Smiles
For Change
Smiles for Change, formerly known as the Sarakasi Trust Hospital Project started in 2006 as an educative artistic intervention activity where the Sarakasi artists would visit children in hospitals and homes with the objective of bringing art and laughter to vulnerable children living in difficult circumstances. We believe that smiling and happiness and positive enforcement enhance healing in sick children and also instill feelings of self-esteem, focus and pride.
Currently, Smiles for Change includes edutainment activities and mentorship programs (still through the arts) that educate communities to accept differently-abled children, children living with HIV Aids and also provide information on teenage pregnancies and gender equality, sexual and reproductive health amongst adolescents amongst others. This way the Smiles for Change team visits selected communities with tailor-made interactive activities that positively engage them with information geared toward de-stigmatizing and demystifying the above-mentioned issues.
For more information: Â kevin@sarakasi.co.ke
Visit the Sarakasi Smiles For Change Facebook page.
Other Projects
Over the years Sarakasi has implemented many projects. Most projects come and go with available funding or even trends and needs.
Talanta Na Kazi
The Talanta na Kazi Project, funded by the U.S. Embassy Nairobi, was designed to use the arts as a vehicle to promote social change and economic empowerment among vulnerable youth in the coastal region:
Talanta na Amani
An activity by Sarakasi Trust where the Performing Arts and tailormade Arts Self-Management training was used to Promote Entrepreneurship and Social Change amongst vulnerable youth in Nakuru Town
Training & Capacity Building
From its inception (2001), Sarakasi has built a solid platform for developing East Africa’s natural performing talents into a world-class school for the performing arts.
International Exchanges
Sarakasi identifies festivals, performance schools and programs/contracts throughout the world and partners/networks with them to improve performance skills.
Audience Building
In order to create platforms for Sarakasi’s performing artists, projects and other stakeholders and to reach out to a diverse audience, Sarakasi initiated its audience-building program in 2003 by starting to organize small and big scale creative productions and events.