Immediately after this address will be a briefing and planning session on the Foundation's upcoming activities to address public safety, planned development, entrepreneurial development, social cohesion and recreational & green spaces in Kilimani.  This will include a briefing on the county-wide Nai Ni Who programme of the Go Down Art Centre.  We will be working together to host monthly outdoor film screenings, notable sites tours, photo exhibitions, a festival and more between May and August 2013.

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First Community Generated Strategic Plan for Kilimani?

Imagine this...when entering Kilimani at major entrances you are greeted by "Welcome to Kilimani where community living is taken seriously".  The public theatre and library is regularly offering programmes. You notice children riding their bikes toward the public swimming pool at Kilimani Primary School.  Public notice boards are informing all of the Kilimani Festival and Screens on the Green, extra-curricular classes for micro-entrepreneurs, NGOs programmes, vegetable market and emergency numbers for the Kenya Police, the Argwings Kodhek fire station, local mechanics and schedule of the County Assembly meetings.

All those that live, work and/or play in Kilimani experience themselves as productive, free and interested in the other people found in Kilimani.  The community is known for its creativity, aliveness, tenacity and neighbourliness. The area rarely experiences violence, crime or a sense of isolation.  People choose to buy homes or establish their businesses in Kilimani simply because it is the community of choice.

This is the vision crafted by community members in several strategic planning exercises informed by last year's appreciative inquiry photo-exhibitions five focus areas have been identified as the Kilimani Foundation's programme areas.  They are;

1. Planned Development
2. Green Spaces, Recreational Facilities and Social Amenities
3. Public Safety
4. Entrepreneurship Integration
5. Social Cohesion and Community Building

Each area is championed by teams of volunteers. If you are interested in hearing more or joining one of the volunteer teams contact kilimaniproject@gmail.com.  

Review the entire draft strategic plan by CLICKING HERE. 

Join others in declaring I'm not too busy to build my community!

Kilimani Foundation participates in Go Down Art Centre's Nai Ni Who

Inspired by the 2012 Kilimani Festival, the Go Down Art Centre has developed Nai Ni Who? (a question of identity and belonging) to build ownership and identity in several neighbourhoods across Nairobi.  The programme will stimulate the neighbourhoods to explore what is unique about their communities.  This will generate a sense of price in urban neighbourhoods and encourage communities to see unity in their diversities to see unity in their diversities.  Coming after the election a new leadership at county and ward levels and in the year that Kenya celebrates 50 years of independence, this project could define the face of Nairobi for its three million residents and the rest of the country.  Kilimani Foundation has been asked to organize their zone 10 namely (Upper Hill, Race Course, Ngumo, Ngong Rd, Adams Arcade and Kilimani.  The project kicks off across Nairobi on 11th May to the end of August.  

I WANT TO LEARN MORE

Join in the fun and assist with this unique project that will work to host the following activities throughout the Zone 10 area:

1. Breakfast Roundtables for Sponsors (May) - Sponsored by Yaya Centre Management, we are hosting CEOs and leaders of the community to discuss their role as potential sponsors of Kilimani Foundation.  
2. Kili-kumi Tour (June - August) - a fortnightly Sunday afternoon tour tracing interesting sites (historical landmarks, key businesses, restaurants, agencies, cultural and religious centres, personalities, new developments, etc).  Who's interested in a tour of State House?  
3. Screen on the Green (first Fridays of June, July and August) - movie night in open spaces with introduction by public personality.
4. Faces and Spaces Photo-exhibition (July and August) - Photo-exhibition of nationally recognized photographers who live in Kilimani of interesting people and their kitchens across Zone 10.  
5. Tree planting, naming and opening ceremony for Kilimani Link Road (TBC) - mobilization of the community and schools to plan trees along the length of the new link road along with establish dustbins, sitting benches and public toilets, etc.
6. Kilimani Festival 2013 (August 24 & 25) - a two day urban festival with a parade, performances by  famous Kili-musicians, vendor stalls, children's events, public discussions, etc.

Kilimani Foundation Hosts Sponsors at Power Breakfasts

The Board and Members of the Kilimani Foundation with the generosity of Yaya Centre have been hosting weekly roundtable breakfasts with CEOs and community leaders to share activities that will bring together citizens, companies, associations, embassies and NGOs to celebrate  Nairobi.  Please suggest names of people who might be interested in contributing to building a community, fueling an economy and a local environment  that works.  This bold initiative seeks to encourage social interaction and economic growth.

These breakfasts are an early opportunity to hear more and give input to this unique initiative. We are pleased by the attraction of a wide range of corporate and individual interests.  Sincere thanks to pledges of interest and support from Apex Porter-Novelli, 3Mice, National Oil Corporation of Kenya, and Ogilvy & Mather. The remaining breakfasts are scheduled for May 7, 9, 14 & 16.

Please consider recommending people for us to invite by email at kilimaniproject@gmail.com.