Building Africa, Poverty Eradication programmes in Africa

 

 

 

 

Mathare Valley is referred to as the oldest and the worst slum in Africa.This shanty village is 5 kilometers(3.2 Miles) from the Kenyas capital  city Nairobi.Its a place riddled with criminals, drug addicts, the unemployed and prostitutes. Many people are afraid to visit because of the prevalent crime.

The area is very densely populated with almost 500,000 people living in a very small area of 2km by 300m (1.2miles by .2 miles).

 

Housing is therefore inadequate with most houses measuring around 8 by 6 feet and holding around 10 peple. Many children have to sleep on the floor because there is no space to share the one bed with the parents. Sanitation is inadequate and the little available is beyond many peoples means. This has  caused open gutters outside their houses, and the Nairobi river to turned into sewers.

 

There is no alternative source of safe drinking water from this river. Along the river, youth and women make changaa- a local brew using the same water, and the residents are forced to buy their water from local vendors.

 

There are various strategies which have been adopted to improve the housing needs and conditions in Africa. These are forced evictions, resettlement, site and service schemes and slum upgrading programmes. Its in this difficult environment that Buildinfg Africa started this ambitious project, dubbed Mathare Branch to tackle the problem of illeteracy in this slum and started the school known as the Millennium Academy with a:

 

• Vision

• Mission

• Objectives