Nairobi.
After having arrived in Nairobi we first payed a visit to “Nairobits”.
[Foto: Merel]
The Nairobits organization is based at “The Go Down Arts Centre” which is an old car warehouse, located in the industrial area of Nairobi.
A variety of not-for-profit cultural initiatives are situated here, like a record studio, a theater/dance/acrobat company, a television studio, an art gallery, exhibition space, practice rooms and a theater hall.
see: http://www.thegodownartscentre.com
Nairobits is an organization that trains youth from the Nairobi slums to become professional
web designers.
We met with the Nairobits staff and were welcomed by Ann Ikiara (general manager)
and Roseirene Wangui (training coordinator).
We did an interview with Jane, Kevin, Jaqueline and Gideon;
four of the students who are now enrolled in the Nairobits training program.
To enter the Nairobits web design program the students have to be active members of a
community based organization in their home town area and be selected by that organization
for an interview with Nairobits.
After they have passed the interview, the students start a
training program that takes a year and consists of 3 levels:
-”Inside the web”. Learning basic computer skills, designing end presenting.
-”Webstar”. making a website (HTML) on your neighborhood and on a cultural theme.
-”Media lab” learning PHP and MYSQL and making a website for a company or organization.
The students who succeed in completing all the courses get a chance to do an internship with
a company or organization.
Most of the students didn’t have any computer experience before they started the course and
will have a good chance to find a job after.
Link: http://www.nairobits.com
At the Record studio “Ketebul Music”(Swahili for drumsticks) we talked to the producer Tabu
Osusa who introduced us to a musician from Mombassa named Makadem.
Makadem is a singer and guitar player who has so far made two c.d’s: Ohanglaman and Jambamboo.
see: http://www.myspace.com/makadem
[Foto: Merel] Meeting Makadem
He was interested in joining our research project and to do interviews with the students from Nairobits, on film next Friday.
By: Merel
