Drama, Dance, Music, & Sport for Kisumu Youth

Even amidst the disruption of a global pandemic, the Manyatta Youth Resource Centre (MYRC), primarily funded by Equip Manyatta, brings together young people living in hard circumstances in Kisumu, Kenya with a wider world of opportunity and hope.  In the last few months, an up-and-coming actor from Ghana and a successful safari tour group have visited, inspired, and contributed; a DJ from Dallas, Texas has brought new recording equipment for the studio; and plans have been laid for our Junior football teams to visit and play in Iceland this summer.  And the achievements of a young man who got his start in film through the MYRC were featured in the Nation, the largest and oldest English language newspaper in Kenya.  

In early February a group of MYRC’s young filmmakers had the opportunity to meet with Ghana film and TV actor Peter Richie, whose career credits date to 2014.  Beginning with smaller parts, he now performs as featured characters.  He discussed the ins and outs of film production and some of the various ways to become involved in the industry.  He explained that acting is only one aspect, with many other career possibilities on the production side.  Meeting with a working professional and having the opportunity to ask questions and get real-life answers gives our youth a stronger sense that, with hard work and good luck they too might be able to find a place for themselves in film.  

Many of our young women and men have already had a taste of film production through the activities of MYRC alum Ramsey B.  Our young people have been involved in filming three seasons of the miniseries Anita under Ramsey’s direction.  His career was recently the subject of a feature article in the respected daily newspaper, the Nation. Under the headline “Offering hope to young filmmakers,” journalist Ondari Ogega shows how Ramsey has gone from MYRC, to the Segele Film School, to the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) masterclass training, to the creation of Naweza Film.  To quote the article (emphasis added): 

     “Born to a single-mother, the 27-year-old could not raise college school fees despite posting good results in his high school exams.  He spent most of his time in his post-high school at the Manyatta Youth Resource Centre (MYRC).  It is here that he first encountered and fell in love with film…. ‘Having grown up in the slums, I wanted to tell our struggles through film,’ recalls Ramsey….’  ‘When I posted the videos on You Tube, many were impressed and kept requesting to be part of my team,’ he says….

          This inspired him to train other youths in filmmaking…. His initiative caught the attention of several jobless youths… and soon the numbers in class became overwhelming….

          Luckily KFCB came to the rescue.  The Regional Coordinator, Edward Koech visited the centre and saw first hand the activities they were involved in such as making educational films…. (H)e immediately brought the idea of bringing experts to train the growing number of film students.

          ‘That is how Naweza Film was born in 2021.  We provide opportunities to young people to acquire skills and tell their story,’ he proudly says.

          Naweza, Swahili for “I Can,” is a dream coming to fruition. The centre now hosts 60 youth aged between five and 16, and another group for those between 17 and 35 years old.  Under the tagline, “Identify-Empower-Promote”, they now conduct training on film making techniques including lighting, scripting, acting, camera work, sound, editing, film marketing and distribution….

          Naweza film alumni have successfully managed to get jobs in the industry…. Despite the success stories, their challenge remains access to resources to counter the ever-growing number of students. They also have limited space and equipment.

          ‘We are, however exploring and making new friends and a support base…. says the filmmaker.’”

After so many years’ work, with the MYRC as an incubator, Ramsey is helping himself and others pursue professional goals!

A unique aspect of the MYRC programming has always been its focus on the performing arts. One of our original programs featured a recording studio that helped a number of musicians launch their professional careers.  Early in 2022 the studio equipment was enhanced by a donation from a visiting DJ from Dallas, Texas, US.  DJ Benny Oyoo provided us with a new professional digital mixing board.  This equipment enables a DJ to plug in their computer or device and mix, fade, sample, and manipulate the sound.  This great piece of equipment will be put to good use!  Thank you DJ Benny!

Not the arts, but in another aspect of making a living while having an interesting life, the MYRC recently hosted the directors of Africa Safari Discovery, which conducts tours in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Dubai. It was inspirational for our youth to hear about opportunities in the growing tourism industry from successful entrepreneurs in the field. As if that wasn’t enough, the company also made a substantial donation of new football uniforms!

Finally, one can’t ignore football!  Thanks to a visit from a group of motivated folks from Iceland, plans are underway for our Junior teams to travel to Iceland this summer and compete there.  Passports are already in hand.  What an opportunity for our youth to see a part of the planet so remote and different from home! We’d better start knitting some warm hats right now!

It is hard to overstate how many opportunities the MYRC brings to young lives in Kisumu that would not otherwise be there.  When Equip Manyatta helped the highly motivated people in Kisumu with creating the MYRC, this was the vision.  With YOUR Help lives are made better every day.  We may not be able to help everyone who needs it, but we know that the MYRC is providing opportunities for young people in Kisumu.  Thank you for your continuing support!

Links:

• Nation Article about MYRC and Ramsey