taught the Afro-Brazilian martial art, Capoeira Angola to the Slum Dance Africa breakers through our program, Capoeira Angola Kibera. We’ve launched a school-based outreach program, taught by Capoeira Angola Kibera Teacher Trainees, and facilitated workshops in Nairobi and Uganda. Capoeira Angola Kibera and Slum Dance Africa offer safe spaces that foster creative expression, self-awareness and life skills among youth in the community.


With the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Kenya, slum communities like Kibera have been the most negatively affected. Most of the people who generate income in Kibera depend on daily or at best weekly wages. They are domestic workers; trade workers; street vendors; small business vendors; security guards; transportation (matatu) workers etc.  As a large portion of the population in Nairobi has gone into quarantine, much of the local economy has shut down. In turn, families in Kibera, who typically don’t have a financial reserve, are left with no income. In order to survive, families skip meals or share food with neighbors. As the economic stand still extends to the time ahead, a major concern is the likelihood of a rise in crime perpetuated by those with few resources.

Though the Kenyan government has offered some social services to assist the community, the distribution of goods has been so poorly managed that multiple Kibera residents have died in the midst of scrambling crowds. This is a potentially volatile time for Kibera as evidenced by social eruptions in the past during times of crisis. The goal of this campaign is to generate urgent relief funds for the families of the youth who participate in Kibera Social Arts, Slum Dance Africa and Capoeira Angola Kibera. KSA is currently distributing essential goods to families in their community including: flour, soap, beans, cooking oil, vegetables and other household necessities. The organization, however, does not have the financial reserves to meet the needs of the families. If we reach our goal of raising $5,000 USD we will be able to ensure that 40 families associated with KSA will meet their basic needs for one month. This is based on a $5 per day per family stipend. Kibera Social Arts is a registered Kenyan non-profit organization with a track record of offering free services to the community. Your contribution will go directly to Kibera Social Arts who will manage the distribution of food, water and cooking supplies to the 40 families. As we all make major life shifts in the midst of our rapidly changing world it is crucial that we express active empathy and hold space for people who are living on the edge. With this I invite you to support families in Kibera, Kenya who don’t have the resources to support themselves. If you have more specific questions, you can reach me directly via whatsapp. I wish everyone wellness, joy and protection in this changing tide.

In Community,

Salim Rollins

Director and Contra-Mestre of Capoeira Angola Kibera
Whatsapp # +254 710 551 721