by Kamila Gojobe, Muungano wa Wanavijiji Youth Leader
After two years apart, One World Together families finally came together again for the Community Building Summit in Nairobi. Partners travelled from different parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Zambia, and Kenya, bringing with them stories, experiences, and a shared commitment to building stronger communities.
For me, the summit was more than a meeting. It was a reminder of the power of relationships. It was a space filled with laughter, joy, love, and meaningful connection. By the end of the three days, I felt nourished, inspired, and hopeful about what we can continue building together.
The summit began at Muungano House, where partners gathered to reconnect and catch up after such a long time apart. Although the team from Zambia experienced flight delays and could not join us on the first day, the conversations that followed reminded me why the One World Together family is so special.
Much of the day was spent reflecting on our partnership, what we have achieved through the solidarity fund, and how we can continue strengthening our work. At Muungano wa Wanavijiji, this partnership has been particularly important in supporting young people within the movement. The Solidarity Fund, which is raised through contributions from individuals and supporters of One World Together, gives us the flexibility to respond to the ideas and priorities of young people themselves.
A moment of reflection during our first day together.
Every quarter, we bring young people together to discuss how the funds should be used. Through this support, we have trained youth in writing, supported them to create podcasts that amplify their voices, and worked together to develop proposals for youth-led initiatives. The amount may seem small, but its impact goes far beyond the money. It creates opportunities, builds confidence, and opens doors for young people to take leadership within the movement.
Listening to Community Savers and Rising Futures was equally inspiring. What stood out to me was how differently each organisation responds to the needs of its community, while still sharing the same commitment to dignity, care, and collective action.
For Community Savers, that work focuses on supporting elderly residents. Through savings groups, shared meals, housing support, and community gatherings, they create spaces where older people can find both practical support and companionship. Hearing about their work reminded me that community building often begins with creating spaces where people feel seen and valued.
Raising Futures Kenya shared a different but equally powerful story. Through vocational training in areas such as hairdressing, mechanics, and tailoring, they are creating opportunities for vulnerable young people from informal settlements. What moved me most was the way they support young mothers. By providing childcare vouchers, menstrual support, and psychosocial services, they remove some of the barriers that often prevent young women from continuing their education. Their approach goes beyond skills training; it creates an environment where young people can genuinely thrive.
The afternoon brought a completely different kind of energy. Helen from the OWT team facilitated a creative session that challenged us to think about the future we want to build together. We split into groups, picked up markers and colours, and allowed our imagination to take over.
I have always loved creative spaces, and this session reminded me why.
The creative session in progress
Our group imagined our journey as a river. It began with a seed, representing the start of an idea. The river then flowed forward, sometimes smoothly and sometimes through challenges, just as life does. Along the way, it grew into a strong tree bearing fruit, symbolising the achievements and impact that have emerged from our collective efforts.
The river also branched into different channels, representing the many partners that make up One World Together. Although each stream follows its own path, they eventually join together again as one river. For us, that river was One World Together.
As each group shared their artwork and reflections, it became clear that despite our different contexts, we are connected by common hopes and values. Watching an artist bring all of our ideas together into a single piece of artwork was one of my favourite moments of the day. The final image captured not only our imagination but also our shared vision for the future.
Proudly displaying our artwork after a creative session filled with imagination, reflection, and shared visions for the future.
The conversations and reflections from the first day showed us the impact of the solidarity fund. On the second day, we had the opportunity to see that impact come to life through community-led initiatives in Mathare.
The day began at the SDI Kenya head office, where we were joined by the Play It Forward team from Zambia, who had missed the previous day due to travel delays. Listening to their work was inspiring. Through football, literacy programs, feeding initiatives, and mental health support, they are creating opportunities for children to grow, learn, and dream beyond their circumstances. It was a reminder that while our approaches may differ, our goal remains the same: creating better opportunities for our communities.
We also had an opportunity to share the work being led by young people within Muungano wa Wanavijiji. Njoki, a youth leader from Kiamaiko, took us through the settlement adaptation planning process that young people and community members have been leading. Listening to her speak with confidence about the work being done in her community made me proud. It was a reflection of what can happen when young people are trusted, supported, and given space to lead.
One story that stood out was the journey of the Kiamaiko Resilience Hub. Like many informal settlements, Kiamaiko has faced recurring challenges, including devastating floods that have affected many families. Rather than waiting for solutions from outside, the community came together to imagine a space that could respond to their needs. Today, the resilience hub serves as a place for meetings, counselling, disaster response, and community support.
Later in the afternoon, we visited Mahira, a village where they have a drainage channel construction site in Kiamaiko. Seeing the completed work and hearing community members talk about its importance brought the conversations from the morning to life. What had started as discussions and plans had become something tangible that was improving people’s lives.
At Mahira, Halima showcases photos of the area before the drainage channel was constructed.
We then visited the Kiamaiko Resilience Hub itself. Walking through the space and hearing its story reminded me that community-led development is not just about projects or infrastructure. It is about people coming together, identifying their challenges, and creating solutions that reflect their realities. Seeing the hub in use was a powerful reminder of what is possible when communities lead their own development processes.
At the Kiamaiko Resilience Hub, a space built by the community for the community.
The final day took us to Seed of Hope, a visit that left a lasting impression on me.
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed warmly and invited to learn more about the institution and its work. We toured different learning sections, including sewing, hairdressing and beauty, mechanical work, engineering, entrepreneurship, and computer studies. While the facilities and training programs were impressive, what stayed with me most were the stories of the students.
A fun group photo with students and partners at Seed of Hope.
We had the opportunity to hear directly from young people whose lives had been transformed through the program. They spoke about being given a second chance, about finding hope again, and about building a future they once thought was impossible. As they shared their experiences, I could hear both gratitude and determination in their voices. Many of them expressed a wish that more young people could have access to the same opportunities they had received.
One aspect of Seed of Hope that particularly stood out to me was its mentorship culture. Even after graduating and moving on to employment or other opportunities, former students continue to return and support those who are still in training. They guide them, encourage them, and remind them that success is possible. I found this deeply moving because it reflects the very spirit of community that we had been talking about throughout the summit, people lifting others as they move forward.
The visit reminded me that education is about much more than acquiring skills. It is about restoring confidence, creating opportunities, and helping people see possibilities for themselves that they may never have imagined.
Group photo after our last session.
As our time together came to an end, we gathered one last time to reflect on the summit. It was a heartfelt and emotional session. We shared our experiences, our learnings, and what the past three days had meant to us.
I remember that after the reflections, we stood together in a group hug, sang a song, and simply stayed in that moment. There was no rush to leave. It felt like everyone wanted to hold onto that feeling a little longer. These moments will stay in my heart and mind forever.
In that moment, I was reminded of how beautifully we have grown as a family. It captured everything that One World Together stands for.
At the end of the three days, I kept thinking about how powerful it is to belong to a community that sees you, supports you, and grows with you. That is what One World Together means to me. Love, joy, and meaningful connections are not just words. They are what we experienced throughout those three days, and they are what continue to bring us together, no matter where we come from.
A moment of joy for Muungano wa Wanavijiji participants Nicera, Kamilah, Halima and Njoki.
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