Chinese and local volunteers joined forces to organize a talent extravaganza in Nairobi called the “Slum Carnival.” The event, held in the Mathare area, attracted hundreds of participants from the informal settlement. It featured activities such as a soccer tournament and an art exhibition.
The event was organized by the Dream Building Service Association (DBSA), a Chinese charity organization, with support from institutions like UNESCO, the Amity Foundation, Transsion Holdings, Shaanxi Friendship Association for Women and Children, Jiangxi Leju Sports Culture Industry Co., Ltd., and the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi.
The venue for the event was a nearby sports ground covered in dust, where dozens of paintings by children were displayed.
This year, the Mcedo Beijing School, built and supported by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, participated for the first time with 44 teams from 22 community schools. It was one of the largest competitions held in the area recently.
In addition to sports, the event included a book section where a collection of picture books, created in collaboration with the A4 Art Museum from China, were distributed to children in Mathare.
The talent show was the highlight of the event, providing an opportunity for attendees, especially children, to showcase their talents in singing, dancing, and acrobatics. Each performance received great applause from the audience.
A traditional Chinese dance performed by Chinese volunteers from DBSA was a particularly memorable moment, showcasing the charm of Chinese culture.
The event created a vibrant tapestry of community life, with the joy of the children, the passion of the artists, the competitive spirit of the athletes, and the music and dance all coming together.
Prizes were awarded to the winners to recognize their efforts and encourage active participation in community activities.
One of the volunteers from China noted, “Here, it seems that everyone is born to dance and sing. When the music starts, they can drop everything and start dancing. I can feel a passionate and vibrant emotion, which is the purest and most sincere love for life,”
Yin Binbin, the founder of DBSA, expressed the organization’s hope that through such activities, they could bring joy to the residents of Mathare and provide them with a platform to showcase themselves and realize their dreams.
DBSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underprivileged people, especially young children living in informal settlements in Africa.
Since 2014, it has implemented several projects in six African countries, including school construction, international lunch programs for children, talent shows, football tournaments, and long-term projects such as art education and training. The organization has also provided emergency material assistance to vulnerable groups.
The program has provided food to vulnerable children in Africa and helped improve school enrollment, benefitting approximately 50,000 people to date.
Yin emphasized that DBSA will continue to focus on empowering young people in disadvantaged areas, building communication networks, and integrating social resources.
