Yoga for Kangemi Slum in Nairobi

Hello, my name is Madelaine.  I am a certified yoga teacher in lexington, Kentucky.  A few years ago, I befriended Brian, a certified yoga teacher in Nairobi, Kenya on facebook.  A few months ago, I wrote to Brian to ask him if he was ok and he reported back to me that things were very difficult, that he faced the threat of violence and even lacking basic needs.  I suggested we do a fundraiser to help him create an enviroment to share yoga with his community.  
This is Brian's story as told in the two emails he sent me.  In them you will read about his objectives for the fundraiser.
(Note: this fundraiser is not associated with the Africa Yoga Project)

Hi Madelaine,
First let me start by acknowledging you for this journey we have started and be blessed for your kind heart to give a helping hand to my people from deep down my heart thanks thanks so much.
My community is called Kangemi in Nairobi. its an Informal settlement and most earn less than a dollar the majority are youths and children. We lack basic needs and involve in crime to make ends meet. I was involved in gangs as I had to protect myself and bring food for my son. It came a time there was increased crime and muggings that the police started extra judicial killings that Left my friends killed in cold blood it lead me to exile in upcountry and interestingly I found a woman who was teaching Yoga.
I watched and fell in love with Yoga and also the themes she used touched and slowly started to clean my past. I asked her if I could share my story and if i could become a Yoga teacher go back to my community and use Yoga to preach peace and emphasize non violence.
She was so happy with the way I shared and my plans to teach free Yoga to my people to minimize their problems and become better persons in life. No matter there situation never turn to bad vices engage in clean ups, volunteer in community activities and God will open doors of happiness and love. Since then I have been using Yoga as a tool of inviting peace and togetherness. Now am sharing Yoga and spread hard work and civic education.
Brian Mukabi
Certified Baptiste Yoga Teacher
Nairobi
Kenya

Hi Madelaine,
My name Brian and I am a certified Yoga teacher in Nairobi Kenya. I have been teaching Outreach classes, group classes and private one on one in the last 8 years. I have had a lot of success and challenges at the same time, thus I traveled and shared free awareness Yoga classes to promote healing of the post traumatic stress disorder caused by Terrorism like the killing of university students in Garissa and west gate mall and political violence which happened in 2007 in Kenya in 5 provinces out the eight in Kenya in streets and also children's home and leave them with the biggest smiles and love even though they are marginalized I encourage them to avoid being radicalized into violence groups I share with them the importance of naturing and unleashing there talent of football, Yoga, athletics, boxing and a lot more non violent roles and become role models in there community.I have been Certified as a Yoga teacher. The challenges are big aim the aim of the Fundraiser and every Money funded will help manage and minimize our problems which lead the youths engaging in crime in order to make ends meet, I am faced with challenges of being called a devil worshiper or traitor in this year which has lead me into self exile in my community, am so scared at times because in the ghetto outreach classes some of the youth share with me personal and confidential threats of there lives and I take them into a mentor ship state where i guide them emotionally and even financially, I take this time to appreciate and acknowledge Madelaine for being kindhearted and offering to help out, the money raised will cater and manage the challenges and encourage peace and love to everyone.
Below are the challenges will cover with fundraiser;
1. Lack of mats and training clothes
2. Lack of clean drinking water after or during Yoga sessions
3. Hosting of Post traumatic stress disorder healing worships thus providing lunch, buying of note books and team building in the ghettos.
4. The floor of our social hall will be repaired to create a smooth surface for yoga students.
5. I want to facilitate and host a Yoga awareness and Community clean up in my place to preach peace and love which will include printing of peace message on tshirts and create a team building activity where the will win them.
6. I want to continue with my country tour of Yoga and finish up the Trips to teach Yoga to the informal settlement and share and invite them to there Greatness.
Thanks in advance and please if you need anything else please let me know and below are some photos of me you can also use them as back up and will take more to show how I used the fundraising money.

Brian.

Brian and I had several conversations about his situation before I suggested we try a fundraiser to help him help the people of his community.  Yoga is about being in service to the highest parts of who we are.  Brian is living his life in the highest way against great difficulties, he continues to help others.  My aim is to help him help others.  

Centered  has agreed to host a yoga class in which the donations will go to help Brian.  
Centered
Saturday, September 26 at 4pm
Brian and I will co-teach this class!

Thank-you so much!  

Madelaine  


Brian

Brian and Lion






Kangemi Slum