Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Ababu Namwamba and German Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth launched The Anno's One Fine Day Arts Centre at Kibera, Nairobi.
The centre marked a momentous occasion in the journey of empowering young creatives in Kenya.
Speaking at the launch, Ababu underscored the government's commitment to empowering a generation of young people through such initiatives.
He said the group of young people will be moulded into becoming opinion leaders and thought leaders for positive change in Kenyan communities and beyond
“To the youth of Kibera, you are not just the future, you are the present. You are the manifestation of everything good about our country,” he said.
Sebastian Groth, German Ambassador to Kenya, congratulated the team of the Anno’s One Fine Day Arts Centre on the grand opening.
“Today marks a special day in the long-standing collaboration between ANNO's ONE FINE DAY and Germany. We are happy to celebrate the opening of the Centre, which embodies our belief in the transformative power of arts and culture, with our Kenyan friends.”
Krysteen Savane, Founder and Director of Anno's One Fine Day, expressed her enthusiasm by saying:
"With the awareness that arts and culture is the fourth pillar of sustainable development, increasing access to the arts is integral. We strive to provide this access to children at the grassroots levels like Kibera and Mathare as we believe that every child has something to say and we provide an enabling environment for them to express it in their special creative way. We ignite artistic dreams; these dreams, our children's dreams are our nation’s future."
Situated in the heart of Kibera, East Africa’s largest informal settlement, this cultural hub stands as a testament to collaboration, innovation, and the transformative power of the arts.
The Anno’s One Fine Day Arts Centre Kibera, a project by the Kenyan community-based organisation ANNO’s ONE FINE DAY and the German non-governmental organization, ONE FINE DAY e.V. stands as a testament to the successful Kenyan-German collaboration.
It aims to provide a nurturing environment for young adults and children to explore diverse artistic disciplines.
In addition to the financial contribution by ONE FINE DAY e.V., the initiative was made possible through generous support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH’s project on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI).
Designed and constructed under the supervision of the renowned Kenyan architecture firm a & b Global LTD, Anno’s One Fine Day Arts Centre embodies a space where over 1,000 students will have the opportunity to explore various creative disciplines.
The aim is not only to nurture artistic talents but also to demonstrate how creative work can be seen as a viable business avenue, enhancing income and fostering socio-economic growth within the community.
