Kenya

Working with our sister organization Reach The Children in Africa, we were able to make strong ties with influential individuals in Kenya working for the same cause with the same vision as Promethean Spark. 

Due to political tumult, programs did not go as planned on the most recent trip to Kenya. Shaun Parry arrived on Christmas Day and 2 days later the elections caused a near civil war with casualties reaching over 1000 within 2 weeks, many more injured and nearly 80,000 displaced by the violence. Undaunted, by such opposition, while in hiding in the slums of Soweto (1 hour NE of Nairobi) Shaun established an afternoon dance and drumming program. Starting with 5 youth, within 2 weeks average attendance had steadied at 30 young boys and girls from the streets. This was due to the size of the facility; the tin hut could not accomodate any more bodies. The following week riots in Nairobi were squelched allowing Shaun to start working with the Boys Choir of Kenya preparing them to run programs not only in Kenya but in neghboring African countries as well. They trained for 5 hours a day then Shaun took a "matatu" out to Soweto to continue the training sessions he had started out there for 2-3 more hours in the evenings. The 2 programs have connected now and are going strong.

Shaun Parry was the first international artist to teach the Boys Choir of Kenya under the newly established Musical Arts Academy of Nairobi and due to his vision, passion and unstoppable tenacity to help the youth of Kenya through the arts, he has been asked and accepted an appointment as a founding member on the Board of Trustees for the Musical Arts Academy of Nairobi. The appointment was made moments before his return flight to the United States. 

The programs are in embryo form and we look forward to the next visit of Promethean Spark to Kenya to build on the foundation which has been set.