Mukuru Awards is our annual forum that focuses on apreciating, encouraging and recognizing change makers in the community by using a community award. MuYI started as Mukuru Awards back in 2013 then after two years we decided to restructure the organization to a more organized institution.

In 2017 Mukuru Awards celebrating its 5th year, so far Mukuru awards have awarded over 200 change makers as individuals, groups, teams, organizations and initiatives in sports, arts and community projects.

Every year Mukuru awards attracts hundreds of submission with so many change makers showing interest in being one of the nominees, with a large number of entries the organizing committee is tasked to vetting 5 nominees per category who are shortlisted then the community votes for either of them.

This has enhanced service delivery among institutions and encouraged and challenged young people and the community at large to participate in activities that impact the community positively.

since inception we have seen the community change from a very unsafe community to a safe community with less cases of crime, youths have been engaged in different levels and they have played an important role in community building, so many other youth and youth groups have started their own events in the community since they have discovered they can do it by seeing the success of the mukuru awards.

Purpose

All over the world awards are used as a way to increase competition among different sectors and player in different fields hence improving service delivery. In organizations each year they award employee of the year in order to encourage and motivate employees.

Mukuru Awards is no different since we seek to encourage and motivate artists, sports personnel, role models, groups and organization working within the community.

Mukuru Awards stands out since it’s organised and executed by the youths in the community and also hosted within the community hence encouraging community participation. The awarded individuals are not only nominated but also voted out by the community.

Mtaa kwa Mtaa Showcase is a community forum in form of a concert founded by Mukuru Youth Initiative and implemented through different youth art groups, organizations and Artists around Mukuru.

Mtaa is a Swahili word meaning Neighbourhood, the project is meant to tour different parts of the Mukuru Settlement showcase the film henceforth having Mtaa kwa Mtaa (Neighbourhood to Neighbourhood).

The event is focused on discussing issues affecting the Mukuru Community and showcasing the power of art by using movie showcase then the people highlighting the solutions that are needed and identifying the stakeholders responsible.

The showcase includes both Films that we show are produced by Mukuru based Directors and also other films that can be able to show an issues that is similar in the community. The films focus on the issues affecting the community and the impact that the issue make on a national and global level. The attending individuals are able to highlight the issues and propose ways in which they can be solved. Mukuru Youth Initiative then picks that up and get to discuss it with the relevant institutions.

Some of the activities during the showcase are;

• Short film Showcase.
• Music Performances from various artist.
• Guided Discussion based on the films showed
• Discussion with the relevant institutions both private and public.
• Create a platform where people can talk about issues affecting the community and find solutions.

Objective

1.  Promote films produced by the local Directors in the community.
2. Creating market for products by mukuru artists.
3. Enhancing cohesion among the community.
4. Pool community members in supporting art from Mukuru by making artists merchandise easily accessible.
5.  Engage different stakeholders in the community to addressing challenges in the community.
6. Putting leaders into task in ensuring service delivery.

Purity Chebunde –Winner Female Music Artist 2016

At only 13 years old, in Class eight attending Ruben Primary school from the slums of mukuru kwa Reuben, Princess Purity N. Chebunde. A young girl, very humble, full of respect, Hardworking, Smart, inspiring and God fearing.

Purity, is an upcoming Evangelical gospel musician. She writes her own lyrics, composes them and hands over to her dad for perfection. She is gifted indeed. She plays the piano keyboard which well famed musicians can’t, She can dance, Purity is a Sunday school teacher and mentor. She also does gymnastics. What a gifted kid. Only a passionate parent would notice all these potentials in their children.

Purity started singing at the age of five. Eight years down the lane, she has produced an audio gospel album “NIBADILISHE NIFANANE NAWE” with eight songs. indeed these kind of gift and talent can’t just be left to dissolve and disappear. Such talent is worthy nurturing.

Purity performed at the  Mukuru Awards 2014, immediately someone noticed her talent and gave her a chance to perform at another function at the KICC.

Purity won the Female Artist Award at the Mukuru awards 2016 and continued to become bigger and bigger while still in school. In 2017 Purity have been featured in different national radio, TV stations and blogs.

She has been able to do quality music out of the help of well wishers who have noticed her talent. Her dads effort to have even a single song played on National Radio stations have been fruitless since they always turn him down or promise to play but the copy ends up misplaced or dumped only God knows where. Youth Edition Media has volunteered to shoot videos for her album.