From Kibera to the Coast of Kenya

Building on the strength of our existing programs in Kibera, we are currently working with our Kenya Advisory Board to bring our programs to other parts of Kenya, expanding our reach beyond Nairobi.

Following the success of last year’s program development in Kenya, S'Cool Sounds Artistic Director Nina Stern, board member Nancy Jo Snider, and Kenya Advisory Board member Karimi Wandiri will travel to Diani on the Indian Ocean coast, reaching new communities of children.

There, the teaching trio will visit two school communities: Footprints Early Years Academy and TradeWinds Academy. In each school, Nina, Nancy, and Karimi will present interactive workshops to introduce the S'Cool Sounds model of music learning. 

Diani, Kenya

Back in Nairobi, Nina, Nancy, and Karimi will continue professional development with SCS Kenya Music Director Jacob Saya, Assistant Director Julius Odhiambo Otieno, and their team. Additionally, they will visit the four schools in Kibera where S'Cool Sounds has programs to support, teach, and make music with the students.

On the streets of Kibera, Karimi Wandiri demonstrates on guitar

While in Nairobi, Nina and Nancy will also work with the string and wind players of the African Women's Orchestra, which was co-founded by Karimi. Lastly, the trio will meet with other Kenyan leaders in the arts community as we continue to strategize about how to further develop S'Cool Sounds programs in Kenya. 

As the summer approaches, Nancy recently shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming voyage: “I’m excited to see expanding growth through the deepening of our presence in Kenya. More S’Cool Sounds there means, as our mission states, more inspiration, more education, more connection, more transformation, and more empowerment through music."

To support this exciting trip, we have set a fundraising goal of $5,000. Your contribution today will help fund new instruments, new performance attire, and new programming to reach even more students in Kenya and beyond.