Hope blooms for Africans

By Jennifer Palmer

Published: April 19, 2008

Bringing something as simple as soccer teams to Kibera, a slum in Nairobi, Kenya, has made a huge difference in the lives of its residents.

More than 5,000 youth from different tribes have taken part in the sports association run by Carolina for Kibera, which requires teams to be ethnically diverse, helping to prevent violence at a grassroots level.

For its work, Carolina for Kibera was chosen for this year's Reflections of Hope Award.

The award, established in 2005 as part of the 10th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, includes a $25,000 honorarium.

Carolina for Kibera was founded in 2001 by Rye Barcott, then an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Barcott and executive director Salim Mohamed will be honored during an awards ceremony tonight.

Kibera is east Africa's largest slum, with 1 million people living in a 630-acre area outside of Nairobi. It is one of the most densely populated urban settlements in the world, according to Carolina for Kibera's Web site.

Most of Kibera's residents live in poverty, and the community faces many social issues including poor health care, a severe water shortage, the spread of HIV and lack of women's rights. Half the residents are under age 15.

Barcott said the sports program is helping foster a generation that will not only promote peace in their own community, but serve as an example to the rest of the country and beyond.

"It's putting Kibera on the map” in a positive way, said Mohamed, the director.

To play soccer in the program, youths must first participate in garbage cleanups and public service.

In addition to the sports program, Carolina for Kibera has helped bring health care to the community with a free clinic, as well as create a safe center for girls. At the center, girls can learn about HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation, violence against women, rape, prostitution and other issues facing women in the community.

"All these pieces work together,” Barcott said, to create a holistic, community-based program.

Carolina for Kibera is run by Kenyans and advised by American and Kenyan volunteers. The group is based on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Reflections of Hope will also recognize Dom Tomas Balduino with a lifetime achievement award for his work helping the poor in Brazil. For the past 50 years, Balduino, a Catholic priest, has been a voice for thousands of Brazil's poorest people in their fight for human rights.

The award, he said, should really be recognition of them.

He is recognized throughout Latin America as a leader in the struggle of the Landless Workers Movement to defend land rights of the workers and help provide for their families.

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