The Conferences is held in a slum setting with all the characteristics of a typical conference and is aimed at bringing together beneficiaries of Mtaani Initiative, a Livelihoods project implemented by U-Tena under the funding of the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), to share the experiences and achievements. With support from other partners the conference expanded to include youth groups, organizations and cooperates outside and inside the borders of Viwandani Slums in Nairobi Kenya. It is also a networking forum where all the
participants could create linkages and marketing between themselves. The 1st, 2nd and 3 rd community conference of dates 29th June, 2013, 16th August, 2014 and 8th August, 2015 respectively, were held in a slum setting with the theme ‘Holding hands together for a Brighter Future’ saw participation of over 35 youth groups and 5 corporations from the planning stage. The event is usually aimed to target over 2000 community members.
The recently held 4th Edition of the community conference, with the theme ‘Empowering Communities for a Brighter Future’ was held on 14 th October 2017. During the preparations, different partners came in and supported in various ways. Radio stations gave free airtime to make the community aware of the ongoing conference, some of the corporates provided refreshments to all participants and delegates, some youth organizations mentored participating youth groups in refining their PowerPoint presentations and lots of networking took place among
youth groups, corporates and between youth groups and corporates. In addition, on behalf of the government of Kenya, the Area Chief of Viwandani provided enough security for the day.
Various activities took place on this day including a Gala entertainment session in the afternoon. Thematic performances were made and staged through music, drama, dances, boxing, poetry, rap, singing and others. Most talents are spotted during these performances by potential clients.
The four community conferences had the following components. One is a Beauty Pageant that sought to look for a Mr. and Mrs. Community Conference, both of whom would be role models for the other youth in Viwandani and help bring positive change to the society. This is also done with an aim of exposing beauty and local talent, creating a networking environment with commercial-advertising companies and mentoring winning girls to be champions of ghetto youths. The other component of the community conference is the exhibitions made available for the youth groups, organizations and the corporations to exhibit their work for the purpose of advertising, networking and trading. Plenary speeches were delivered by selected community groups, organizations, corporate and government institutions representatives. They are done with the purpose of advertising, sharing of best practices, creating a networking environment among the participating community groups, corporations and NGOs. PowerPoint presentations were done in the aim of advertising and sharing the best practices, creating a networking environment among the participating community groups, corporations and NGOs.
Furthermore, evaluation meetings that bring all the participating institutions together again are usually held a few days after the conference. Various outcomes are noted from this meeting in order to know if the main objective (Ensuring a Brighter Future) of the conference had been achieved. Primarily, it was noted that linkages between groups, organizations, corporations, government institutions and community members had been formed. There was an establishment of trade partnerships both from the participating groups and via recommendation to other companies who had not attended the conference. Some organizations and youth groups also got the chance to sell the products that they had exhibited during the conference. Some organizations got to offer health services to community members as well and admitted that the response was good.
The sponsors of each of these community conferences also benefited in so many ways as well. They got a chance to be mentioned countless times by the Master of Ceremonies, their institutional logos were included in the advertisement materials, banners and posters and they got branding rights as well as a Certificate of participation and sponsorship at the event.
participants could create linkages and marketing between themselves. The 1st, 2nd and 3 rd community conference of dates 29th June, 2013, 16th August, 2014 and 8th August, 2015 respectively, were held in a slum setting with the theme ‘Holding hands together for a Brighter Future’ saw participation of over 35 youth groups and 5 corporations from the planning stage. The event is usually aimed to target over 2000 community members.
The recently held 4th Edition of the community conference, with the theme ‘Empowering Communities for a Brighter Future’ was held on 14 th October 2017. During the preparations, different partners came in and supported in various ways. Radio stations gave free airtime to make the community aware of the ongoing conference, some of the corporates provided refreshments to all participants and delegates, some youth organizations mentored participating youth groups in refining their PowerPoint presentations and lots of networking took place among
youth groups, corporates and between youth groups and corporates. In addition, on behalf of the government of Kenya, the Area Chief of Viwandani provided enough security for the day.
Various activities took place on this day including a Gala entertainment session in the afternoon. Thematic performances were made and staged through music, drama, dances, boxing, poetry, rap, singing and others. Most talents are spotted during these performances by potential clients.
The four community conferences had the following components. One is a Beauty Pageant that sought to look for a Mr. and Mrs. Community Conference, both of whom would be role models for the other youth in Viwandani and help bring positive change to the society. This is also done with an aim of exposing beauty and local talent, creating a networking environment with commercial-advertising companies and mentoring winning girls to be champions of ghetto youths. The other component of the community conference is the exhibitions made available for the youth groups, organizations and the corporations to exhibit their work for the purpose of advertising, networking and trading. Plenary speeches were delivered by selected community groups, organizations, corporate and government institutions representatives. They are done with the purpose of advertising, sharing of best practices, creating a networking environment among the participating community groups, corporations and NGOs. PowerPoint presentations were done in the aim of advertising and sharing the best practices, creating a networking environment among the participating community groups, corporations and NGOs.
Furthermore, evaluation meetings that bring all the participating institutions together again are usually held a few days after the conference. Various outcomes are noted from this meeting in order to know if the main objective (Ensuring a Brighter Future) of the conference had been achieved. Primarily, it was noted that linkages between groups, organizations, corporations, government institutions and community members had been formed. There was an establishment of trade partnerships both from the participating groups and via recommendation to other companies who had not attended the conference. Some organizations and youth groups also got the chance to sell the products that they had exhibited during the conference. Some organizations got to offer health services to community members as well and admitted that the response was good.
The sponsors of each of these community conferences also benefited in so many ways as well. They got a chance to be mentioned countless times by the Master of Ceremonies, their institutional logos were included in the advertisement materials, banners and posters and they got branding rights as well as a Certificate of participation and sponsorship at the event.