Nafsi Afrika Acrobats website

Video of Nafsi Afrika Acrobats in Vilnius, Lithuania at the Neringa restaurant

Video excerpts of Nafsi Afrika Acrobats performance in Lithuania, March 31, 2008 at the Neringa restaurant, the COMMUNIA workshop Ethical Public Domain, ten year celebration of MinciuSodas.

Nafsi Afrika Acrobats in Lithuania, photos thanks to Odeta Abramaviciute

July 25, 2007

KenOwino, TheNetherlands, July 25, 2007, Holistic Helping: We brought our first circus tent (In the North of Holland (Gasselte, close to assen) down on Friday, marking the end of the first phase of this years circus for development refugee childrens training camp. To others it may have been an end but to us it was a new begining, the lessons carried with us from the one week's experience was too much to behold-it's true people don't only learn at school, but experience is always the best teacher. Circus for development has a very different and unique approach of empowering children, unlike the way we do it in Nairobi. I see this helping us alot in the training programme we are looking forward to starting at the Nairobi Kamiti prison for juveniles (children). It reminds me of whole day we spent with the children prisoners last month, having fun, perfoming for them and empowering them with testimonies.

With a team comprised of experienced circus teachers, school teachers and good organisers who have all had experience working with children. Availability of performance necessities, proper diet, space, and condusive environment all count towards keeping these children focussed. Circus for development organises these camps through state funded proposals with the main purpose of helping these children forget and cope with the harsh realities of their past. The first camp consisted of teachers and children from diverse backgrounds, races, cultures and countries. Most of these youths have passed through painful experiences marked by war, hunger and neglect. There were children drawn from Afghanistan, Turkey, Russia, Armenia, Iraq, China, Congo, Burundi, Somali, and Switzerland. If i were to share with you the chat i had with one of the boys, then it reminds me of how the world's rich and weak should humble in life, and make peace a priority. Karzan has a hole in the back of his head covered by his black, and curly hair. You can only see the hole if he exposes it to you. He has a happy, smiling, welcoming, and positively energised eyes that radiate confidence and happiness but hides alot. He sustained the hole injuries through a bullet that loaded sad memories of the Iraq war in his head and robbed him off his parents. The wound has been giving him constant migraines and trauma. The only family Karzan knows is the small world of people socially embracing him now. Karzan can't speak English or Dutch, but communicates in Iraqish, Arabic, Kurdish and gestures. The hole didn't prevent him from scoring goals. He has been so good in the games we organise and was the man of the day in the finale show exhibited by the children last Thursday night. This is just one story in many. After just one week of training, the children did a performance that left many baffled and thrilled. The circus tent was fully packed, with people who were eager to watch the "Day of encounters" by the refugees. "The day of encounters" was the title of the show, and in true sense of the name, the camp had days of encounters to all participants. Kenya was given given some concern through small donation that was through the sale of cards. In total we raised 148 Euros that are meant to go towards helping Nafsi Afrika acrobats put up a home for the street children. Our short stay has won us adorations from many and the possibilities of the whole Nafsi acrobats and dancers touring Holland in June next year. Also we have initiated an exchange programme that will have Circus for Development extend to Kenya by sending some of their teachers to help in a p[rogram in Nothern Eastern Kenya (Lodwar).

We went to Belgium over the weekend, on invitation of a comrade who was perfoming in a festival in West end. The overall experience was hilarious and educative. There after we had a chance practising with professional circus performers in the Famous circus elbow (Amsterdam). This week we have pitched our tents, and camped in the east of Holland (oe pekela). We are training much younger children in a center for the refugees from a number of countries.

On the 5th August we travel to Italy, where a number of meetings and performances await us. We were supposed to travel by road because of limitation of funds but Maria yet again chipped in and bought 3 plane tickets for us at the cost of 450 Euros. We are supposed to arrive in Turin on the 6th and i bet flying will save alot in time lag. I have already worked out on the Kibera footages to appropiate format and uploaded it in the u-tube. The next question is how everybody would access it. I also have scenes( video footages) on our works while in Holland that i have captured and hope to have Maria help me make them accessible/viewable by the forum. I will also forward all the rundown of expenses we incurred together with receipts as soon as we are done with this tour.

The weekend was so melancholic and nostalgic and i conclude by saying "East or West, Home is best, but home is made of the people you meet and who touch your life with positive, energetic and a social impact. Circus for development has an idea that should be copied and embraced by other world's continents.

One love,

Ken Owino, Nafsi Afrika arobats, Nairobi, Kenya

KennedyOwino and James of NafsiAfrika are in TheNetherlands training acrobats and then go to Italy on August 5th-20th KenOwino, Holistic Helping, July 3, 2007: We [Ken and James] are arranging some initiative in Rome, Turin and Santa Marinella or Civitavecchia. In this initiative, we will give workshops, presentation on Nafsi and it's projects, and some demonstrative shows. In the workshops, emphasis is put on developing the capacity of the street children and other unfortunate youths to participate, as appropriate, in urban poverty reduction responsibilities, and also elimination of such vices like crime and drug abuse. The rationale lies in the provision of a friendly approach to training opportunities in Yoga, acrobatics, dance, music, drama, and fine Arts and crafts."

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:17:47 UTC Abinel Emmanuel: Its sound good,actually i wish to make good cooperation with you with my fellow members of Uyoga,because we are the one as much as what we are doing. From here Tanzania up to Kenya,We wish to be together in Music and othe talents like what you are doing.I wish you all he best.

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:17:17 UTC Dan Otedo: This is beautiful Ken.

AboutThisPage

• ShopWithUs = <a href="http://www.nafsiafrica.org/">Acrobats and drummers from Kenya</a> perform in Europe. Contact <a href="http://www.worknets.org/wiki.cgi?KennedyOwino">Kennedy Owino</a>!
• EventSummary = Video bridge between Kenya and Lithuania organized by OdetaAbramaviciute
• EventDate = 20090321